Daily Quiz: UPSC Prelims Marathon – November 21, 2018

Both the statements are correct.

Statement 1 is correct. The Rajya Sabha is the Upper House (Second Chamber or House of Elders) and the Lok Sabha is the Lower House (First Chamber or Popular House). The former represents the states and union territories of the Indian Union, while the latter represents the people of India as a whole.

The representatives of states in the Lok Sabha are directly elected by the people from the territorial constituencies in the states. The election is based on the principle of universal adult franchise. Every Indian citizen who is above 18 years of age and who is not disqualified under the provisions of the Constitution or any law is eligible to vote at such election. The voting age was reduced from 21 to 18 years by the 61st Constitutional Amendment Act, 1988.

In 1687-88, the first municipal corporation in India was set up at Madras.

Statement 1 is incorrect. The tribal areas in the four states of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram have been constituted as autonomous districts. But, they do not fall outside the executive authority of the state concerned.

Statement 2 is correct. The district and regional councils are empowered to assess and collect land revenue and to impose certain specified taxes.

The district and regional councils administer the areas under their jurisdiction. They can make laws on certain specified matters like land, forests, canal water, shifting cultivation, village administration, inheritance of property, marriage and divorce, social customs and so on. But all such laws require the assent of the Governor.

Statement 1 is correct. Delimitation literally means the act or process of fixing limits or boundaries of territorial constituencies in a country or a province having a legislative body. The job of delimitation is assigned to a high power body. Such a body is known as Delimitation Commission or a Boundary Commission.

Statement 2 is incorrect. The Delimitation Commission in India is a high-power body whose orders have the force of law and cannot be called in question before any court.

Statement 1 is incorrect. National Human Rights Commission is a statutory (and not a constitutional) body. It was established in 1993 under a legislation enacted by the Parliament, namely, the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993. This Act was amended in 2006.

Statement 2 is correct. The commission is not empowered to inquire into any matter after the expiry of one year from the date on which the act constituting violation of human rights is alleged to have been committed.

Statement 1 is incorrect. At present, the Public Accounts Committee consists of 22 members (15 from the Lok Sabha and 7 from the Rajya Sabha).

Statement 2 is correct. The function of the Public Accounts Committee is to examine the annual audit reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG), which are laid before the Parliament by the President.

Statement 3 is correct. The Public Accounts Committee is empowered to examine the appropriation accounts and the finance accounts of the Union government and any other accounts laid before the Lok Sabha.

The appropriation accounts compare the actual expenditure with the expenditure sanctioned by the Parliament through the appropriation act, while the finance accounts shows the annual receipts and disbursements of the Union government.

Statement b is incorrect. The CAG, before taking over his office, makes and subscribes before the President an oath or affirmation:

1. To bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of India;
2. To uphold the sovereignty and integrity of India;
3. To duly and faithfully and to the best of his ability, knowledge and judgement perform the duties of his office without fear or favour, affection or ill-will; and
4. To uphold the Constitution and the laws.