UPSC Essentials | Daily subject-wise quiz: Polity and Governance MCQs on Article 21A, Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs and more (Week 129)

QUESTION 1

With reference to Article 21A of the Constitution of India, consider the following statements:

1. According to Article 21A, the State shall provide free and compulsory education to all children of the age of six to fourteen years.

2. The SC held that the Teaching Eligibility Test (TET) “is a constitutional necessity flowing from the right to quality education under Article 21A”.

3. Article 21A was added to the Constitution of India by the 91st Constitutional Amendment Act of 2003.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

Explanation

— Multiple states have moved to file a review petition against the Supreme Court’s September 1 ruling, which makes the Teaching Eligibility Test (TET) a mandatory qualification for teachers in Classes I-VIII.

— The two-judge bench, comprising Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice Manmohan, clarified the legal status of TET. The court declared that “the legal position emerging therefrom is clear: the TET is not a mere procedural requirement but forms an essential part of the minimum qualification criteria.”

— The Teaching Eligibility Test came into force through Section 23 of the RTE Act, 2009, which authorises the central government to prescribe “minimum qualifications” for the appointment of teachers. In 2010, the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) was notified as the academic authority to frame these standards. The NCTE guidelines issued that year mandated that anyone seeking appointment as a teacher for Classes I–VIII must clear the TET.

— The SC held that TET “is a constitutional necessity flowing from the right to quality education under Article 21A”. It further stated: “Compromising the quality of a teacher would necessarily compromise quality of education, and is a direct threat to the right of children to quality education which is a necessary concomitant of the right guaranteed by Article 21A.” Hence, statement 2 is correct.

— Article 21A states that “The State shall provide free and compulsory education to all children of the age of six to fourteen years in such manner as the State may, by law, determine”. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— Article 21A was added to the Constitution of India by the 86th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2002. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 2

With reference to affirmative action, consider the following statements:

1. Affirmative action is a policy that seeks to increase employment and educational possibilities for people who are under-represented in numerous aspects of our society.

2. Articles 15 and 16 of the Constitution of India offer scope for introducing affirmative action.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Explanation

— Part III (Article 15 and 16) and Part IV (Directive Principles of State Policy) of the Constitution offer scope for introducing affirmative action. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

— Affirmative action is a policy that seeks to increase employment and educational possibilities for people who are under-represented in numerous aspects of our society. It is a series of policies designed to build a justified society for individuals who have previously faced discrimination by giving them priority access to education, employment, healthcare, social welfare, and other services. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 3

With reference to the President’s Rule in Manipur, consider the following statements:

1. Manipur has seen the maximum number of times of President’s rule since Independence.

2. President’s Rule was first imposed in Manipur in 1967.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Explanation

— It’s been eight months now since President’s Rule was introduced in Manipur, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi calling for peace between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities during his brief visit to the state on September 13. It was the first time he visited the state since ethnic violence broke out in May 2023.

— During the recent Monsoon Session of Parliament, President’s Rule in Manipur was extended for another six months.

— In terms of the total number of times, Manipur has seen the most stints of President’s Rule, at 11, followed by Uttar Pradesh at 10. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— President’s Rule was first imposed in Manipur in 1967, ahead of elections to the then Union Territory’s first-ever Assembly. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 4

Every religious denomination or any section thereof shall have the right —

1. to establish and maintain institutions for religious and charitable purposes

2. to own and acquire movable and immovable property

3. to manage its own affairs in matters of religion

4. to propagate religion freely without any restrictions of public order

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2, 3 and 4

(c) 1, 2, 3 and 4

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Explanation

— Article 26 of the Constitution of India provides for the Freedom to manage religious affairs.

— Subject to public order, morality and health, every religious denomination or any section thereof shall have the right—

(a) to establish and maintain institutions for religious and charitable purposes;

(b) to manage its own affairs in matters of religion;

(c) to own and acquire movable and immovable property; and

(d) to administer such property in accordance with law.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

(Source: Constitution of India)

QUESTION 5

With reference to the Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs, consider the following statements:

1. It was first constituted in 1942.

2. Its function is to scrutinise, and to consider the attitude of the Government on non-official bills and resolutions to be presented to Parliament.

3. Before 1954, the Ministry of Defence was providing secretarial assistance to the committee.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

Explanation

— A Parliamentary and Legal Affairs Committee was established in 1949. This body was eventually renamed the Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs. Since 1954, the committee has had secretarial assistance from the then-Department of Parliamentary Affairs, which is now the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.

— Prior to 1954, the Ministry of Law provided secretarial support to the committee, though the then-Department of Parliamentary Affairs also offered secretarial aid for the organisation of Government Business in both Houses of Parliament. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.

— The following functions have been assigned to the Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs:

(i) To watch the progress of Government Business in Parliament and to give such directions as may be necessary from time to time, in order to secure smooth and efficient conduct of such business;

(ii) to scrutinise, and to consider the attitude of the Government on non-official bills and resolutions to be presented to Parliament; Hence, statement 2 is correct.

(iii) to maintain a review from an all-India point of view of legislations undertaken by State legislatures; and

(iv) to consider proposals to summon or prorogue the Houses of Parliament.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

(Source: mpa.gov.in)

Previous Daily Subject-Wise-Quiz

Daily Subject-wise quiz — History, Culture, and Social Issues (Week 124)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Polity and Governance (Week 128)

Daily subject-wise quiz —  Science and Technology (Week 128)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Economy (Week 128)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Environment and Geography (Week 128)

Daily subject-wise quiz – International Relations (Week 128)

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