UPSC Essentials : Daily subject-wise quiz | Polity and Governance MCQs on Panchayats, border conflict between Indian states and more (Week 99)

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QUESTION 1

With reference to the Panchayats, consider the following statements:

1. All the seats in a Panchayat shall be filled by persons chosen by indirect election from territorial constituencies.

2. The ratio between the population of each constituency and the number of seats allotted to it shall be the same throughout the Panchayat area.

3. Panchayats at the intermediate level may not be constituted in a State having a population not exceeding twenty lakhs.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

Explanation

— The 2024 index that the Union Ministry of Panchayati Raj has published based on a study by the Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA) has seen Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu topping the index and Uttar Pradesh and Bihar recording the biggest improvement.

— All seats in a Panchayat shall be filled by individuals elected directly from territorial constituencies within the Panchayat region. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.

— Each Panchayat area shall be split into geographical constituencies in such a way that, to the greatest extent possible, the ratio of each constituency’s population to the number of seats awarded to it remains constant throughout the Panchayat area. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

— Panchayats shall be established in each State, at the village, intermediate, and district levels, in line with the requirements of this Part.

— In a state with a population of less than twenty lakhs, intermediate panchayats may not be established. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 2

The long-drawn boundary dispute between the two sides dates back to the reorganisation of states along linguistic lines following the passage of the States Reorganisation Act of 1956. Since its creation on May 1, 1960, the state has claimed that 865 villages, including Belagavi, Nipani, and Carvar should be part of it. On October 25, 1966, the Centre constituted the Mahajan Commission headed by then Supreme Court Chief Justice Mehr Chand Mahajan which recommended that 247 villages and places in the state, including Jatt, Akkalkot, and Solapur, be made part of Karnataka. It also proposed that 264 villages or places, including Nippani, Khanapur and Nandagad be handed over to that state.

The mentioned state in the above lines is:

(a) Kerala

(b) Andhra Pradesh

(c) Maharashtra

(d) Tamil Nadu

Explanation

— The border conflict between Maharashtra and Karnataka, which has been simmering for some time, has resurfaced after an alleged assault on a bus conductor from Karnataka in Belagavi.

— The two sides’ long-running territorial dispute began with the restructuring of states along linguistic lines with the passing of the States restructuring Act in 1956. Since its inception on May 1, 1960, Maharashtra has claimed that 865 villages, including Belagavi (formerly known as Belgaum), Nipani, and Carvar, should be part of it, a claim that Karnataka rejects.

— At Maharashtra’s request, the Centre established the Mahajan Commission on October 25, 1966, led by then-Supreme Court Chief Justice Mehr Chand Mahajan. While dismissing Maharashtra’s claim to Belagavi, the committee suggested that 247 villages and localities in Maharashtra, including Jatt, Akkalkot, and Solapur, be included into Karnataka. It also advocated that 264 villages or locations, including Nippani, Khanapur, and Nandagad, be transferred to Maharashtra. Maharashtra flatly rejected the report, claiming that the commission did not fully address its concerns and preferred Karnataka.

— Since then, Maharashtra has made several attempts, using legal and political channels, to raise its concerns and regain the Marathi-speaking villages along the border.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 3

Consider the following statements:

1. If for a period of ninety days a member of either House of Parliament is without permission of the House absent from all meetings thereof, the House may declare his seat vacant.

2. The absent period also accounts for any period during which the House is prorogued or is adjourned for more than four consecutive days.

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

— Pro-Khalistan leader Amritpal Singh, the Independent MP from Khadoor Sahib in Punjab, filed a petition with the Punjab and Haryana High Court, fearing he would lose his Lok Sabha seat due to his protracted absence.

What does Article 101 (4) say?

— “If for a period of sixty days a member of either House of Parliament is without permission of the House absent from all meetings thereof, the House may declare his seat vacant: Provided that in computing the said period of sixty days no account shall be taken of any period during which the House is prorogued or is adjourned for more than four consecutive days.” Hence, statements 1 and 2 are not correct.

— In other words, the 60-day period pertains only to the House’s sittings, not all of the days, and does not include any instances where the House was adjourned for longer than four days.

— An MP must write to the Committee on Members’ Absence, the parliamentary panel that handles this subject.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 4

With reference to Article 39(b) of the Constitution of India, consider the following statements:

1. It provides for the ownership and control of the material resources of the community so distributed as best to subserve the common good.

2. The government can acquire and redistribute all privately owned properties deeming them “material resources of the community”.

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

— Article 39(b) of the Constitution of India provides for the ownership and control of the material resources of the community that are so distributed as best to subserve the common good. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— A 9-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court held that the government cannot acquire and redistribute all privately owned properties deeming them “material resources of the community”, as mentioned in Article 39(b) of the Constitution. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

— The Bench, which included Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, Justices Hrishikesh Roy, BV Nagarathna, Sudhanshu Dhulia, JB Pardiwala, Manoj Misra, Rajesh Bindal, Satish Chandra Sharma, and Augustine George Masih, was deliberating on two critical matters.

— First, determine if Article 31C, the key constitutional article dealing with the right to property, still exists notwithstanding subsequent revisions and judicial orders invalidating the amendments.

— Second, interpret Article 39C of the Constitution.

— The landmark decision has far-reaching ramifications for how we define property, the right to possess property, and its connection to society as whole.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 5

With reference to the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), consider the following statements:

1. The CEC shall not be removed from his office except in like manner and on the like grounds as a Judge of the Supreme Court.

2. The conditions of service of the CEC can be varied to his disadvantage after his appointment.

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

— With Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar set to retire, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi met on Monday to appoint Gyanesh Kumar, one of the two current Election Commissioners, as his successor.

— The Chief Election Commissioner shall not be removed from his office except in like manner and on the like grounds as a Judge of the Supreme Court and the conditions of service of the Chief Election Commissioner shall not be varied to his disadvantage after his appointment. Hence, statement 1 is correct and statement 2 is not correct.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

Previous Daily Subject-Wise-Quiz

Daily Subject-wise quiz — History, Culture, and Social Issues (Week 99)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Polity and Governance (Week 98)

Daily subject-wise quiz —  Science and Technology (Week 96, 97 and 98)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Economy (Week 96, 97 and 98)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Environment and Geography (Week 96, 97 and 98)

Daily subject-wise quiz – International Relations (Week 96, 97 and 98)

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