UPSC Essentials : Daily subject-wise quiz | Polity and Governance MCQs on President’s Rule, Union Budget 2025, EVM and more (Week 96 and 97)

EXPLANATION

— Article 356 of the Constitution of India empowers the President to withdraw from 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”.

— The determination of the breakdown of constitutional machinery may be done by the President at any time, either upon receipt of a report from the Governor, or suo motu. If approved by both the houses, the President’s Rule, as it is most-commonly called, can continue for 6 months. It can be extended for a maximum of 3 years with the approval of the Parliament.

Therefore, (c) is the correct answer. 

QUESTION 2

Consider the following statements with reference to the office of Vice President of India:

1. The Vice-President is elected by the members of an electoral college consisting of the members of both Houses of Parliament in accordance with the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote. 

2. All doubts and disputes arising out of or in connection with the election of a Vice-President shall be inquired into and decided by the Election Commission of India whose decision shall be final

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 66 of the Indian Constitution lays down the process of the election of the Vice-President. It says the Vice-President “shall be elected by the members of an electoral college consisting of the members of both Houses of Parliament in accordance with the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote, and the voting at such election shall be by secret ballot.” Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— According to Article 66(3), no person shall be eligible for election as Vice-President unless he—(a) is a citizen of India; (b) has completed the age of thirty-five years; and (c) is qualified for election as a member of the Council of States”.

— As per Article 71 of the Constitution “all doubts and disputes arising out of or in connection with the election of a President or Vice-President shall be inquired into and decided by the Supreme Court whose decision shall be final.” Hence, statement 2 is not correct. 

Therefore, (a) is the correct answer. 

QUESTION 3

Consider the following statements:

1. There are 25 High Courts in the country, three having jurisdiction over more than one State.

2. Among the Union Territories, Delhi, and Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh have a High Court of their own.

3. The Chief Justice of a High Court is appointed by the President in consultation with the Chief Justice of India and the Governor of the State.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c)1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

EXPLANATION

According to the sci.gov.in, 

— “The High Court stands at the head of a State’s judicial administration. There are 25 High Courts in the country, three having jurisdiction over more than one State. Among the Union Territories, Delhi, and Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh have a High Court of their own. Other five Union Territories come under the jurisdiction of different High Courts. Each High Court comprises a Chief Justice and such other Judges as the President may, from time to time, appoint. The Chief Justice of a High Court is appointed by the President in consultation with the Chief Justice of India and the Governor of the State.”

Therefore, (d) is the correct answer. 

QUESTION 4

With reference to Municipal bodies, consider the following statements:

1. The first such Municipal Corporation was set-up in the then Bombay. 

2. While the Directive Principles of State Policy refer to village Panchayats, there is no specific reference to Municipalities. 

3. Municipalities are implicitly mentioned in Entry 5 of the State List, which places the subject of local self-governments as a responsibility of the states.

Which of the above given statements are true?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3 

EXPLANATION

— Municipal bodies have a long history in India. The first such Municipal Corporation was set-up in the former Presidency Town of Madras in 1688; and was followed by similar corporations in the then Bombay and Calcutta in 1726. The Constitution of India has made detailed provisions for ensuring protection of democracy in Parliament and in the state legislatures.

— However, the Constitution did not make the local self-government in urban areas a clear-cut constitutional obligation. While the Directive Principles of State Policy refer to village Panchayats, there is no specific reference to Municipalities except implicitly in Entry 5 of the State List, which places the subject of local self-governments as a responsibility of the states.

— In order to provide for a common framework for urban local bodies and help to strengthen the functioning of the bodies as effective democratic units of self-government, Parliament enacted the Constitution (74th Amendment) Act, 1992 relating to municipalities in 1992. The Act received the assent of the President on 20 April 1993. 

Therefore, (b) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 5

With reference to the Indian Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) system is also termed as ECI-EVM, consider the following statements:

1. The  ECI-EVM system can record a maximum of 2,000 votes but generally it is used for recording 1500 votes only.

2. EVMs/VVPATs are not imported but indigenously designed and manufactured. 

3. Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) consisting of Ballot Unit (BU) & Control Unit (CU) were used for the first time in the by-elections to Noksen Assembly Constituency of Nagaland in 2013.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 only

(d) 3 only

EXPLANATION

According to mythvsreality.eci.gov.in,

— When were EVMs used for the first time in elections?

Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) consisting of Ballot Unit (BU) & Control Unit (CU) were used for the first time in the by-elections to Parur Assembly Constituency of Kerala in 1982.

— When was VVPAT introduced?

Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail with EVM was used for first time in the by election to Noksen Assembly Constituency of Nagaland in 2013.

— Where are the EVMs manufactured? Are they imported?

EVMs/VVPATs are not imported but indigenously designed and manufactured by two Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) namely Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), under the Ministry of Defence and Electronics Corporation of India Limited (ECIL), under the Department of Atomic Energy under the guidance of the Technical Experts Committee (TEC) constituted by the Election Commission of India.

Therefore, (a) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 6

With reference to Union Budget 2025, which of the following schemes/announced are not announced?

(a)  ‘Rural Prosperity and Resilience’ program

(b)  Prime Minister Dhan Dhanya Krishi Yojana (PMDDKY)

(c)  National Manufacturing Mission

(d)  All of the above

EXPLANATION

— A holistic, multi-sectoral ‘Rural Prosperity and Resilience’ program will be launched in collaboration with states. This initiative aims to tackle under-employment in agriculture by promoting skill development, investment, technology adoption, and revitalization of the rural economy. The objective is to create abundant opportunities in rural areas, ensuring migration remains a choice rather than a necessity. The program will prioritize rural women, young farmers, rural youth, marginal and small farmers, and landless families.

