UPSC Essentials : Daily subject-wise quiz | Polity and Governance (Week 29)

1. The Cabinet Secretariat functions directly under the Home Minister.

2. The Secretariat assists in decision-making in Government by ensuring Inter-Ministerial coordination.

3. The Cabinet Secretariat is responsible for the administration of the Government of India (Transaction of Business) Rules, 1961.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

QUESTION 2

With reference to the 106 Amendment Act, consider the following statements:

1. The Act provides 33 per cent reservation to women in the Lok Sabha and state legislative Assemblies.

2. It was the last Bill to be passed in the old Parliament building.

3. The seats already reserved for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes will not come within the purview of women’s reservation.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

QUESTION 3

With reference to the power of President to promulgate Ordinances, consider the following statements:

1. Under Article 123 of the Constitution, the President may promulgate such Ordinances when both Houses of Parliament are not in session.

2. The government is required to bring an Ordinance before Parliament for ratification at the expiration of six weeks from the reassembly of Parliament.

3. If an Ordinance makes a law that Parliament is not competent to enact under the Constitution, it shall not be considered void.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

QUESTION 4

With reference to the administration of the National Capital Territory of Delhi (NCTD), consider the following statements:

1. The Legislative Assembly of the NCTD does not have the power to legislate any matter related to public order, land and police.

2. NCTD is the only Union Territory that has legislative and executive powers over services.

Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

QUESTION 5

Which of the following articles of the Constitution of India provides Freedom to manage religious affairs?

(a) Article 24

(b) Article 25

(c) Article 28

(d) Article 26

ANSWERS TO THE MCQs

1. (b)

FYI:

The Cabinet Secretariat functions directly under the Prime Minister. The administrative head of the Secretariat is the Cabinet Secretary who is also the ex-officio Chairman of the Civil Services Board. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.

The Cabinet Secretariat is responsible for administrating the Government of India (Transaction of Business) Rules, 1961 and Government of India (Allocation of Business) Rules, 1961 facilitating smooth business transaction in Ministries/ Departments. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

The Secretariat assists in decision-making in Government by ensuring Inter-Ministerial coordination, ironing out differences amongst Ministries/Departments and evolving consensus through the instrumentality of the standing/adhoc Committees of Secretaries. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

One of the duties of the Cabinet Secretariat is to manage significant crisis situations in the nation and to coordinate the actions of several ministries in such a circumstance.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

(Source: cabsec.gov.in)

2. (a)

FYI:

— The ‘Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam’, the Act provides 33 per cent reservation to women in the Lok Sabha and state legislative Assemblies. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— It became the first Bill to be passed in the new Parliament building. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

— The seats already reserved for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes will also come within the purview of women’s reservation. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

3. (b)

FYI:

— Under Article 123 of the Constitution (“Power of President to promulgate Ordinances during recess of Parliament”), “if at any time, except when both Houses of Parliament are in session, the President is satisfied that circumstances exist which render it necessary for him to take immediate action, he may promulgate such Ordinances as the circumstances appear to him to require.” Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— An Ordinance “shall have the same force and effect as an Act of Parliament”. But the government is required to bring an Ordinance before Parliament for ratification — and failure to do so will lead to its lapsing “at the expiration of six weeks from the reassembly of Parliament”. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

— The Ordinance may lapse earlier if the President withdraws it — or if both Houses pass resolutions disapproving it. Also, if an Ordinance makes a law that Parliament is not competent to enact under the Constitution, it shall be considered void. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.

— Since the President acts on the advice of the Council of Ministers, it is in effect the government that decides to bring the Ordinance. The President may return the recommendation of the Cabinet once if she feels it warrants reconsideration; if it is sent back (with or without reconsideration), she has to promulgate it.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

4. (c)

FYI:

— The Supreme Court held that the state government will have legislative and executive control over administrative services in the National Capital Territory of Delhi (NCTD) except with regard to public order, police and land. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— The Supreme Court also sought to distinguish NCTD from other Union territories. The Union and NCTD share a unique federal relationship. It does not mean that NCTD is subsumed in the unit of the Union merely because it is not a State.

— The Legislative Assembly of NCTD has competence over entries in List II (state list) and List III (concurrent list) except for the expressly excluded entries of List II,” the Supreme Court said. The excluded entries are related to public order, police and land.

— The Supreme Court also made it clear that “NCTD has legislative and executive power over Services, that is, Entry 41 of List II of the Seventh Schedule…” Entry 41 of List II deals with state public services and the State Public Service Commission. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

— The Centre had contended that NCTD does not have legislative competence over Entry 41 of List II on the ground that Part XIV of the Constitution which deals with “services under the Union and states” does not contemplate any services for Union Territories.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

5. (d)

FYI:

— Article 26 of the Constitution of India provides for 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)

Previous Daily Subject-Wise-Quiz

Daily subject-wise quiz — Polity and Governance (Week 28)

Daily Subject-wise quiz — History, Culture, and Social Issues (Week 28)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Environment, Geography, Science and Technology (Week 28)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Economy (Week 28)

Daily subject-wise quiz – International Relations (Week 28)

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