Test: Legislature- 2 - UPSC MCQ

- The correct answer is C: Legislature.

- The legislature is primarily a law-making body, but it is also responsible for many other things. It is responsible for creating, amending, and repealing laws within a political entity such as a country or state.

- The judiciary interprets and applies laws, ensuring justice and legal compliance.

- The army is a military force responsible for national defence and security, not law-making.

- Therefore, the legislature is the entity specifically designed to make laws, unlike the judiciary and the army.

- The finance minister who had to roll back the hike in urea prices was Yashwant Sinha.
- Yashwant Sinha served as the Finance Minister of India from 1998 to 2002.
- The rollback occurred due to protests and political pressure, as urea is a crucial fertilizer for farmers and any price increase affects agricultural costs.
- The decision to reverse the price hike was made to alleviate the burden on farmers and maintain political stability.

- In India, a bicameral legislature consists of two houses: the Legislative Assembly (Vidhan Sabha) and the Legislative Council (Vidhan Parishad).
- As of the latest updates, six Indian states have a bicameral legislature: Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Telangana, and Uttar Pradesh.
- The Legislative Council is similar to the Rajya Sabha at the state level and provides a check on the Legislative Assembly.
- The presence of a bicameral system provides more comprehensive legislation and representation.

The president nominates the members of the Rajya Sabha.Twelve members are nominated to the Rajya Sabha by the President of India for a six-year term for their contributions towards arts, literature, sciences, and social services.

- The Rajya Sabha is the upper house of the Parliament of India. It consists of a total of 245 members.
- Out of these, 233 members are elected by the legislatures of the states and union territories.
- The President of India nominates 12 members to the Rajya Sabha.
- These nominated members are chosen for their expertise in fields like literature, science, art, and social service.
- Therefore, the correct answer is D: Twelve.

- The question refers to the number of constituencies in the Lok Sabha, the lower house of India's Parliament.
- Presently, there are 543 Lok Sabha constituencies.
- These constituencies are distributed among the states and union territories of India.
- The number 543 represents the elected members, excluding the 2 nominated members from the Anglo-Indian community, which was a provision until the 104th Constitutional Amendment in 2019.
- This structure ensures representation based on population across different regions.

- Bureaucracy is responsible for drafting bills.
- Bureaucrats, often experts in specific fields, prepare the initial text of a bill based on policy decisions.
- Their role involves research, consultation with stakeholders, and ensuring legal compliance.
- This draft is then reviewed and possibly amended by legislators before being introduced in the legislative body.
- Bureaucracy's expertise ensures that the bill is technically sound and implementable.

- The Cabinet is responsible for the substance and timing of a bill.
- The Cabinet consists of senior ministers, typically led by the Prime Minister, who are responsible for various government departments.
- They collectively decide on government policy, including the introduction and scheduling of legislation.
- This decision-making process involves considering political priorities, public interest, and legislative agenda.
- The Cabinet’s role ensures that bills align with the government’s overall strategy and objectives.

- The power of the parliament to grant resources to the government is referred to as financial power.
- Financial powers involve approving the budget and allocating funds for government programs.
- Parliament examines and authorizes government expenditures through the annual budget process.
- This ensures accountability and oversight over public spending.
- Financial powers are crucial for the functioning of government, enabling it to implement policies and deliver public services effectively.

- The highest forum of debate in a country is the Parliament.
- Parliament is the legislative body where elected representatives discuss, debate, and make laws.
- It plays a crucial role in shaping national policy and governance.
- Parliament sessions include heated discussions on various issues, reflecting diverse viewpoints.
- It ensures the government is accountable to the public.
- The debates in Parliament are fundamental to democracy, allowing open discourse and decision-making.

- In a democracy, the ultimate authority rests with the people.
- This principle is known as popular sovereignty, where the government derives its power from the consent of the governed.
- The people exercise their authority through voting, allowing them to choose representatives and influence government decisions.
- The constitution enshrines this fundamental concept, ensuring that all government power originates from the people.
- Therefore, in a democratic constitution, the final authority is the people.

- A bill proposed by a non-minister is known as a Private Member’s Bill.
- In parliamentary terms, a "private member" refers to any member of the legislature who is not part of the government or executive branch (i.e., not a minister).
- Such bills allow non-government members to contribute to legislative work and raise issues of concern.
- The process for a Private Member’s Bill is similar to other bills, but they are often debated on specific days allocated for them.

- Before a bill is introduced in parliament, there is often significant debate.
- Debate involves discussing the merits, implications, and potential impacts of the proposed legislation.
- This process ensures that different perspectives are considered, and the bill is refined before formal introduction.
- Engaging in debate helps identify potential issues and gather support or opposition from various stakeholders.
- The aim is to build a consensus or a more informed viewpoint regarding the bill's necessity and content.

- A Money Bill in India is a type of bill that exclusively deals with taxes, borrowing of money by the government, or expenditure from the Consolidated Fund of India.
- According to Article 110 of the Indian Constitution, after a Money Bill is passed by the Lok Sabha, it is sent to the Rajya Sabha for its consideration.
- The Rajya Sabha must return the Money Bill with or without recommendations within 14 days.
- If the Rajya Sabha does not return the bill within 14 days, it is deemed to have been passed by both Houses of Parliament.

The preparation and presentation of the budget is a constitutional obligation of the government for the approval of the legislature. Here's why:

- The budget is a financial plan outlining the government's projected revenue and expenditures for a specific period, usually a year.

- It requires legislative approval to ensure transparency, accountability, and proper allocation of resources.

- This process allows elected representatives to scrutinize government spending and ensure it aligns with national priorities.