Indian Polity & Constitution MCQs

Notes:
Legislative Council or Vidhan Parishad is the upper house in bicameral legislatures in some states of India. It has no powers in terms of passing bills whether be it money or ordinary bills unlike Rajya Sabha which has equal powers as that of Lok Sabha in terms of Ordinary & Amendment bills. That’s why it is generally optional to have Vidhan Parishad.
While most states have unicameral legislature with only legislative assembly, currently, six states have legislative council – 1. Andhra Pradesh 2. Bihar 3. Karnataka 4. Maharashtra 5. Telangana 6. Uttar Pradesh.

Notes:
Rajya Sabha is a permanent body. Its members are elected indirectly. Only elected members of state legislatures can take part in the election of Rajya Sabha MPs.  To get elected to the Rajya Sabha, a person must be an Indian citizen with at least 35 years of age. One third of its members retire every two years. But house in itself can’t be dissolved.

Notes:
An amendment of the Constitution of India can be initiated by either of the two Houses of Parliament, namely Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. It cannot be initiated by the State Legislatures or the President. The amendment proposal must be supported by at least half of the total membership of both Houses and two-thirds of the members present and voting. The President’s role is limited to providing his/her assent to the amendment.

Notes:
The Swaran Singh Committee appointed by the Congress government in 1975 inquired into whether the parliamentary system should be continued or should be replaced by the presidential system . The committee stated that the parliamentary system has been doing well and there is no need to replace it by the presidential system.

Notes:
The Article 100(1) provides  a procedure for voting in the house. Any question in deliberation should be decided by a majority of votes of the members present and voting. In case of a tie the Speaker exercises a ‘casting vote’.

Notes:
The 42nd Amendment to the Constitution of India states that the President can declare a national emergency only on the written recommendation of the cabinet.

Notes:
The Rules Committee of the Lok Sabha recommended for the creation of 17 Departmentally-Related Standing Committees (DRSCs) in the Parliament in 1993. However, in 2004 seven more such committees were formed, thus increasing their number from 17 to 24.

Notes:
A judge of the Supreme Court of India can resign from his office by writing to the president of India. However, he can also be removed from his office by the President of India on the recommendation of the Parliament.

Notes:
Article 143 of the Indian Constitution authorises the president to seek the opinion of the Supreme Court on the following matters: (1) On any question of law or fact of public importance which has arisen or which is likely to arise and (2) On any dispute arising out of any pre-constitution treaty, agreement, covenant, engagement, sanad or other similar instruments.

Notes:
The governor of the state is empowered to direct that an act of Parliament does not apply to a scheduled area in the state or apply with specified modifications and exceptions.