UPSC Essentials brings to you its initiative of daily subject-wise quizzes. These quizzes are designed to help you revise some of the most important topics from the static part of the syllabus. Each day, we cover one new subject. Attempt today’s subject quiz on Polity and Governance to check your progress. Come back tomorrow to solve the History, Culture, and Social Issues MCQs. Don’t miss checking the answers and explanations at the end of the quiz.
With reference to the Dual-member constituencies, consider the following statements:
1. It was introduced to reserve seats with sizeable SC and ST populations.
2. They were introduced by the Government of India Act, 1935.
3. It was discarded through the Two-Member Constituencies (Abolition) Act 1961.
How many of the statements given above are correct?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None
QUESTION 2
With reference to the 17th Lok Sabha, consider the following statements:
1. It set the record for most MP suspensions.
2. It was the first to go an entire term without a Deputy Speaker.
3. It witnessed lengthy interruptions and walkouts staged by members of the Opposition.
How many of the statements given above are correct?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None
QUESTION 3
Which of the following States is not included in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India?
(a) Manipur
(b) Assam
(c) Tripura
(d) Mizoram
QUESTION 4
Consider the following statements about Rajya Sabha MPs:
1. They are elected by MLAs through a direct election.
2. They are elected through a system of proportional representation by means of a single transferable vote.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
QUESTION 5
Which of the following articles of the Constitution of India provides for the rights of citizenship of certain persons of Indian origin residing outside India?
(a) Article 6
(b) Article 7
(c) Article 8
(d) Article 9
ANSWERS TO THE MCQs
1. (b)
FYI:
— Dual-member constituencies were introduced by the Delimitation Commission Act, of 1952. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.
— It was introduced to reserve seats with sizeable SC and ST populations. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
— Seats with more than half the population belonging to SCs or STs were single-member constituencies.
— However, after the first two Lok Sabha elections, in 1952 and 1957, the system was discarded through the Two-Member Constituencies (Abolition) Act, 1961. Hence, statement 3 is correct.
— There were 86 two-member seats in the 1952 Lok Sabha elections. Uttar Pradesh had the most, with 17 seats out of a total of 69, while Madhya Pradesh and the former Vindhya Pradesh had the largest percentage, with 50%. West Bengal had the sole three-member seat, with one MP from the general, one from the SC, and one from the ST categories. There were 91 two-member seats in 1957, with UP having the most (18) and Odisha having the largest proportion (50%). In 1951, there were 579 two-member Assembly seats (and one three-member seat in the former Bombay state) and 551 in 1957.
— Dual-membership faced major criticism after the 1957 election as 20 such constituencies saw winners from the same group, either SC or ST, and did not elect a general candidate.
Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.
2. (c)
FYI:
— Since the first Lok Sabha met between 1952 and 1957, the number of sittings has steadily decreased over time. While the first Lok Sabha met for an average of 135 days each year throughout all sessions, the 16th and 17th Lok Sabhas (under the NDA government) met for 66 and 55 days, respectively.
— The 17th Lok Sabha kicked off with a productive Budget Session in 2019, with 25 sittings and working overtime for 135% of the scheduled time.
— In terms of hours spent working, particularly discussing and passing Bills, there was a marked decline during the 17th Lok Sabha.
— The 17th Lok Sabha also set a record for the most MP suspensions, with 100 occurring during the 2023 Winter Session, when opposition members protested the government’s refusal to discuss the security breach in which two intruders jumped into the House and tossed petrol canisters. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
— This Lok Sabha was also remarkable for the lack of a Deputy Speaker. Despite the Constitution’s mandate for the election of a Speaker and Deputy Speaker, the 17th Lok Sabha was the first to go a complete term without a Deputy Speaker. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
— The 17th Lok Sabha witnessed lengthy interruptions and walkouts staged by members of the Opposition. Hence, statement 3 is correct.
Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.
3. (a)
FYI:
— The Sixth Schedule under Article 244 provides for the formation of autonomous administrative divisions — Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) — that have some legislative, judicial, and administrative autonomy within a state.
— ADCs have up to 30 members with a term of five years and can make laws, rules, and regulations with regard to land, forest, water, agriculture, village councils, health, sanitation, village and town-level policing, inheritance, marriage and divorce, social customs and mining, etc.
— The Bodoland Territorial Council in Assam is an exception with more than 40 members and the right to make laws on 39 issues.
— The Sixth Schedule applies to the Northeastern states of Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram (three Councils each), and Tripura (one Council).
Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.
4. (b)
FYI:
— The Rajya Sabha elections for 56 seats from 15 states that will become vacant in April will take place on February 27. These states include Uttar Pradesh (10 vacancies), Maharashtra, and Bihar (6 vacancies each).
— Rajya Sabha, or the Council of States, has 245 seats. Of these, 12 are nominated by the President and 233 are representatives of states and the Union territories of Delhi and Puducherry.
— Rajya Sabha MPs are elected by MLAs through an indirect election. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.
— Article 80(4) provides that members shall be elected by the elected members of state Assemblies through a system of proportional representation (made on the basis of the population of each state) by means of a single transferable vote. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.
5. (c)
FYI:
— Article 8 of the Constitution of India provides for the rights of citizenship of certain persons of Indian origin residing outside India.
— Notwithstanding anything in Article 5, any person who or either of whose parents or any of whose grand-parents was born in India as defined in the Government of India Act, 1935 (as originally enacted), and who is ordinarily residing in any country outside India as so defined shall be deemed to be a citizen of India if he has been registered as a citizen of India by the diplomatic or consular representative of India in the country where he is for the time being residing on an application made by him therefor to such diplomatic or consular representative, whether before or after the commencement of this Constitution, in the form and manner prescribed by the Government of the Dominion of India or the Government of India.
Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.
(Source: Constitution of India)
Previous Daily Subject-Wise-Quiz
Daily subject-wise quiz — Polity and Governance (Week 45)
Daily Subject-wise quiz — History, Culture, and Social Issues (Week 45)
Daily subject-wise quiz — Environment, Geography, Science and Technology (Week 45)
Daily subject-wise quiz — Economy (Week 45)
Daily subject-wise quiz – International Relations (Week 45)
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