Indian Polity & Constitution MCQs

Notes:
The Emergency Provisions of the Indian Constitution have been borrowed from Germany. The part 18 of Indian constitution deals with the emergency provisions. Under the emergency provisions, if the President is satisfied that a grave emergency exists whereby the security of India or of any part of the territory thereof is threatened, whether by war or external aggression or armed rebellion, he may, by Proclamation, make a declaration to that effect in respect of the whole of India or of such part of the territory thereof as may be specified in the Proclamation.

Notes:
The President of India, according to the Indian Constitution, serves as the ceremonial head of state, similar to the British Monarch. However, unlike the British Monarch, the President of India also holds residual powers that can be exercised during an emergency. Despite this, the nature of the role is largely ceremonious, much like the Queen in the UK.

Notes:
Comptroller and Auditor General of India audits the receipts and expenditure of State Governments, Government Companies and Central Government. The audit of local bodies is not done by CAG.

Notes:
Schedules are lists in the Constitution of India that categorize and tabulate bureaucratic activities and policy of the Government. Indian Constitution had originally eight schedules. 9th schedule was added via First Amendment Act. 10th Schedule was first added by 35th Amendment (Sikkim as Associate State) but as Sikkim became a state of India, the original 10 Schedule was repealed. Later it was added once again by 52th Amendment Act, 1985 to park the anti-defection law. Eleventh Schedule was added by 73rd amendment and has list of subjects under the Panchayat Raj institutions or rural local government. Twelfth Schedule was added by 74th amendment and enlists the subjects under Municipalities or urban local government.

Notes:
The first meeting of Council of State was held on 13 May 1952. However, The Rajya Sabha, its Hindi nomenclature was adopted in 23 August, 1954.

Notes:
The writ of prohibition means that the Supreme Court and High Courts may prohibit the lower courts such as special tribunals, magistrates, commissions, and other judiciary officers who are doing something which exceeds to their jurisdiction or acting contrary to the rule of natural justice. For example if a judicial officer has personal interest in a case, it may hamper the decision and the course of natural justice.

Notes:
Rajya Sabha is the upper house of parliament which represents the states and union territories. Its membership is fixed to maximum 250 members of which 238 are elected by the representatives of states and union territories while 12 members are nominated by President on account of their excellence in literature, science, art or social service. The present strength of the Rajya Sabha is 245, of whom 233 are representatives of the States/Union Territories and 12 are nominated by the President.

Notes:
In 1953, the central government established a Backwards Classes Commission under Kalelkar’s chairmanship with the charter to recommend reforms for removing inequities for underprivileged people. The Commission issued its report in 1955, recommending, among other things, that the government grant special privileges to untouchables and other underprivileged people

Notes:
Statement 2 is incorrect, as the Preamble is not enforceable in a court of law and is non-justiciable. Statements 1, 3, and 4 are correct: the objective resolution inspired the Preamble, it was amended once by the 42nd Amendment in 1976, and it emphasizes popular sovereignty.

Notes:
An all Parties Conference was held from 28th August to 31st August 1928 with the chairmanship of Motilal Nehru in Lucknow. In the conference, Motilal Nehru presented the draft of the constitution. It is known as the Nehru report. Dominion Status for India was demanded through this report. Later on 28th March 1929, Md. Ali Jinnah demanded his 14 points in the conference of Muslim League in Delhi.