Daily Static MCQs for UPSC & State PSC Exams - Polity (03 October 2023)

Daily Static MCQs Quiz for UPSC, IAS, UPPSC/UPPCS, MPPSC. BPSC, RPSC & All State PSC Exams

Subject : Polity

1. Consider the following statements regarding Attorney General for India:

1. Attorney General for India is the Government of India’s first law officer, and has the right of audience in all courts of the country.
2. He is a member of the Union Cabinet.
3. According to the Constitution of India, it shall be the duty of the Attorney-General to perform such duties of a legal character, assigned to him by the President.

How many of the above statements is/are correct?

(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None

Answer: (B)

Explanation:

  • The Constitution of India places the post of the A-G on a special footing. The A-G is the Government of India’s first law officer, and has the right of audience in all courts of the country. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
  • Article 76(2) of the Constitution says “it shall be the duty of the Attorney-General to give advice to the Government of India upon such legal matters, and to perform such other duties of a legal character, as may from time to time be referred or assigned to him by the President”. Hence, statement 3 is correct.
  • The A-G is also supposed to “discharge the functions conferred on him by or under this Constitution or any other law for the time being in force”. Also, the A-G for India is not, like the A-G for England and Wales and the A-G of the United States, a member of the Cabinet. Hence, statement 2 is incorrect.

2. Consider the following statements regarding President’s rule that is imposed under Article 356 of the Constitution:

1. It cannot be imposed without the written recommendation of the Governor of the concerned state.
2. Every proclamation of President’s rule must be approved by both the houses of Parliament within a stipulated time.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: (B)

Explanation: Article 356 empowers the President to issue a proclamation, if he is satisfied that a situation has arisen in which the government of a state cannot be carried on in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution. Notably, the president can act either on a report of the governor of the state or otherwise too (ie, even without the governor’s report). A proclamation imposing President’s Rule must be approved by both the Houses of Parliament within two months from the date of its issue. If approved by both the Houses of Parliament, the President’s Rule continues for six months. Hence, statement 1 is incorrect.

3. Consider the following statements:

1. The guidelines for registration of political parties are issued under Representation of the People Act, 1951.
2. The Election Commission of India (ECI) has statutory power to enforce internal democracy in political parties and to remind parties to conduct elections and to ensure that their leadership is renewed, changed or re-elected every five years.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: (A)

Explanation: The ECI has periodically used guidelines issued for registration of parties under Section 29A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 to remind parties to conduct elections and to ensure that their leadership is renewed, changed or re-elected every five years. But the commission does not have any statutory power to enforce internal democracy in parties or to mandate elections. Hence, statement 2 is incorrect.

4. A federal government means a government in which:

(a) there is division of powers between the Central and state governments; and also between the federal and state judiciaries.
(b) all the powers are vested in the national government and the regional governments derive their authority from the national government.
(c) a large number of powers are vested in the national government and the regional governments, with some independent powers, derive their authority from the national government.
(d) powers are divided between the national government and the regional governments by the Constitution and both operate in their respective jurisdictions independently.

Answer: (D)

Explanation: A federal government is one in which powers are divided between the national government and the regional governments by the Constitution itself and both operate in their respective jurisdictions independently. In a federal model, the national government is known as the Federal government or the Central government or the Union government and the regional government is known as the state government or the provincial government. Hence, option (d) is correct.

5. Consider the following statements:

1. According to Article 200 of the Constitution of India, the Governor can reserve a bill for the consideration of the President only if the Governor forms an opinion that the Bill would endanger the position of the High Court.
2. The Constitution of India does not mention the grounds on which a Governor may withhold his assent to a Bill.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: (C)

Explanation: Article 200 of the Constitution provides certain options for the Governor to exercise when a Bill reaches him from the Assembly. The provision concerned makes it clear that a Bill can be reserved for the consideration of the President only if the Governor forms an opinion that the Bill would endanger the position of the High Court by whittling away its powers. The Constitution does not mention any other type of Bill which is required to be reserved for the consideration of the President. The fact that the Constitution does not mention the grounds on which a Governor may withhold assent to a Bill shows that this power should be exercised by the Governor extremely sparingly and after very careful consideration of the consequences of such action. Hence, both statements are correct.