Indian Polity & Constitution MCQs

Notes:
Article 58 of the constitution lays down the qualifications of a president in India. These qualifications are:

• He should be a citizen of India,
• He must have completed the age of 35 years
• He must be qualified to become a Lok Sabha member.
• He should not hold any office of profit under Union or state government.

Notes:
The district judge is the highest judicial authority in the district. Appeals against the orders and Judgements of the district judge lie to the High Court.

Notes:
The makers of the Constitution of India chose the scheme of federation from the model prevalent in Canada. The Indian federal structure is often described as “quasi-federal” because it has a strong central government, much like the Canadian model, which combines elements of both federalism and unitary governance.

Notes:
Like Presidential election, election of vice president is held via system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote {indirect election}. However, Vice President is elected by Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha MPs. The MLAs or MLCs have no role to play here. This sounds to be an anomaly but it is justified by giving logic that Vice President works as president of the whole country in rare occasions when President is not available. In normal circumstances, his work is to preside the Rajya Sabha.

Notes:
Five current states viz. Goa, Himachal Pradesh, Manipur, Tripura and Mizoram were union territories before becoming full-fledged states. Goa became state in 1987, Himachal Pradesh in 1971, Manipur and Tripura in 1972 and Mizoram became state in 1987.
Sikkim had become a Protectorate in 1974 and it was given full statehood in 1974 under 35th amendment. Jammu & Kashmir is the only state in India which has been converted to two two Union Territories.

Notes:
Constitution (43rd) Amendment Act, 1977 restored the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court and the High Courts in respect of judicial review and issue of writs.

Notes:
The Joint Committee on Office of Profit is constituted in pursuance of a Government motion adopted by Lok Sabha and concurred in by Rajya Sabha. It consists of 15 members. Ten members are elected from Lok Sabha and five members from Rajya Sabha, who are elected from amongst the members of the respective Houses according to the principle of proportional representation by means of single transferable vote. The Committee is constituted for the duration of each Lok Sabha. The main functions of the Committee are examine the composition and character of the Committees appointed by the Central and State Governments and to recommend what offices should disqualify and what offices should not disqualify a person for being chosen as, and for being, a member of either House of Parliament under article 102 of the Constitution. The Reports of the Committee are presented to Lok Sabha and laid on the Table of Rajya Sabha.

Notes:
Himachal Pradesh, Manipur and Tripura were Union Territories before they were upgraded to full fledged state. Sikkim was admitted in India as a full fledged state only.

Notes:
Para 248 of the S.R. Bommai vs Union Of India (1994) judgement reads: The preamble of the Constitution is an integral part of the Constitution. Democratic form of Government, federal structure, unity and integrity of the nation, secularism, socialism, social justice and judicial review are basic features of the Constitution. In the LIC of India case (1995) also, Supreme Court again held that the Preamble is an integral part of the Constitution of India.

Notes:
The outcome of the Simon Commission was the Government of India Act 1935, which called for “responsible” government at the provincial level in India but not at the national level—that is a government responsible to the Indian community rather than London.