Indian Polity & Constitution MCQs

Notes:
61st Amendment Act, 1989 reduced the voting age from 21 years to 18 years for the Lok Sabha and state legislative assembly elections.

Notes:
Before the 52nd Amendment Act, there was no constitutional recognition to political parties in India. It was the anti-defection law that gave for the first time a clear-cut constitutional recognition to the existence of political parties.

Notes:
From time to time, the sessions of the parliament are called upon by president. According to constitution, the maximum gap between two sessions cannot be more than six months. Thus, in each year, there must be two sessions of parliament. However, there are usually three sessions viz. Budget session (between February to May), Monsoon Session (between July to September) and Winter Session (Between November to December).

Notes:
As per Article 61, President of India can be impeached on ground of violation of the Constitution. However what amounts to violation of the Constitution has not been defined. The process of impeachment can begin in any of Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha. The charges for impeachment should be signed by 1/4 members of the house in which the process begins and a notice of 14 days should be given to the President. The impeachment bill has to be passed by majority of not less than two-thirds of the total membership of the House {special majority}. One passed in that house, the bill reaches to another house, which shall investigate the charges. President has right to appear and be represented in case of such investigations. If other house also sustains those charges, then it would again need to pass the bill by special majority and thus president stands removed from the office on which the bill is passed in other house. Since it is a bill for removal of president himself, no presidential assent is needed here.

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.

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The system called Dyarchy or diarchy, literally meaning double government was introduced by GOI Act, 1919 for the provinces of British India. The act is also known to have marked the first introduction of the democratic principle into the executive branch of the British administration of India.

Notes:
In the Constitution of India, there is a provision made for each of the Indian states to choose their own official language for communicating at the state level. The selected languages, which can be used for official purpose, have been listed in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution. Originally, there were 14 languages in the 8th schedule. The further languages were added as follows:

• Sindhi by 21st amendment, 1967
• Konkani, Manipuri and Nepali languages by 71st amendment, 1992
• Bodo, Dogri, Santhali and Maithali by 92nd Amendment, 2004.

Notes:
Though the constitution came into force on 26^th Nov 1950. Some provisions relating to citizenship, Elections, Provisional Parliament, temporary and transitional provisions were given immediate effect of 26^th Nov 1949
The articles which came into force on 26^th Nov 1949 include articles 5, 6, 8, 9, 60, 324, 366, 372, 388, 391, 392 and 393

Notes:
In case of a conflict between the Directive Principles of State Policy and fundamental rights the later is to prevail. DPSPs are not enforceable by law. They are just directives to the state.

Notes:
Part V of the Constitution lists out the qualification, election and impeachment of the President of India. Article 52 states that there shall be a President of India.