Day 57 - 13 Jan - UPSC Prelim English Quiz Solution

Day 57 - 13 Jan - UPSC Prelim English Quiz Solution

Based on UPSC Syllabus and Current Affairs

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Q 1. When a member of Rajya Sabha is disqualified to be member of the House under the Tenth Schedule, the new member is elected on his seat for

a) the remaining term of disqualified member.
b) the full term of 6 year of Rajya Sabha.
c) term as the Chairman of the House specified.
d) for the term of 6 months only.
Solution:   a Explaination   

Rajya Sabha is a permanent House and is not subject to dissolution.

However, one-third Members of Rajya Sabha retire after every second year.

A member who is elected for a full term serves for a period of six years. The election held to fill a vacancy arising otherwise than by retirement of a member on the expiration of his term of office is called ‘Bye-election’.

A member elected in a bye-election remains member for the remainder of the term of the member who had resigned or died or disqualified to be member of the House under the Tenth Schedule. Hence, option (a) is correct.

Q 2. With reference to Ad hoc committees of the Parliament, consider the following statements:

1. They are constituted by the presiding officer of the Lok Sabha only.

2. Unlike Standing Committees of the Parliament which are permanent in nature, they cease to exist once they submit the report or complete their work.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2
Solution:   b Explaination   

Ad hoc Committees are those which are constituted by the House or by the Chairman or by the Presiding Officers of both the Houses jointly to consider and report on specific matters and become functus officio as soon as they complete their work. Whereas Standing Committess of the Parliament are permanent and their work is of continuous nature.

Committees which are constituted from time to time either by the House on motions moved and adopted or by the Chairman to enquire into and report on specific subjects eg the Joint Parliamentary Committee on Maintenance of Heritage Character and Development of Parliament House Complex , Joint Committee to Examine Matters Relating to Allocation and Pricing of Telecom Licences and Spectrum, etc

Q 3. Consider the following statements with respect to President's Rule:

1. It can be imposed by the President only on the grounds mentioned in Article 356 of the Constitution.

2. The proclamation of President's Rule has to be approved by both the Houses of Parliament within two months of its issue.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2
Solution:   b Explaination   

President’ Rule under Art 356, can be proclaimed on two grounds – one mentioned in Art 356 itself and the other in Art 365. Article 356 states that the President can issue a proclamation if he is satisfied that in the current situation, the state government cannot be carried on in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution. He can proclaim the State Emergency even if he doesn’t receive a report from the Governor. Article 365 says that whenever a state fails to comply with or to give effect to any direction from the Centre, it will be lawful for the President to declare State Emergency.

A proclamation imposing President’s Rule must be approved by both the Houses of Parliament within two months from the date of its issue.

Q 4. Consider the following statements regarding Plastic Waste Management in India:

1. It is regulated by the Environment (Protection) Act - 1986

2. Plastic pollution can lead to decline in crop productivity, impaired immunity and flooding.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

Plastic Waste Management in India is regulated by Environment (Protection) Act - 1986. Under the act, Plastic Waste (Management and Handling) Rules - 2016, have been formulated to regulate Plastic Waste Management in India.

Toxic chemicals leach out of plastic through landfill site, is linked to decreasing crop productivity, impacting food security, birth defects, impaired immunity, endocrine disruption and other ailments.

Every year, up to 13 million tons of plastic leak into our oceans, where it smothers coral reefs and threatens vulnerable marine wildlife. The plastic that ends up in the oceans can circle the Earth four times in a single year, and it can persist for up to 1,000 years before it fully disintegrates.

Q 5. Consider the following statements regarding the office of Deputy Speaker:

1. The office of Deputy Speaker is subordinate to the office of Speaker.

2. The Constitution provides that Deputy Speaker has to be from the opposition party.

Which of the statements given above is/are not correct?

a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2
Solution:   c Explaination   

The Deputy Speaker is not subordinate to the Speaker. He is directly responsible to the House. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.

Upto the 10th Lok Sabha, both the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker were usually from the ruling party. Since the 11th Lok Sabha, there has been a consensus that the Speaker comes from the ruling party (or ruling alliance) and the post of Deputy Speaker goes to the main opposition party. It is not mentioned in any statute. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

Q 6. Which of the following functionaries is also known as the 'Chief Whip of the Government'?

a) Prime Minister
b) Leader of the political party in majority
c) Speaker of Lok Sabha
d) Minister of Parliamentary Affairs
Solution:   d   

Minister of Parliamentary Affairs is the Chief Whip of Government. He is directly responsible to the Leader of the House. It is a part of his duties to advise the Government on Parliamentary business and to maintain a close liaison with the Ministers in regard to parliamentary business affecting their Departments.

Chief Whip in India also performs multifarious functions like to decide about the spacing of Parliament Session during the year, considering the volume of business pending, climatic conditions, festival days, etc.

Q 7. Which of the following will benefit from the compulsory reservation provisions under the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act of 1992?

1. All sitting members of the State Legislative Assembly.

2. Anyone belonging to the 'other backward classes'.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

There is no provision for reservation of seats for members of Parliament or State legislatures. Hence statement 1 is not correct.

The act also authorizes the legislature of a state to make any provision for reservation of seats in any Panchayat or offices of the chairperson in the panchayat at any level in favor of backward classes. But this is not a compulsory provision and depends on the discretion of the state legislature. Hence statement 2 is not correct.

Q 8. With reference to Speaker of Lok Sabha, consider the following statements:

1. He/she is not entitled to vote except in case when the House is divided equally on any question.

2. He/she summons and presides over a joint sitting of the two Houses of Parliament.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

Statement 1 is correct: Speaker is entitled to voteonly when the House is divided equally on any question. He does not vote in the first instance. But he can exercise a casting vote in the case of a tie. In other words, only when the House is divided equally on any question, the Speaker is entitled to vote. Such vote is called casting vote, and its purpose is to resolve a deadlock.

Statement 2 is not correct: Joint sitting is summoned by the President to settle a deadlock between the two Houses on a bill. It is presided over by Lok Sabha Speaker.