Daily Quiz: UPSC Prelims Marathon (Polity & International relations)| October 25th 2020

The higher judiciary appeared to be the sole exception to this English-to-Hindi journey as Article 348(1) stipulates the use of English in the Supreme Court and High Courts as well as for drafting Bills, Acts and Orders.
But Article 348(2) read with Section (7) of the Official Languages Act 1963 provides for Hindi or other official languages to be used in High Courts “in addition to English”.
Source: Laxmikanth

The budget goes through the following six stages in the Parliament:
•Presentation of budget.
•General discussion.
•Scrutiny by departmental committees.
•Voting on demands for grants.
•Passing of appropriation bill.
•Passing of finance bill.
Source: Laxmikanth

Each state having scheduled areas has to establish a tribal advisory council to advice on welfare and advancement of the scheduled tribes.
•It is to consist of 20 members, three-fourths of whom are to be the representatives of the scheduled tribes in the state legislative assembly.
•A similar council can also be established in a state having scheduled tribes but not scheduled areas therein, if the president so directs.
Source: Laxmikanth

The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) was set up in 1985 with the principal bench at Delhi and additional benches in different states.
•At present, it has 17 regular benches, 15 of which operate at the principal seats of high courts and the remaining two at Jaipur and Lucknow.
•These benches also hold circuit sittings at other seats of high courts.
•The CAT exercises original jurisdiction in relation to recruitment and all service matters of public servants covered by it.
•Its jurisdiction extends to the all-India services, the Central civil services, civil posts under the Centre and civilian employees of defence services.
•However, the members of the defence forces, officers and servants of the Supreme Court and the secretarial staff of the Parliament are not covered by it.
•The CAT is not bound by the procedure laid down in the Civil Procedure Code of 1908. It is guided by the principles of natural justice.
•These principles keep the CAT flexible in approach. Only a nominal fee of 50 is to be paid by the applicant. The applicant may appear either in person or through a lawyer.
Source: Lamikanth

Under Article 352, the President can declare a national emergency when the security of India or a part of it is threatened by war or external aggression or armed rebellion.
•It may be noted that the president can declare a national emergency even before the actual occurrence of war or external aggression or armed rebellion, if he is satisfied that there is an imminent danger.
•The President, however, can proclaim a national emergency only after receiving a written recommendation from the cabinet.
•This means that the emergency can be declared only on the concurrence of the cabinet and not merely on the advice of the prime minister.
•In 1975, the then Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi advised the president to proclaim emergency without consulting her cabinet. The cabinet was informed of the proclamation after it was made, as a fait accompli.
•The 44th Amendment Act of 1978 introduced this safeguard to eliminate any possibility of the prime minister alone taking a decision in this regard.
Source: Laxmikanth

A person to be appointed as a judge of the Supreme Court should have the following qualifications:
1. He should be a citizen of India.
2. (A) He should have been a judge of a High Court (or high courts in succession) for five years; or (B) He should have been an advocate of a High Court (or High Courts in succession) for ten years; or (C) He should be a distinguished jurist in the opinion of the president.
From the above, it is clear that the Constitution has not prescribed a minimum age for appointment as a judge of the Supreme Court.
Source: Laxmikanth

Article 100 of the Constitution of India stipulates that at least 10% of total number of members of the House must be present to constitute the quorum to constitute a meeting of either House of Parliament.
•It means that there must be at least 55 members present in the Lok Sabha and 25 members present in the Rajya Sabha, if any business is to be conducted.
•Quorum also includes the presiding officer of the particular house (Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha).
•If there is no quorum during a meeting of the House, it is the duty of the presiding officer either to adjourn the House or to suspend the meeting until there is a quorum.
Source: Laxmikanth

When the legislatures of two or more states pass resolutions requesting the Parliament to enact laws on a matter in the State List, then the Parliament can make laws for regulating that matter.
•A law so enacted applies only to those states which have passed the resolutions. However, any other state may adopt it afterwards by passing a resolution to that effect in its legislature.
•Such a law can be amended or repealed only by the Parliament and not by the legislatures of the concerned states.
•Some examples of laws passed under the above provision are Prize Competition Act, 1955; Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972; Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974; Urban Land (Ceiling and Regulation) Act, 1976; and Transplantation of Human Organs Act, 1994.
Source: Laxmikanth

Public health and sanitation, Regulation of mines and mineral development comes under State list. Electricity is in Concurrent list.
Source: Laxmikanth

The UPSC consists of a chairman and other members appointed by the president of India.
•The Constitution, without specifying the strength of the Commission has left the matter to the discretion of the president, who determines its composition.
•Usually, the Commission consists of nine to eleven members including the chairman.
•The Constitution also authorizes the president to determine the conditions of service of the chairman and other members of the Commission.
Source: Laxmikanth