Indian Constitution Quiz 2

Hint

Article 80 of the Constitution lays down the maximum strength of Rajya Sabha as 250, out of which 12 members are nominated by the President and 238 are representatives of the States and Union Territories.

Article 81 deals with the Composition of the Lok Sabha. The maximum strength of Lok Sabha is 552 members, which is made up by the election of up to 530 members to represent the States, up to 20 members to represent the Union Territories and 2 members to be nominated by the President from the Anglo-Indian Community. At present, the strength of the House is 545 (543+2 Anglo-Indian).

Hint

Social and Political rights possess the essential characteristics of human rights. Political rights encompass traditional human rights, such as life, liberty, and freedom of expression. Freedom of religion in India is a fundamental right guaranteed by Article 25-28 of the Constitution of India.
The constitution of India does not expressly provide for socio-economic rights as the fundamental rights but they are a part of the Directive Principles of State Policy.

Hint

The preamble to the Constitution: WE, THE PEOPLE OF INDIA, 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.

Hint

The provisions of a Federation with a strong centre, Residuary powers of the Centre, the appointment of State governors by the Centre and the advisory jurisdiction of the Supreme Court, have all been borrowed from the Canadian constitution.

Hint

Mahatma Gandhi was not a member of the Constituent Assembly established in July 1946. The 389-member assembly (reduced to 299 after the partition of India) took almost three years to draft the constitution holding eleven sessions over a 165-day period.

Hint

When the offices of both the President and Vice President of India are vacant, the Chief Justice of India or, in his absence, the seniormost Judge of the Supreme Court of India will discharge the functions.

Hint

A writ of mandamus (which means “we command” in Latin), is the name of one of the prerogative writs in the common law, and is issued by a superior court to compel a lower court or a government officer to perform mandatory or purely ministerial duties correctly.

Hint

The term Fourth Estate or fourth power refers to the press and news media both in the explicit capacity of advocacy and implicit ability to frame political issues. LEGISLATIVE is the First Estate (the body which makes laws), EXECUTIVE is the Second Estate (executes and enforces laws) and the Third Estate is JUDICIARY (works to protect laws) of democracy.

Hint

As per Article 118(4), the Speaker of the Lok Sabha presides over the joint sitting of the two Houses. The Speaker casts vote in the event of a tie.

Hint

The allocation of seats is made on the basis of the population of each State.

Hint

It is stated in Article 85 of the constitution that there should not be a gap of more than six months between two sessions of Parliament.

Hint

In order to be chosen a member of Parliament (Article 84(b)), a person must be a citizen of India and not less than 30 years of age in the case of Rajya Sabha and not less than 25 years of age in the case of Lok Sabha.

Hint

State-wise Representation of Members: Uttar Pradesh — 80 (15.15%); Maharashtra — 48 (9.9%); Bihar — 40 (7.58%); Tamil Nadu — 39 (7.39%); Madhya Pradesh — 28 (5.3%); Kamataka — 28 (5.3%); Andhra Pradesh — 25 (4.73%); Rajasthan — 25 (4.73%)…

Hint

Comptroller and Auditor-General (CAG) is appointed by the President by warrant under his hand and seal and provided with tenure of 6 years or 65 years of age, whichever is earlier (Article 148).

Hint

The manner of election of the President is provided by Article 55 of the constitution. The President of India is elected by the Members of an Electoral College consisting of the elected members of both Houses of Parliament and the elected members of the Legislative Assemblies of the States and Union Territory.

Hint

Article 51-A of the Constitution deals with Fundamental Duties. There are eleven Fundamental Duties are included in the Indian Constitution. The fundamental duties were added by the 42nd Amendment Act of the Constitution in 1976.

Hint

The Constitution empowers the President to summon each House at such intervals that there should not be more than a six-month gap between the two sessions. Hence the Parliament must meet at least twice a year.

Hint

Any person who is convicted for the offence which is punishable with imprisonment of seven years or more on a trial held by a session judge or held by another court may appeal to High Court.

Hint

Article 89 of the constitution of India deals with The Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Council of States (Rajya Sabha). The Vice President of India is the ex-officio Chairman of Rajya Sabha. The House also elects a Deputy Chairman from among its members.

Hint

A quasi-legislative capacity is that in which a public administrative agency or body acts when it makes rules and regulations. Quasi-judicial is defined as an action by an administrative agency which ascertains certain facts, holds hearings, weighs evidence, makes conclusions from the facts as a basis for their official action, and exercises discretion of judicial nature.

Hint

The idea of the legislature as the custodian of national purse was for the first time mooted by the Government of India Act, 1909. It is considered as the custodian as it is the primary and most often the exclusive arbiter of federal fiscal affairs.

Hint

In 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced Planning Commission’s abolition and created NITI Aayog through an executive resolution. It is neither a constitutional body nor a statutory body. The NITI (National Institution for Transforming India) Aayog is a public policy think tank of the Government of India.

Hint

Article 317 of the Indian Constitution deals with the Removal and suspension of a member of a Public Service Commission. As per this article, The Chairman or any other member of UPSC shall only be removed from his/her office by order of the President of India on the basis of an inquiry and report by the Supreme Court.

