Daily Quiz: UPSC Prelims Marathon – January 17, 2018

The 69th Constitutional Amendment Act 1991 made Union territory of Delhi re designated as National Capital Territory of Delhi. The act also made provision for legislative assembly and a council of ministers for Delhi.

The 53rd Constitutional Amendment Act 1986 grants Statehood to the Union Territory of Mizoram, thus making it the 23rd State of the Indian Unions.

The 56th  Constitutional Amendment Act 1987 gave statehood to Goa, Goa now becomes the 25th State of India. Daman and Diu remain a separate Union Territory.

The 61st  Constitutional Amendment Act 1989 made Voting age decreased from 21 to 18.

If the President is satisfied that a situation has arisen whereby the financial stability or credit of the country or any part of it is threatened, he/she may declare a financial emergency.

A proclamation declaring financial emergency must be approved by the Parliament within two months from the date of its issue. If the Lok Sabha gets dissolved in the mean time then it must be cleared within 30 days from the first sitting of the new Lok Sabha.

The financial emergency continues indefinitely till it is revoked.

All the statements are correct. Since CAG conducts audit of expenditure on behalf of the Parliament, it is an agent of the Parliament and thus responsible only to it.

The public corporations who get audited exclusively by private professional auditors submit their annual reports and accounts directly to the Parliament. Examples are LIC India, RBI, FCI, SBI etc.

The secret service expenditure is a limitation on the auditing role of the CAG. In this regard, the CAG cannot call for particulars of expenditure incurred by the executive agencies.

Statement 1 is incorrect. A censure motion can be moved in lower house of the parliament or in a state assembly in India. Censure motion can be moved against an individual minister, a group of ministers and the entire council of ministers.

Statement 2 is correct. The council of ministers need not resign from the office if censure motion is passed in the Lok Sabha while in case of motion of no confidence, the council of minister must resign from office if the motion is passed.

Statement 1 is correct. In the Introduction and passage of ordinary bill, constitutional Amendment bill and financial bill involving the expenditure from the consolidated fund of India, Rajyasabha has equal status with loksabha.

Statement 2 is correct .Not all bills can be referred to a joint sitting of Parliament. There are two exceptions.

Money Bill:

Under the Constitution of India, money bills require approval of the Lok Sabha only. Rajya Sabha can make recommendations to Lok Sabha, which it is not required to accept. Even if Rajya Sabha doesn’t pass a money bill within 14 days, it is deemed to have been passed by both the Houses of Parliament after expiry of the above period. Therefore, a requirement to summon a joint session can never arise in the case of money bill.

Constitution Amendment Bill:

Article 368 of Indian constitution require that constitution of India can be amended by both houses of parliament by 2/3 majority. In case of disagreement between both houses, there is no provision to summon joint session of parliament.

Statement 3 is correct. Rajyasabha can only discuss the budget but cannot vote on the demand for grants.

Statement 1 is correct. Such a bill is introduced in parliament by prior recommendation of president (because states’ interests may be involved here). States are asked to express their views in stipulated time but practically their view does not matter. Once that time is expired, parliament can enact the law even if they say no.

Statement 2 is correct. Constitution mandates that whenever such things need to be done, states must be given an opportunity to express their views. Thus, first central government will create a bill, but this bill can be introduced in parliament only by recommendation of the president. Before making such recommendation, President would send this bill to concerned state legislature and give it a fixed time to express its view on that matter. However, state’s view has no actual impact for fate of such bill. Whether the state says yes or no, once the time given to it has passed, the President may recommend the bill to be introduced in any house of parliament.

Statement 3 is correct. Article 3 empowers the parliament make changes in area, boundaries, and territory, name of states even if such proposal does not come from the concerned state. For this purpose, the central government can simply get a bill passed in the parliament by a simple majority.

Statement 1 is incorrect. Fundamental duties were added in the constitution in 1976 by 42nd constitutional amendment act. Thus they are not the original feature of the constitution while DPSP’s are.

Statement 2 is incorrect. The Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP)’s are positive as they require the state to certain things. They require legislation for their implementation. They are not automatically enforced.

Statement 3 is correct. Fundamental duties refer to such values which have been a part of Indian Tradition, mythology, religions and practices. They contain the codification of tasks integral to the Indian way of life.