21. Consider the following:
- Directive Principles of State Policy
- Fundamental Rights
- Fundamental Duties
The provisions related to cooperatives are found in __?
[A] Only 1
[B] Only 1 & 2
[C] 1, 2 & 3
[D] Only 2
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Only 1 & 2]
Notes:
Via the 97th amendment, in Part III of the constitution, after words “or unions” the words “Cooperative Societies” was added. In Part V a new Article 43B was inserted, which says: The state shall endeavour to promote voluntary formation, autonomous functioning, democratic control and professional management of the co-operative societies”. After Part IXA of the constitution, a Part IXB was inserted to accommodate state vs centre roles.
22. Consider the following statements regarding the powers of a Governor of an Indian state:
- The Governor can pardon a death sentence.
- The Governor can appoint 1/6th of the members of the State Legislative Council.
- The Governor can withhold assent to money bills passed by state legislatures.
- The Governor can promulgate ordinances in the state.
Which of the above is/are correct?
[A] Only 1, 2 and 3
[B] Only 2, 3 and 4
[C] Only 1, 3 and 4
[D] Only 2 and 4
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Only 2 and 4]
Notes:
The Governor of a state cannot pardon a death sentence; only the President can under Article 72. The Governor does appoint 1/6th members of the State Legislative Council (Article 171) and can promulgate ordinances (Article 213). However, the Governor cannot withhold assent to money bills, as money bills can only be withheld by the President at the Union level.
23. Consider the following:
- Agriculture
- Land
- Law & Order
Which of the above are State subjects as per the 7th Schedule of the Constitution of India?
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
[A] Only 1 & 2
[B] Only 1 & 3
[C] Only 2 & 3
[D] 1, 2 & 3
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [1, 2 & 3]
Notes:
As per the 7th Schedule of the Indian Constitution, agriculture, land, and law & order are all under the State List, meaning they are state subjects. The State Legislature has exclusive powers to legislate on these matters. Thus, all three—agriculture, land, and law & order—are state subjects.
24. Consider the following statements with reference to Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018:
- It applies only on fugitives with economic offences not less than 10 crore
- Provision of confiscation of property without civil rights
- It has designated CBI as the nodal agency to search and seize property
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
[A] Only 2
[B] Only 2 & 3
[C] Only 1 & 3
[D] Only 1 & 2
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Only 2 ]
Notes:Statement 1 is incorrect: Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018 has been enacted to provide for measures to deter fugitive economic offenders from evading the process of law in India by staying outside the jurisdiction of Indian courts and to preserve the sanctity of the rule of law in India. The Bill allows for a person to be declared as a fugitive economic offender (FEO) if: (I) An arrest warrant has been issued against him for any specified offences where the value involved is over Rs 100 crore. (II) He has left the country and refuses to return to face prosecution.
Statement 2 is correct: Major provisions of the act are as follows:
- To declare a person an FEO, an application will be filed in a Special Court (designated under the Prevention of Money-Laundering Act, 2002)
- The Bill allows authorities to provisionally attach properties of an accused, while the application is pending before the Special Court.
- Properties of a person may be confiscated and vested in the central government without warrant, free of encumbrances (rights and claims in the property).
- The FEO or any company associated with him may be barred from filing or defending civil claims.
Statement 3 is incorrect: Under the act, only officers of the rank of Assistant Directors or above in the Enforcement Directorate could exercise power to search and seize record/property. While special Directors of Enforcement of ED’s regional offices will function as administrator of confiscated properties.
25. Consider the following with respect to the official status of Tamil language:
- Tamil Nadu
- Puducherry
- Karnataka
- Kerala
Which of the above States/UTs have Tamil as their official language?
[A] Only 1 & 2
[B] Only 2 & 3
[C] Only 2 & 4
[D] Only 1, 3 & 4
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Only 1 & 2]
Notes:
Tamil is the official language of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. While it is widely spoken by significant populations in Kerala and Karnataka, these states do not recognize Tamil as an official language. Thus, only Tamil Nadu and Puducherry have granted Tamil official language status.
