Daily Quiz: UPSC Prelims Marathon – December 12, 2018

The constitution has not prescribed any time limit within which the President has to take decision with regard to a bill reserved by the governor for his consideration. Hence, the second statement is incorrect.

The governor is empowered to reserve certain types of bill passed by the state legislature for the consideration of the president. The president can withhold his assent to such bills not only in the first instance but also in the second instance. Thus, the president enjoys absolute veto (and not suspensive veto) over state bills.

Statement 1 is correct – The chairman of the Committee on Public Undertakings is appointed by the Speaker of Lok Sabha from amongst its members who are drawn from the Lok Sabha only. Thus, the members of the committee who are from the Rajya Sabha cannot be appointed as the chairman.

Statement 2 is incorrect. The Estimates Committee lacks the expert assistance of the CAG which is available to the Public Accounts Committee. In the fulfillment of the functions of assigned to the Public Accounts Committee, the committee is assisted by the CAG. Thus, the CAG acts as a guide, friend and philosopher of the committee.

Statement 1 is incorrect. Parliamentary forums aims to provide a platform to the Members of Parliament to have interactions with the ministers concerned, experts and key officials from the nodal ministries with a view to have a focused and meaningful discussion on critical issues with a result-oriented approach for speeding up the implementation process. They sensitise members about the key areas of concern and also about the ground level situation to enable them to raise the issues effectively on the Floor of the House.

Parliamentary Forums prepare a data-base through collection of data on critical issues from ministries concerned, reliable NGOs, newspapers, United Nations, Internet, etc.

Statement 2 is incorrect. The Speaker of Lok Sabha is the ex-officio President of all the Forums except the Parliamentary Forum on Population and Public Health wherein the Chairman of Rajya Sabha is the ex-officio President and the Speaker is the ex-officio Co-President. The Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha, the Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha, the concerned Ministers and the Chairmen of Departmentally-Related Standing Committees are the ex-officio Vice- Presidents of the respective Forums.

Knowledge Base)

At present, there are eight Parliamentary forums. They are

1. Parliamentary Forum on Water Conservation and Management (2005)
2. Parliamentary Forum on Youth (2006)
3. Parliamentary Forum on Children (2006)
4. Parliamentary Forum on Population and Public Health (2006)
5. Parliamentary Forum on Global Warming and Climate Change (2008)
6. Parliamentary Forum on Disaster Management (2011)
7. Parliamentary Forum on Artisans and Crafts-people (2013)                                 
8. Parliamentary Forum on Millennium Development Goals (2013)

Both the statements are correct. The Supreme Court in 1992 stated that Fundamental duties can be used in determining the constitutionality of any law.

The Parliament is free to enforce Fundamental duties through a suitable legislation. Many legislations like the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971 make insult to national symbols a punishable act.

Statement 1 is incorrect. Formation of new state requires amendment in constitution under article 3 by simple majority and it is not considered as amendment under the article 368.

Statement 2 is correct. Special majority under article 368 required for amendment by parliament is the majority of the total membership of each House and a majority of two-thirds of the members present and voting. Amendment of the provisions related to federal features of the constitution requires consent of the half of the states along with the special majority.

The Panchayati Raj system aims to promote democracy in grass root level. The 73rd Amendment of the Constitution provided a provision for the mandatory creation of the Gram Sabha. As per the act, it would comprise of all the adult members registered as voters in the Panchayat area. Its role and functions are decided by State legislation.

Panchayati Raj is the third tier of the government aimed at development and social justice at the local level and acts as an instrument of decentralization of powers.

Statement 1 is correct. The Vice-President can be removed by a resolution of the Rajya Sabha passed by an absolute majority (i.e., a majority of the total members of the House) and agreed to by the Lok Sabha. But, no such resolution can be moved unless at least 14 days’ advance notice has been given.

Statement 2 is incorrect. The Rajya Sabha can discuss the Annual Financial Statement or the Budget.

Statement 3 is incorrect.  No-confidence motion can be moved only in Lok Sabha (or state assembly as the case may be). It is not allowed in Rajya Sabha (or state legislative council).