UPSC Essentials | Daily subject-wise quiz: Polity and Governance MCQs on sessions of Parliament, Constitution of India and more (Week 136)

QUESTION 1

Consider the following statements about sessions of Parliament:

1. There is a fixed schedule in the Constitution for the Parliament sessions in India.

2. The Winter Session is the biggest and most important session of the Indian Parliament.

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

— Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju’s announcement of the Winter Session of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha on Friday, spanning 15 working days from December 1 to 19, immediately drew criticism from the Opposition for an “unusually delayed and truncated” session.

— The Indian Constitution does not provide a fixed schedule for Parliament sessions. By convention, Parliament meets for three sessions in a year. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.

— The Budget Session is the longest and most important session of the Indian Parliament, usually lasting from February to May. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

— The second session is the three-week Monsoon Session, which typically starts in July and ends in August. The parliamentary year concludes with a three-week Winter Session, which runs from November to December.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 2

The State Election Commission is responsible for:

1. Elections to the Municipalities

2. Elections to the Panchayats

3. Elections to the Municipal Corporations

4. Elections to the District Councils

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 1, 2 and 3

(c) 2 and 4 only

(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Explanation

— The superintendence, direction and control of the preparation of electoral rolls for, and the conduct of, all elections to the Municipalities shall be vested in the State Election Commission (SEC) referred to in article 243K.

— The superintendence, direction and control of the preparation of electoral rolls for, and the conduct of, all elections to the Panchayats shall be vested in a State Election Commission consisting of a State Election Commissioner to be appointed by the Governor.

— The SEC’s power to conduct elections to the Municipalities, which also include Municipal Corporations.

— District Councils are autonomous councils in certain tribal areas of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram, with elections governed by state legislation or Sixth Schedule rules rather than the State Election Commission.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

(Source: Constitution of India)

QUESTION 3

The original Constitution:

1. comprised of 395 Articles

2. does not have a preamble

3. came into force on November 26, 1949

4. consists of 22 parts

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

(a) 1, 2 and 3

(b) 2 and 4 only

(c) 2, 3 and 4

(d) 1 and 4 only

Explanation

— The original Constitution, comprising a Preamble and 395 Articles, came into force on January 26, 1950 – commemorating the Purna Swaraj day first observed on January 26, 1930. Hence, 1 is correct and 2 and 3 are not correct.

— The original Indian Constitution had 22 parts. Hence, 4 is correct.

— Through this long and meticulous process, the framers envisioned India as a sovereign, democratic republic, adopting a parliamentary model of government within a federal structure.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 4

With reference to the Committee on Public Accounts, consider the following statements:

1. It was first set up in 1921 in the wake of the Montague-Chelmsford Reforms.

2. During the Interim Government, the then Finance Minister acted as the Chairman of the Committee.

3. The Public Accounts Committee is now constituted every second year.

4. It consists of not more than 30 members, all of them from the Lok Sabha.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) Only three

(d) All four

Explanation

— The Committee on Public Accounts was first set up in 1921 in the wake of the Montague- Chelmsford Reforms. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— During the days of the Interim Government, the then Finance Minister acted as the Chairman of the Committee, and later on, after the attainment of Independence in August, 1947, the Finance Minister became the Chairman. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

— The Public Accounts Committee is now constituted every year under Rule 308 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.

— The Public Accounts Committee consists of not more than 22 members comprising 15 members elected by Lok Sabha every year from amongst its members according to the principle of proportional representation by means of single transferable vote and not more than 7 members of Rajya Sabha elected by that House in like manner. Hence, statement 4 is not correct.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

(Source: sansad.in)

QUESTION 5

All citizens shall have the right —

1. to freedom of speech and expression

2. to assemble peaceably and without arms

3. to bear arms for self-defence

4. to refuse to pay taxes as a form of protest

5. to form associations or unions

6. to move freely throughout the territory of India

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

(a) 1, 2, 3 and 6

(b) 2, 3, 4 and 5

(c) 1, 2, 4 and 6

(d) 1, 2, 5 and 6

Explanation

— Article 19 of the Constitution of India provides for the protection of certain rights regarding freedom of speech, etc.

— All citizens shall have the right —

(a) to freedom of speech and expression;

(b) to assemble peaceably and without arms;

(c) to form associations or unions, or co-operative societies;

(d) to move freely throughout the territory of India;

(e) to reside and settle in any part of the territory of India; and

(g) to practise any profession, or to carry on any occupation, trade or business.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

(Source: Constitution of India)

Previous Daily Subject-Wise-Quiz

Daily Subject-wise quiz — History, Culture, and Social Issues (Week 131)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Polity and Governance (Week 135)

Daily subject-wise quiz —  Science and Technology (Week 135)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Economy (Week 135)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Environment and Geography (Week 135)

Daily subject-wise quiz – International Relations (Week 135)

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