Daily Quiz: UPSC Prelims Marathon – April 18, 2018

1. Britain followed a federal form of government and India was accustomed to it is incorrect. Britain does not have a federal form of government. But then, Britain is much smaller in size.
2. Only a federal government would bring about cultural integration of the whole country is incorrect. If you want to culturally integrate the country and make it one and uniform, a unitary form of government would be more suitable.
3. The linguistic and regional diversity of the country required a federal government to meet aspirations of all sections and regions. This is because by devolving power to the lowest level – states, and even to Tribal Councils , if possible.
4. It is administratively easy to run a federal form of government is not necessarily correct.

The Electoral College elects the President of India.

The electoral college is made up of the following:

elected members of the Rajya Sabha (upper house of the Parliament of India);

elected members of the Lok Sabha (lower house of the Parliament of India);

elected members of each state Legislative Assembly; and

elected members of each union territory possessing an assembly (i.e., Delhi and Puducherry).

However, all Members of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha participate in his impeachment. No Members of State Assemblies participate in the impeachment.

The most appropriate statement is  – The President has the power neither to remove the Prime Minister nor any of his ministers unless the Prime Minister loses the support of Majority in Lok Sabha.

This can be read simply as The President has the power to remove the Prime Minister or any of his ministers if the Prime Minister loses the support of Majority in Lok Sabha.

Option 1 is incorrect as the power of the Supreme Court to issue writs is not wider than that of High Courts.

Article 141 of the Constitution of India states that the law declared by Supreme Court is to be binding on all Courts within the territory of India.

However, the rulings of Supreme Court are not binding on itself. This is to ensure that Supreme Court is able to revise and upturn its previous judgments.

NHRC (National Human Rights Commission) consists of:

• A Chairperson, retired Chief Justice of India
• One Member who is, or has been, a Judge of the Supreme Court of India
• One Member who is, or has been, the Chief Justice of a High Court
• Two Members to be appointed from among persons having knowledge of, or practical experience in, matters relating to human rights
• In addition, the Chairpersons of four National Commissions of ( 1.Minorities 2.SC and ST 3.Women) serve as ex officious members.

Hence option 1 is incorrect.

National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) of India is an autonomous public body. It is a statutory body. Its recommendations carry great value, but are not binding in nature.

Hence statement 2 is correct

Chairperson and members of the NHRC are appointed by the President of India, on the recommendation of a committee consisting of:

• The Prime Minister (chairperson)
• The Home Minister
• The Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha (House of the People)
• The Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha (Council of States)
• The Speaker of the Lok Sabha (House of the People)
• The Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha (Council of States)

Ranks of some of the persons in Table of Precedence

1. President 2. Vice-President 3. Prime Minister 4. Governors of States within their respective States 5. Former Presidents 5A. Deputy Prime Minister 6. Chief Justice of India Speaker of Lok Sabha 7. Cabinet Ministers of the Union. Chief Ministers of States within their respective States Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission Former Prime Ministers Leaders of Opposition in Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha 7A. Holders of Bharat Ratna decoration 8. Ambassadors Extraordinary & Plenipotentiary and High Commissioners of Commonwealth countries accredited to India; Governors of States outside their respective States; Chief Ministers of States outside their respective States 9. Judges of the Supreme Court 10. Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha 11. Attorney General of India  21. Members of Parliament

By 26th amendment Government decided to terminate the privy purses and privileges of the Rulers of former Indian States. Hence option 1 is correct.

21st Amendment of the Constitution of India amended the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution so as to include Sindhi as one of the languages, thereby raising the total number of languages listed in the schedule to fifteen.Hence option 2 is incorrect

51st amendment was to provide reservation to Scheduled Tribes in Nagaland, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assemblies. Hence option 3 is incorrect.

Anti defection law was introduced by 52nd Constitutional amendment act.

91st amendment added the words “or co-operative societies” after the word “or unions” in Article 19(l)(c) and insertion of article 43B i.e., Promotion of Co-operative Societies. Hence option 4 is correct.