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UPSC Essentials brings to you its initiative of daily subject-wise quizzes. These quizzes are designed to help you revise some of the most important topics from the static part of the syllabus. Each day, we cover one new subject. Attempt today’s subject quiz on Polity and Governance to check your progress. Come back tomorrow to solve the History, Culture, and Social Issues MCQs. Don’t miss checking the answers and explanations at the end of the quiz.
Consider the following states:
1. Bihar
2. Jharkhand
3. Uttar Pradesh
4. Maharashtra
5. Odisha
How many of the states given above have bicameral legislature?
(a) Only two
(b) Only three
(c) All five
(d) None
With reference to the Goods and Services Tax Council, consider the following statements:
1. It is a statutory body.
2. It gives recommendations to the Union and the states on important issues related to GST.
3. Each state can nominate a minister as a member.
How many of the statements given above are correct?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None
With reference to the Inter-State Council, consider the following statements:
1. It supports Centre-State and Inter-State coordination and cooperation in India.
2. President is the chairman of the Council.
3. It was established under Article 243 of the Constitution.
How many of the statements given above are correct?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None
Consider the following statements:
1. The Ministers shall hold office during the pleasure of the President.
2. The advice tendered by Ministers to the President can be inquired into in any court.
3. The Council of Ministers shall be collectively responsible to the Council of States.
4. The total number of Ministers, including the Prime Minister, in the Council of Ministers shall not exceed 12 per cent.
How many of the statements given above are correct?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) Only three
(d) All four
Which of the following articles of the Constitution of India provides for Duration of Houses of Parliament?
(a) Article 76
(b) Article 81
(c) Article 83
(d) Article 74
FYI:
— India has a bicameral system i.e., two Houses of Parliament.
— At the state level, the equivalent of the Lok Sabha is the Vidhan Sabha or Legislative Assembly; that of the Rajya Sabha is the Vidhan Parishad or Legislative Council.
— The Constitution of India does not force a bicameral legislature on states. It gives states the option of having a second House. As of now, six states have Legislative Councils. These are Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
— Article 169 of the constitution, Parliament may by law create or abolish the second chamber in a state if the Legislative Assembly of that state passes a resolution to that effect by a special majority.
— A second House of Legislature is considered important for two reasons:
(i) To act as a check on hasty actions by the popularly elected House.
(ii) To ensure that individuals who might not be cut out for the rough-and-tumble of direct elections too are able to contribute to the legislative process.
Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.
FYI:
— The Goods and Services Tax regime came into force after the Constitutional (122nd Amendment) Bill was passed by both Houses of Parliament in 2016.
— The GST Council – a joint forum of the Centre and the states — was set up by the President as per Article 279A (1) of the amended Constitution. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.
— The members of the Council include the Union Finance Minister (chairperson), and the Union Minister of State (Finance) from the Centre.
— Each state can nominate a minister in charge of finance or taxation or any other minister as a member. Hence, statement 3 is correct.
— The Council, according to Article 279, is meant to “make recommendations to the Union and the states on important issues related to GST, like the goods and services that may be subjected or exempted from GST, model GST Laws”. It also decides on various rate slabs of GST. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.
FYI:
— Inter-State Council is a mechanism that was constituted “to support Centre-State and Inter-State coordination and cooperation in India”. The Council is basically meant to serve as a forum for discussions among various governments. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
— The Inter-State Council was established under Article 263 of the Constitution, which states that the President may constitute such a body if a need is felt for it. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.
— In 1988, the Sarkaria Commission suggested the Council should exist as a permanent body, and in 1990 it came into existence through a Presidential Order.
— The Council’s major functions are to investigate and advise on disputes between states, to investigate and discuss matters in which two or more states or the Union have a shared interest, and to make recommendations for greater policy and action coordination.
— The Prime Minister is the chairman of the Council, whose members include the Chief Ministers of all states and UTs with legislative assemblies, and Administrators of other UTs. Six Ministers of Cabinet rank in the Centre’s Council of Ministers, nominated by the Prime Minister, are also its members. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.
Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.
FYI:
— Article 74 of the Constitution of India states that “There shall be a Council of Ministers with the Prime Minister at the head to aid and advise the President who shall, in the exercise of his functions, act in accordance with such advice.”
— The President may require the Council of Ministers to reconsider such advice, either generally or otherwise, and the President shall act in accordance with the advice tendered after such reconsideration.
— The question of whether any and if so what, advice was tendered by Ministers to the President shall not be inquired into in any court. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.
— The Prime Minister shall be appointed by the President and the other Ministers shall be appointed by the President on the advice of the Prime Minister.
— The total number of Ministers, including the Prime Minister, in the Council of Ministers shall not exceed fifteen per cent of the total number of members of the House of the People. Hence, statement 4 is not correct.
— The Ministers shall hold office during the pleasure of the President. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
— The Council of Ministers shall be collectively responsible to the House of the People. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.
Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.
(Source: Constitution of India)
FYI:
— Article 83 of the Constitution of India provides for Duration of Houses of Parliament.
— The Council of States shall not be subject to dissolution, but as nearly as possible one-third of the members thereof shall retire as soon as may be on the expiration of every second year in accordance with the provisions made in that behalf by Parliament by law.
— The House of the People, unless sooner dissolved, shall continue for [five years] from the date appointed for its first meeting and no longer and the expiration of the said period of [five years] shall operate as a dissolution of the House.
— When the Proclamation of Emergency is in operation, be extended by Parliament by law for a period not exceeding one year at a time and not extending in any case beyond a period of six months after the Proclamation has ceased to operate.
Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.
(Source: Constitution of India)
Daily subject-wise quiz — Polity and Governance (Week 27)
Daily Subject-wise quiz — History, Culture, and Social Issues (Week 27)
Daily subject-wise quiz — Environment, Geography, Science and Technology (Week 27)
Daily subject-wise quiz — Economy (Week 27)
Daily subject-wise quiz – International Relations (Week 27)
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