Daily Quiz: UPSC Prelims Marathon- September 27

The Central Government has launched “Diksha Portal diksha.gov.in” for teachers on 5th September 2017. This portal was launched by Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu on the occasion of Teacher’s Day.

Originally, DIKSHA portal has been created to provide digital and advance technology to teachers. The main objective of the initiation portal is to focus the whole life cycle of the teacher, from the fact that he is a student teacher till his retirement. The Ministry of Human Resource Development has also set up a slogan National Digital Infrastructure for Our Teachers Our Heroes for DIKSHA national teacher’s portal.

: Originally the commission had only a Chief Election Commissioner. It currently consists of Chief Election Commissioner and two Election Commissioners.For the first time two additional Commissioners were appointed on 16th October 1989 but they had a very short tenure till 1st January 1990. Later, on 1st October 1993 two additional Election Commissioners were appointed. The concept of multi-member Commission has been in operation since then, with decision making power by majority vote.

The voting age was reduced from 21 to 18 years by the 61^st Constitutional Amendment Act, 1989

Statement 3 is Incorrect:

• In the year 1991 a UN-sponsored meeting of representatives of national institutions held in Paris, a detailed set of principles on the status of national institutions was developed, these are commonly known as theParis Principles. These principles, became the foundation for the establishment and operation of national human rights institutions.
• The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) was established on October 12, 1993. Its statute is contained in the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, and is in conformity with the Paris Principles.
• NHRC has the powers of a civil court.
• The chairman of NHRC should be a retired Chief Justice of India.

• NHRC can only make recommendations, without the power to enforce decisions. This lack of authority to ensure compliance can lead to outright rejection of its decision too.

Fundamental Rights available to only citizens and not foreigners

• Prohibition of discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth (Article 15).
• Equality of opportunity in matters of public employment (Article 16).
• Six basic freedoms subject to reasonable restrictions (Article 19).
• Protection of language, script and culture of minorities (Article 29).
• Right of minorities to establish and administer educational institutions (Article 30).

Fundamental Rights guaranteed by Articles 14,20,21, 21A, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 and 28 are available to all persons whether citizens or foreigners. These are as follows:

• Equality before law and equal protection of laws (Article 14).
• Protection in respect of conviction for offences (Article 20).
• Protection of life and personal liberty (Article 21).
• Right to elementary education (Article 21A).
• Protection against arrest and detention in certain cases (Article 22).
• Prohibition of traffic in human beings and forced labour (Article 23).
• Prohibition of employment of children in factories etc., (Article 24).
• Freedom of conscience and free profession, practice and propagation of religion (Article 25).
• Freedom to manage religious affairs (Article 26).
• Freedom from payment of taxes for promotion of any religion (Article 27).
• Freedom from attending religious instruction or worship in certain educational institutions (Article 28).

All statements are correct.

• A bill to amend the constitution must be introduced either by private member or minister.

A constitution amendment can’t be made by ordinance. Also no provision for joint sitting is available in case of disagreement.

1. Cabinet System of Ministers- U.K. constitution
2. Election of members of RajyaSabha – South African constitution
3. Appointment of state Governors by the centre- Canadian constitution
4. Concurrent list- Australian constitution

NOTE: The feature borrowed from Irish Constitution is Nomination of members to Rajyasabha and not Election of members of RajyaSabha.

Both the statements are correct

• From Aug 15, 1947 to Jan 26, 1950, India’s political status was that of a ‘Dominion’ in the British Commonwealth of Nations. India ceased to be a British Dominion by declaring herself Sovereign Republic on jan 26 1950.

Pakistan continued to be a British Dominion till 1956.