Laxmikanth MCQs: National Commission for Minorities | Indian Polity for UPSC CSE PDF Download

Q1: Statement 1: The National Commission for Minorities (NCM) was initially established as the Minorities Commission in 1978.
Statement 2: The NCM was granted statutory status through the National Commission for Minorities Act in 1982.
Choose the correct option:
(a) Both statements are true
(b) Statement 1 is true, but statement 2 is false
(c) Statement 1 is false, but statement 2 is true
(d) Both statements are false
Ans: (b)
Statement 1 is correct as the NCM was initially established as the Minorities Commission in 1978. However, Statement 2 is incorrect because the NCM was granted statutory status in 1992, not 1982.

Q2: What was the year of establishment of the National Commission for Minorities (NCM)?
(a) 1972
(b) 1978
(c) 1992
(d) 1993
Ans: (b)
The NCM was established in 1978 by the Government of India through an executive resolution.

Q3: Assertion (A): The Jain community was added to the list of minority communities by the NCM in 2014.
Reason (R): The Act allows the Central Government to notify minority communities.
Choose the correct option:
(a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A
(b) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A
(c) A is true, but R is false
(d) A is false, but R is true
Ans: (a)
The assertion is true as the Jain community was indeed added in 2014. The reason is also true and explains why this addition was possible.

Q4: What power does the National Commission for Minorities (NCM) possess while assessing or investigating any matter?
(a) Power to issue fines.
(b) Power to arrest individuals.
(c) Power to summon and compel attendance of individuals.
(d) Power to enact laws.
Ans: (c)
The NCM possesses the power of summoning and compelling the attendance of individuals from any part of India while assessing or investigating any matter.

Q5: Statement 1: Members of the NCM, including the Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson, are appointed for a five-year term.
Statement 2: The Central Government has the authority to remove a member of the Commission under certain conditions.
Choose the correct option:
(a) Both statements are true
(b) Statement 1 is true, but statement 2 is false
(c) Statement 1 is false, but statement 2 is true
(d) Both statements are false
Ans: (c)
Statement 1 is incorrect as the term is three years, not five. Statement 2 is correct.

Q6: Which of the following is not a power of the National Commission for Minorities?
(a) Issuing summons for the examination of witnesses and documents
(b) Accepting evidence on affidavits
(c) Amending laws related to minority rights
(d) Requisitioning public records from any court or office
Ans: (c)
The NCM does not have the power to amend laws; it can only assess, investigate, and make recommendations.

Q7: In the context of the NCM, what is the role of the Central Government in relation to the Commission's annual report?
(a) It reviews and modifies the report before submission to Parliament.
(b) It presents the report to each House of Parliament.
(c) It only forwards the report to the State Governments.
(d) It has no role in the handling of the report.
Ans: (b)
The Central Government presents the NCM's annual report, along with a memorandum of action taken, to each House of Parliament.

Q8: Which of the following minority communities was included in the NCM's scope from its first statutory constitution in 1993?
(a) Jains
(b) Jews
(c) Buddhists
(d) Zoroastrians
Ans: (c)
In 1993, the NCM's scope initially included Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, and Parsis, making Buddhists one of the original communities included.

Q9: Consider the following statements regarding the National Commission for Minorities (NCM):
Statement 1: The Chairperson of the NCM must belong to a minority community.
Statement 2: The salaries, allowances, and service conditions of the NCM members are determined by the Ministry of Minority Affairs.
Which of the statements is/are correct?
(a) Only Statement 1
(b) Only Statement 2
(c) Both Statement 1 and Statement 2
(d) Neither Statement 1 nor Statement 2
Ans: (c)
Statement 1 is correct as the Chairperson, along with other members, must belong to a minority community. Statement 2 is also correct as the salaries and conditions of service for the NCM members are determined by the Ministry of Minority Affairs.

Q10: Assertion (A): The NCM has the power to summon individuals and examine them under oath.
Reason (R): The NCM possesses all the powers of a civil court while addressing complaints or investigating matters.
Choose the correct option:
(a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A
(b) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A
(c) A is true, but R is false
(d) A is false, but R is true
Ans: (a)
Assertion A is true as the NCM can summon and examine individuals under oath. Reason R correctly explains this by stating that the NCM has the powers of a civil court in such matters.

Q11: Statement 1: When was the National Commission for Minorities (NCM) established?
(a) 1972
(b) 1978
(c) 1985
(d) 1992
Ans: (b)
The NCM was established in 1978 through an executive resolution by the Government of India.

Q12: What was the original purpose of the commission when it was first formed in 1978?
(a) To promote majority interests
(b) To address inequality and discrimination among minorities
(c) To focus on economic development
(d) To enforce constitutional safeguards for all communities
Ans: (b)
The commission was established to address feelings of inequality and discrimination among minority communities despite constitutional safeguards.

Q13: Under the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992, who has the authority to remove the Chairperson or a member?
(a) State Government
(b) President of India
(c) Central Government
(d) The Chairperson themselves
Ans: (c)
The Central Government has the authority to remove the Chairperson or a member under various circumstances outlined in the Act.

Q14: How long is the term of office for members of the National Commission for Minorities?
(a) 2 years
(b) 3 years
(c) 4 years
(d) 5 years
Ans: (b)
Members of the Commission hold office for a term of three years.

Q15: What is one of the functions of the NCM as per the provided information?
(a) Managing financial resources for minority communities
(b) Conducting regular medical camps for minorities
(c) Commissioning studies on problems arising from discrimination against minorities
(d) Organizing cultural events for minority awareness
Ans: (c)
One of the functions is to commission studies on problems arising from discrimination against minorities.

Q16: What powers does the National Commission for Minorities possess while assessing or investigating any matter?
(a) Executive powers
(b) Judicial powers
(c) Legislative powers
(d) Administrative powers
Ans: (b)
The Commission possesses all the powers of a civil court while assessing or investigating any matter.

Q17: How often does the Commission submit reports to the Central Government?
(a) Biennially
(b) Quarterly
(c) Annually
(d) Irregularly
Ans: (c)
The Commission submits an annual report to the Central Government.

Q18: Who prescribes the salaries, allowances, and service conditions for the Chairperson and members of the Commission?
(a) National Commission for Minorities
(b) Ministry of Minority Affairs
(c) President of India
(d) Prime Minister's Office
Ans: (b)
The Ministry of Minority Affairs prescribes the salaries, allowances, and service conditions for the Chairperson and members.

Q19: In which year was the Jain community included as a minority under the National Commission for Minorities Act?
(a) 1992
(b) 2000
(c) 2014
(d) 2020
Ans: (c)
The Jain community was added as a minority in 2014.

Q20: What action does the State Government take upon receiving a report related to matters involving them from the Commission?
(a) Ignores the report
(b) Presents it to the state legislature with a memorandum
(c) Submits it to the President of India
(d) Sends a thank-you note to the Commission
Ans: (b)
The State Government places the report before the state legislature with a memorandum explaining the actions taken and reasons for non-acceptance of specific recommendations.