 — A new scheme for the agriculture sector—Prime Minister Dhan Dhanya Krishi Yojana (PMDDKY). This scheme will be implemented in partnership with states, across 100 districts in its first phase. The scheme will be on the lines of Aspirational Districts Programme (ADP), which was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2018. The ADP is implemented across 112 districts. The PMDDKY will be implemented across agriculture districts.

 — The government will launch the National Manufacturing Mission covering small, medium, and large enterprises for furthering Make in India. Under this Mission, the government will assist with policy support, execution roadmaps, and governance and monitoring frameworks for central ministries and states. The National Manufacturing Mission will also support clean tech manufacturing, given India’s commitment to climate-friendly development. Focus segments will include solar PV cells, EV batteries, motors and controllers, electrolysers, wind turbines, very high voltage transmission equipment, and grid-scale batteries.

Therefore, (d) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 7

With reference to the Constitutional provisions related to the Budget and its documents, consider the following statements:

1. Under Article 110 of the Constitution, a statement of estimated receipts and expenditure of the Government of India has to be laid before Parliament in respect of every financial year which runs from 1st April to 31st March.

2. The Finance Bill is presented in fulfilment of the requirement of Article 112 of the Constitution, detailing the imposition, abolition, remission, alteration or regulation of taxes proposed in the Budget.

Which of the above given statements is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

EXPLANATION

According to dea.gov.in,

— Under Article 112 of the Constitution, a statement of estimated receipts and expenditure of the Government of India has to be laid before Parliament in respect of every financial year which runs from 1st April to 31st March. Annual Financial Statement is the main Budget document and is commonly referred to as the Budget Statement.

— The Finance Bill is presented in fulfilment of the requirement of Article 110(1)(a) of the Constitution, detailing the imposition, abolition, remission, alteration or regulation of taxes proposed in the Budget. It is accompanied by a Memorandum explaining the provisions included in it.

Therefore, (d) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 8

Which of the following Commission recommended that, “once a person has been included in a Scheduled Caste list a willful change of religion on his part should not affect adversely his or her Scheduled Caste status”? 

(a) Ranganath Mishra Commission

(b) Kalelkar Commission

(c) Shah Commission

(d) Narendran Commission

EXPLANATION

— In 2007, the Ranganath Mishra Commission (created by the Centre in 2004) found that “By all available evidence we do find the caste system to be an all-pervading social phenomenon of India shared by almost all Indian communities irrespective of religious persuasions”. It recommended that “once a person has been included in a Scheduled Caste list a willful change of religion on his part should not affect adversely his or her Scheduled Caste status”. However, the Centre has disputed the commission’s findings in recent years.

Therefore, (a) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 9

Which of the following conditions must be met for the removal of the Vice President of India?

1. A resolution for removal must be passed by a majority of all the then members of the Rajya Sabha.

2. The resolution must be agreed to by the Lok Sabha.

3. The Supreme Court must approve the resolution before it takes effect.

4. At least 14 days’ notice must be given before moving the resolution.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

(a) 1, 2, and 4 only

(b) 1 and 3 only

(c) 2 and 4 only

(d) 1, 2, 3, and 4

EXPLANATION

What does it take to remove the Rajya Sabha chairman from his position?

— Under Article 64 of the Constitution of India, the Vice President “shall be ex officio Chairman of the Council of the States”.

— Since the Vice President and Rajya Sabha chairperson must be the same individual, the process for their removal is also the same – and is laid down under Article 67.

— Under this provision, the Vice President “shall hold office for a term of five years from the date on which he enters upon his office” unless the Vice President resigns before that by sending a letter to the President, or is removed from office.

— The requirements for removing or impeaching the Vice President are provided under Article 67(b).

— It states that the Vice President may be removed if a majority “all the then members of the Council (Rajya Sabha)” passes a resolution for his removal, which must then be “agreed to” by the House of the People (Lok Sabha).

— Under this provision, “no resolution…shall be moved unless at least fourteen days’ notice has been given of the intention to move the resolution”.

Therefore, (a) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 10

Which of the following cases recognised the right to die with dignity as a fundamental right under Article 21 of the Constitution?

(a) Aruna Shanbaug V. Union of India

(b) Common Cause V. Union of India

(c) Indra Sawhney & Others v. Union of India

(d) Shayara Bano v Union of India

EXPLANATION

What is meant by withholding/ withdrawing life-sustaining treatment?

— Withholding or withdrawing life-sustaining treatment refers to discontinuing life-sustaining medical interventions such as ventilators and feeding tubes, etc., when these no longer help the condition of the patient or prolong their suffering.

— Life-sustaining treatments are medical treatments that artificially replace bodily functions essential to the life of the person. These interventions are withheld or withdrawn with the intention of providing comfort care, allowing the underlying illness to take its course, while providing symptomatic relief.

— The right to refuse medical treatment has always existed in common law, even if it results in death. Following the Supreme Court’s decision in Common Cause vs Union of India (2018), it is also recognised as a fundamental right under Article 21 (Right to life and personal liberty) of the Indian Constitution.

Therefore, (b) is the correct answer.

Previous Daily Subject-Wise-Quiz

Daily subject-wise quiz — Polity and Governance (Week 95)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Polity and Governance (Week 94)

Daily subject-wise quiz —  Science and Technology (Week 93)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Environment and Geography (Week 93)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Economy (Week 93)

Daily subject-wise quiz – International Relations (Week 93)

Daily Subject-wise quiz — History, Culture, and Social Issues (Week 93)

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