Indian Polity & Constitution MCQs

Notes:
Knesset is the unicameral national legislature of Israel. As the legislative branch of the Israeli government, the Knesset passes all laws, elects the President and Prime Minister, approves the cabinet, and supervises the work of the government. In addition, the Knesset elects the State Comptroller. It also has the power to waive the immunity of its members, remove the President and the State Comptroller from office, dissolve the government in a constructive vote of no confidence, and to dissolve itself and call new elections. The Prime Minister may dissolve the Knesset. The Knesset is located in Givat Ram, Jerusalem.

Notes:
WE, THE PEOPLE OF INDIA, are having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a SOVEREIGN, SOCIALIST, SECULAR, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC and to secure to all its citizens:
JUSTICE, social, economic and political;
LIBERTY of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship;
EQUALITY of status and of opportunity; and to promote among them all
FRATERNITY assuring the dignity of the individual and the unity and integrity of the Nation;
IN OUR CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY this 26th day of November, 1949, do HEREBY ADOPT, ENACT AND GIVE TO OURSELVES THIS CONSTITUTION.

Notes:
Preamble can be amended by Parliament using its amendment powers as per article 368. We note here that preamble has been amended only once so far through the 42nd Constitution Amendment Act 1976. The words Secular, Socialist and Integrity were added to the constitution.

Notes:
Charter Act 1833 or the Saint Helena Act 1833  was passed by the British Parliament to renew the charter of East India Company which was last renewed in 1813. Via this act, the charter was renewed for 20 years but the East India Company was deprived of its commercial privileges which it enjoyed so far.

Notes:
The Constitution (First Amendment) Act, 1951, enacted in 1951, had made several changes to the provisions related to Fundamental Rights s to check abuse of freedom of speech and expression; validation of zamindari abolition laws etc. This amendment provided that right to equality does not bar the enactment of laws which provide “special consideration” for weaker sections of society.

Notes:
Andaman and Nicobar Islands judiciary falls under the supervision of the Kolkata High Court, whereby a circuit bench of the Kolkata High Court operates from Port Blair.

Notes:
Safeguarding the public Property [Article 51A (i)]; developing scientific temper [Article 51A (h)] and promoting communal harmony [Article 51A (e)].

Notes:
Officially, there are 6 minorities in India viz. Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Parsis and Jains. The Union Government set up the National Commission for Minorities (NCM) under the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992. The commission is made up of a Chairperson, a Vice Chairperson and five members. Unlike other bodies like NCSC and NCST, NCM has no constitutional backing or status.

Notes:
The closure motion is a motion moved by a member of parliament to cut short the debate on a matter before the House. If the motion is approved by the House, debate is stopped forthwith and the matter is put to vote.

Notes:
The constitution of 1950 had provided for three main types of states and a class of territories:
Part A states, which were the former governors’ provinces of British India, were ruled by a governor appointed by the president and an elected state legislature. The nine Part A states were Assam, Bihar, Bombay, Madhya Pradesh (formerly Central Provinces and Berar), Madras, Orissa, Punjab (formerly East Punjab), Uttar Pradesh (formerly the United Provinces), and West Bengal.
Part B states, which were former princely states or groups of princely states, governed by a rajpramukh, who was usually the ruler of a constituent state, and an elected legislature. The rajpramukh was appointed by the President of India. The eight Part B states were Hyderabad, Jammu and Kashmir, Madhya Bharat, Mysore, Patiala and East Punjab States Union (PEPSU), Rajasthan, Saurashtra, and Travancore-Cochin.
Part C states included both the former chief commissioners’ provinces and some princely states, and each was governed by a chief commissioner appointed by the President of India. The ten Part C states were Ajmer, Bhopal, Bilaspur, Coorg, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Cutch, Manipur, Tripura, and Vindhya Pradesh.
The sole Part D territory was the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, which were administered by a lieutenant governor appointed by the central government.