Hint

A Minister who is a member of Lok Sabha has the right to speak in and take part in the proceedings of Rajya Sabha but has no right to vote in Rajya Sabha and vice-versa.

Hint

The right to vote in elections to a Parliament is a Constitutional Right. The right originates from the Constitution and in accordance with the constitutional mandate contained in Article 326.

Hint

In India, the power to issue a writ of habeas corpus is vested only in the Supreme Court and the High Court. Habeas corpus is the writ which was visualized as an effective means to provide a quick remedy to a person who has lost his personal liberty without any legal justification.

Hint

Residuary Powers are special powers entrusted by the Constitution, to the Union Government. The Parliament has powers to make any law with respect to any matter which is not a part of the Concurrent List or State List.

Hint

The Fundamental Duty, given in Article 51A of the Indian Constitution clearly mentions the duty of the citizen to protect the environment. As of now, there are 11 Fundamental duties.

Hint

The 44th Amendment of 1978 removed the right to property from the list of Fundamental Rights. A new provision, Article 300A, was added to the constitution, which provided that “no person shall be deprived of his property save by authority of law”.

Hint

Article 12 to 35 of the Constitution of India deal with Fundamental Rights. These are inspired by the Constitution of United States of America.

Hint

Article 80(2) of the Constitution of India deals with the allocation of seats in the Council of States (Rajya Sabha). Twelve members are nominated to the Rajya Sabha by the President of India for their contributions towards arts, literature, sciences, and social services.

Hint

Article 17 of the Indian constitution mainly deals with the account of untouchability. According to this article, Untouchability is abolished and its practice in any form is forbidden.

Hint

When the Offices of both the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker fall vacant, the duties of the Office of the Speaker are performed by such Member of the Lok Sabha as the President may appoint for the purpose. The person so appointed is known as the Speaker pro tem.

Hint

73rd constitutional amendment 1993 gives the constitutional status to Panchayati Raj. The 11th Schedule of the Indian Constitution was added by the 73rd Constitution Amendment Act. This schedule contains 29 subjects. This schedule covers important topics such as Panchayat’s powers, rural development, poverty alleviation, market, roads and drinking water, etc.

Hint

The Indian Parliament comprises the President and the two Houses – Rajya Sabha (Council of States) and Lok Sabha (House of the People). The President has the power to summon and prorogue either House of Parliament or to dissolve Lok Sabha.

Hint

According to Article-42 of the constitution of India, the State shall make provision for securing just and humane conditions of work and for maternity relief.

Hint

The minimum age required to become a member of the Rajya Sabha is 30 years and that of Lok Sabha is 25 years.

Hint

Election (Lok Sabha/Vidhan Sabha) petitions are filed in the High Court of the particular state in which the election was conducted.

Hint

Under Section 151 of The Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 (CrPC) preventive detention is an action taken on grounds of suspicion that some wrong actions may be done by the person concerned.

Hint

Under Article 356 of the Constitution of India, in the event that a state government is unable to function according to Constitutional provisions, the Union government can take direct control of the state machinery.

Hint

Article 32 deals with the ‘Right to Constitutional Remedies’, or affirms the right to move the Supreme Court by appropriate proceedings for the enforcement of the rights conferred in Part III of the Constitution. Article 32 is the protector of the rights of the citizens of India and is regarded as the ‘heart and soul of the constitution’.

Hint

The strike is one of such crucial rights available to those who are covered by the Industrial Disputes Act. Thus the right of Government Employees to resort to strike, even in the services declared to be of public utility either under the Industrial Disputes Act or by way of an executive notification, is an unqualified statutory right.

Hint

Finance Commission is a constitutional body for the purpose of allocation of certain revenue resources between the Union and the State Governments. It was established under Article 280 of the Indian Constitution by the Indian President. It was created to define the financial relations between the Centre and the states.

Hint

Article 66 of the Indian Constitution states the manner of election of the Vice President. The Vice President is elected indirectly, by an electoral college consisting of members (elected as well as nominated) of both houses of the Parliament.

Hint

Court of Sessions Judge is the highest apex of the subordinate criminal courts in the district. The district court is also a court of sessions when it exercises its jurisdiction on criminal matters under the Code of Criminal procedure. The district and sessions judge is often referred to as “district judge” when presiding over civil matters and “sessions judge” when presiding over criminal matters.

Hint

If approved by the Parliament, President’s rule can continue for 6 months. It can be extended for a maximum of 3 years with the approval of the Parliament done every 6 months.

Hint

Social justice is mentioned in the Preamble of the Constitution — “We the People of India… to secure to all its citizens: JUSTICE, social, economic and political…”.

Hint

National emergency could be declared on the basis of external aggression or war and internal disturbance in the whole of India or a part of its territory under Article 352.

Hint

Article 110 deals with money bills. The Speaker of the Lok Sabha has the final authority to determine whether a bill is a money bill or not. Recommendation of the President is mandatory before presenting the money bills in Parliament. Money Bills cannot be amended or rejected by the Rajya Sabha.