26. Consider the following statements regarding the provisions made under Part IX-A of the Constitution of India for Municipalities:
- Grants-in-aid should be made to the Municipalities from the Consolidated Fund of the State.
- A separate Finance Commission should be set up for the Municipalities.
Which of the above statements is / are correct?
[A] Only 2
[B] Both 1 and 2
[C] Neither 1 nor 2
[D] Only 1
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Only 1]
Notes:
Grants-in-aid to Municipalities from the Consolidated Fund of the State are provided for in Article 243H, making statement 1 correct. However, Part IX-A mandates that the State Finance Commission review the finances of Panchayats and Municipalities together, not through a separate commission, making statement 2 incorrect.
27. Which of the following statements regarding the Presidential election in India is/are correct?
- The Secretary General, Lok Sabha is always appointed as the Returning Officer.
- The value of votes of MLAs and MPs differs from state to state.
- Members of the Electoral College are bound by party whips.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
[A] Only 1 & 2
[B] Only 3
[C] Only 2 & 3
[D] None of the above
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [None of the above]
Notes:
By convention, the Secretary General, Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha is appointed as Returning Officer by rotation, not always Lok Sabha. The value of MLAs’ votes differs by state, but all MPs have equal value. Members of the Electoral College are not bound by party whips and can vote as per their choice.
28. ‘Chandigarh Advertisement Control Order, 1954’ was in news recently, with respect to it, consider the following statements:
- It states that no person in Chandigarh can install or put up a board or banner without prior permission in writing from the competent authority.
- It does not allow any hoarding or boards or banners or any sort of advertisement at Sukhna lake.
- It disallows any advertisement that hinders the vision of drivers.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
[A] Only 1 & 2
[B] Only 2 & 3
[C] Only 1 & 3
[D] 1, 2 & 3
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [1, 2 & 3]
Notes:
- Under the Chandigarh Advertisement Control Order, 1954, no person in Chandigarh can install or put up a board or banner without prior permission in writing from the competent authority. The permissions, in such cases will also be granted only for a certain number of places.
- No person shall erect, exhibit, fix retain or display or cause to be erected, exhibited, fixed, retained or displayed any advertisement and sky sign in any street, road, a public park or part thereof in any place of public resort.”
- Chandigarh does not allow any hoarding or boards or banners or any sort of advertisement at Sukhna lake, all roundabouts, Madhya Marg, Jan Marg and all other main streets. At places other than these, it is only with the due permission of the civic body commissioner that hoardings can be allowed upon payment of a specific advertisement fee.
- The Act disallows any advertisement that hinders the vision of drivers or hinder the ready interpretation of any road traffic sign, railway or air signal.
29. Consider the following statements regarding the Right to Constitutional Remedies:
- Dr. Ambedkar referred to the Right to Constitutional Remedies as ‘the heart and soul’ of the Constitution.
- If any act of the Legislature or the Executive restricts or takes away any Fundamental Right, it shall be deemed invalid.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
[A] Only 1
[B] Only 2
[C] Both 1 and 2
[D] None of the above
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Both 1 and 2]
Notes:
Statement 1 is correct; Dr. Ambedkar described the Right to Constitutional Remedies as ‘the heart and soul’ of the Constitution. Statement 2 is also correct; any legislative or executive action infringing upon Fundamental Rights is deemed invalid by the courts. Article 32 provides this right for enforcement of Fundamental Rights.
30. Consider the following statements:
- A flexible Constitution is susceptible to subversion by interests group and therefore, successful constitutions are always rigid.
- Due to its greater flexibility, the Indian Constitution has been described as ‘a living’ document.
Which of the above is / are correct?
[A] Only 1
[B] Only 2
[C] Both 1 and 2
[D] None of the above
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Only 2]
Notes:
Only the second statement is correct. Successful constitutions strike the right balance between preserving core values and adapting them to new circumstances. You will notice the wisdom of makers of the Indian Constitution in the chapter (Chapter 9). The Indian Constitution is described as ‘a living’ document. By striking a balance between the possibility to change the provisions and the limits on such changes, the Constitution has ensured that it will survive as a document respected by people.
