UPSC Essentials | Daily subject-wise quiz: Polity and Governance MCQs on appointment of Chief Minister, property registration and more (Week 137)

QUESTION 1

Consider the following statements:

1. The Chief Minister shall be appointed by the Governor and the other Ministers shall be appointed by the Governor on the advice of the Chief Minister.

2. The total number of Ministers, including the Chief Minister, in the Council of Ministers in a State shall not exceed fifteen per cent.

3. The question whether any advice was tendered by Ministers to the Governor can be inquired into in any court.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

Explanation

— Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar met Governor Arif Mohammed Khan and recommended that the current state Assembly be dissolved with effect from November 19. The same day, Kumar will also tender his resignation to the Governor and hand over the letter of support from all NDA allies to form the next government. The swearing-in ceremony will take place on November 20.

— There shall be a Council of Ministers with the Chief Minister at the head to aid and advise the Governor in the exercise of his functions, except in so far as he is by or under this Constitution required to exercise his functions or any of them at his discretion. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— Suppose any question arises whether any matter is or is not a matter as respects which the Governor is by or under this Constitution required to act in his discretion. In that case, the decision of the Governor in his discretion shall be final, and the validity of anything done by the Governor shall not be called in question on the ground that he ought or ought not to have acted in his discretion.

— The question whether any, and if so what, advice was tendered by Ministers to the Governor shall not be inquired into in any court. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.

— The total number of Ministers, including the Chief Minister, in the Council of Ministers in a State shall not exceed fifteen per cent. of the total number of members of the Legislative Assembly of that State. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

(Other Source: Constitution of India)

QUESTION 2

The government’s powers related to property registration are laid down in, and circumscribed by:

1. The Transfer of Property Act, 1882

2. The Indian Stamp Act, 1899

3. The Registration Act, 1908

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

(a) 1 only

(b) 1 and 2 only

(c) 2 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Explanation

— On November 7, the Supreme Court reiterated that registration of a sale deed may not necessarily mean ownership of the property under the current laws – the second time this year that the court had made such a clarification.

— The government’s powers related to property registration are laid down in, and circumscribed by, three pieces of legislation: the Transfer of Property Act, 1882, the Indian Stamp Act, 1899, and the Registration Act, 1908.

— The Transfer of Property Act stipulates the transfer of ownership, which is done through sale, gift, lease or mortgages; the Stamp Act ensures the government gets its share of tax; and the Registration Act underpins the registration of documents.

— However, the registration only records the deal. It does not certify who truly owns the property. Instead, what is relied upon is a presumptive title — a system under which the registered document creates a presumption of ownership. However, this can always be challenged in a court of law – a major reason why around 66 per cent of civil cases are over land title.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 3

The fake videos are a direct and deliberate violation of my right to privacy, reputation, and dignity, protected under:

(a) Article 14

(b) Article 19

(c) Article 21

(d) Article 20-A

Explanation

— Telugu mega star and former Union minister Konidela Chiranjeevi has filed two police complaints accusing unknown people of creating a deep fake pornographic video using his facial features and trolling him, saying it disrupted his “dignity, reputation and mental wellbeing”.

— The actor contended that, “these manufactured videos are being maliciously used to portray me in obscene and vulgar contexts, thereby distorting public perception and undermining decades of goodwill. Such acts not only inflict personal and emotional distress upon me and my loved ones but also mislead the general public by creating a false and defamatory narrative that contradicts my true character and public image.”

— “The fake videos are a direct and deliberate violation of my right to privacy, reputation, and dignity, protected under Article 21 of the Constitution,” the actor said.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 4

A person shall not be qualified for appointment as a Judge of a High Court unless he is a citizen of India and —

1. has for at least ten years held a judicial office in the territory of India

2. has for at least ten years been an advocate of a High Court or of two or more such Courts in succession

3. he must be at least 45 years of age to be appointed as a Judge of a High Court.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1, 2 and 3

(d) 1 and 3 only

Explanation

— The office of a Judge shall be vacated by his being appointed by the President to be a Judge of the Supreme Court or by his being transferred by the President to any other High Court within the territory of India.

— A person shall not be qualified for appointment as a Judge of a High Court unless he is a citizen of India and —

(a) has for at least ten years held a judicial office in the territory of India; or Hence, statement 1 is correct.

(b) has for at least ten years been an advocate of a High Court or of two or more such Courts in succession. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

— The Constitution does not prescribe any minimum age for appointment as a High Court Judge. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

(Source: Constitution of India)

QUESTION 5

With reference to the coalition governments, consider the following statements:

1. A coalition government is formed, which consists of multiple political parties or individuals working together.

2. In 1980, Morarji Desai formed the first non-Congress coalition government.

3. The 1946 interim government, just before Independence and the first government formed after Independence in 1947 were both coalitions.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None of the above

Explanation

— A coalition government is formed that consists of multiple political parties or individuals working together, sometimes with different ideologies and viewpoints. Coalitions can be either a) pre-poll and b) post-election. Generally, member political parties in a coalition form a political alliance and adopt a common programme. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— The main aim of a coalition government is to ensure majority control of the parliament or legislative assembly and the implementation of a common minimum programme.

— Coalitions at the national level caught public attention in 1977 when Morarji Desai formed the first non-Congress coalition government. His government, a testament to the evolving political landscape, included ministers like Charan Singh, L K Advani, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Biju Patnaik, Parkash Singh Badal, George Fernandes, and Shanti Bhushan. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

Jawaharlal Nehru with members of the interim government in 1946. (Image source: Wikipedia)

— The 1946 interim government just before Independence and the first government formed after Independence in 1947 were both coalitions. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

Previous Daily Subject-Wise-Quiz

Daily Subject-wise quiz — History, Culture, and Social Issues (Week 132)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Polity and Governance (Week 136)

Daily subject-wise quiz —  Science and Technology (Week 136)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Economy (Week 136)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Environment and Geography (Week 136)

Daily subject-wise quiz – International Relations (Week 136)

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