UPSC Essentials : Daily subject-wise quiz | Polity and Governance (Week 32)

1. The Constitution lays down a specific legislative process for the appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and Election Commissioners (ECs).

2. The Prime Minister makes the appointment on the advice of the Union Council of Ministers.

3. The Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners must hold posts for a period of six years.

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 power of the Governor under the Sixth Schedule, consider the following:

1. Define the boundaries of any autonomous district

2. Increase the area of any autonomous district

3. Diminish the area of any autonomous district

4. Unite two or more autonomous districts

How many of the above statements are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) Only three

(d) All four

QUESTION 3

With reference to the Article 356, consider the following statements:

1. It empowers the President to withdraw to the Union the executive and legislative powers of any state.

2. President’s Rule in a state can be imposed for six months at a time for a maximum duration of one year.

3. It was inspired by the Government of India Act, 1919.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

QUESTION 4

Consider the following states:

1. Arunachal Pradesh

2. Telangana

3. Haryana

4. Goa

5. Manipur

What is the correct chronological order for the formations of these states?

(a) 3 — 5 — 4 — 1 — 2

(b) 5 — 4 — 3 — 1 — 2

(c) 3 — 5 — 1 — 4 — 2

(d) 5 — 3 — 1 — 4 — 2

QUESTION 5

With reference to the Conduct of Business of the Government of a State, consider the following statements:

1. The executive action of the Government of a State shall be expressed to be taken in the name of the Chief Minister.

2. The Governor shall make rules for the more convenient transaction of the business of the Government of the State.

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

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

ANSWERS TO THE MCQs

1. (a)

FYI:

— Article 324 of the Constitution vests the “superintendence, direction and control of elections” in an Election Commission consisting “of the Chief Election Commissioner and such number of other Election Commissioners, if any, as the President may from time to time fix”.

— The Constitution does not lay down a specific legislative process for the appointment of the CEC and ECs. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.

— The President makes the appointment on the advice of the Union Council of Ministers headed by the Prime Minister. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

— The Election Commission (Conditions of Service of Election Commissioners and Transaction of Business) Act, 1991 (EC Act) requires that the EC and CEC must hold the post for a period of six years. This law essentially governs the conditions of service of the CEC and ECs. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

2. (d)

FYI:

— The Sixth Schedule under Article 244 provides for the formation of autonomous administrative divisions — Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) — that have some legislative, judicial, and administrative autonomy within a state.

— The Sixth Schedule applies to the Northeastern states of Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram (three Councils each), and Tripura (one Council).

— If there are different Scheduled Tribes in an autonomous district, the Governor may, by public notification, divide the area or areas inhabited by them into autonomous regions.

— The Governor may, by public notification,—

(a) include any area in any of the Parts,

(b) exclude any area from any of the Parts,

(c) create a new autonomous district,

(d) increase the area of any autonomous district,

(e) diminish the area of any autonomous district,

(f) unite two or more autonomous districts or parts thereof so as to form one autonomous district,

(ff) alter the name of any autonomous district],

(g) define the boundaries of any autonomous district.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

(Other Source: Constitution of India)

3. (a)

FYI:

— Article 356 empowers the President to withdraw to the Union the executive and legislative powers of any state “if he is satisfied that a situation has arisen in which the government of the state cannot be carried on in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution”. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— According to the provisions of Article 356, President’s Rule in a state can be imposed for six months at a time for a maximum duration of three years. Every six months, Parliamentary approval to impose President’s Rule will be required again. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

— However, in the past, President’s Rule has been extended for significantly longer periods under specific circumstances. For instance, Punjab was under President’s Rule from 1987-1992 due to the growing militancy.

— Article 356 was inspired by Section 93 of the Government of India Act, 1935. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.

— Article 356 of the Indian Constitution contains provisions for the imposition of “President’s Rule” in a state, removing an elected government. Between 1970 and 1974, President’s Rule was imposed 19 times.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

4. (c)

FYI:

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

(Other Source: Constitution of India)

5. (b)

FYI:

— Article 166 of the Constitution of India provides for Conduct of Business of the Government of a State.

— All executive action of the Government of a State shall be expressed to be taken in the name of the Governor. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.

— Orders and other instruments made and executed in the name of the Governor shall be authenticated in such manner as may be specified in rules to be made by the Governor, and the validity of an order or instrument which is so authenticated shall not be called in question on the ground that it is not an order or instrument made or executed by the Governor.

— The Governor establish regulations to facilitate the State Government’s business transactions and to distribute said business among the Ministers when it does not involve matters pertaining to which the Governor is mandated by law to exercise discretion. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

(Source: Constitution of India)

Previous Daily Subject-Wise-Quiz

Daily subject-wise quiz — Polity and Governance (Week 31)

Daily Subject-wise quiz — History, Culture, and Social Issues (Week 31)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Environment, Geography, Science and Technology (Week 31)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Economy (Week 31)

Daily subject-wise quiz – International Relations (Week 31)

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