Test: General Awareness (Indian Constitution) - Software Development MCQ

The correct answer is 42.

Key Points

• 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act:
  • 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act sometimes called (mini-constitution) is the most comprehensive amendment carried out in the year 1976 during an internal emergency (1975-1977). It has brought about widespread changes to the Constitution most of which were curtailed in the 44th Constitutional Amendment Act 1978.
  • The 42nd Amendment made fundamental changes in the constitutional structure and it incorporated the words ‘ SOCIALIST’, ‘ SECULAR’, and ‘INTEGRITY’ in the Preamble. Fundamental Duties were added in part IVA.

Important Points

• The amendment is nothing but a modification of the Constitution.
• The amendment of the Indian constitution is mentioned in PART XX of the constitution.
• Methods are mentioned to Amendment of the constitution:
  • Article 368 provides for two types of amendments,
  • By a special majority of the Parliament.
  • By a special majority of the Parliament and consent by at least half the states by simple majority.
  • Some other articles in the Constitution also provide for the amendment of the Constitution
  • Note: Please remember Article 368 provided 2 methods only. Amendment with a simple majority is mentioned outside the purview of Article 368 where ever it is required.

​Additional Information

The correct answer is Article 368.

Key Points

• Article 368:
  • ​Article 368 is part of  Article XX of the Constitution of India provides for two amendments, Special majority in parliament Passed by Parliament with a majority vote, approved half of all states.
  • Amendments to certain provisions of the Constitution require amendments by a simple majority of each house attending and voting. These changes are not considered amendments under Article 368.
  • Many of the provisions of the Constitution can be amended by a simple majority of two houses of parliament outside the scope of section 368.

Important Points

• The amendment is nothing but a modification of the Constitution.
• The amendment of the Indian constitution is mentioned in PART XX of the constitution.
• Methods are mentioned to Amendment of the constitution:
  • Article 368 provides for two types of amendments,
  • By a special majority of the Parliament.
  • By a special majority of the Parliament and consent by at least half the states by simple majority.
  • Some other articles in the Constitution also provide for the amendment of the Constitution
  • Note: Please remember Article 368 provided 2 methods only. Amendment with a simple majority is mentioned outside the purview of Article 368 where ever it is required.

Additional Information

• ​​Parliament has the power to legislate on matters related to the Judiciary such as its powers, jurisdiction, organization and service conditions of judges
• Parliament is the legislative organ of the Union government.
• It occupies a pre-eminent and central position in the Indian democratic political system due to adopting the parliamentary form of government, also known as the ‘Westminster’ model of government.
• Articles 79 to 122 in Part V of the Constitution deal with the organisation, composition, duration, officers, procedures, privileges, powers and so on of the Parliament.

The correct answer is Any number of times.

Key Points

Election of President:

• ​The Indian President is the head of the state and he is also called the first citizen of India.
• He is a part of Union Executive, provisions of which are dealt with in Articles 52-78 including articles related to the President (Articles 52-62).
• There is no direct election for the Indian President. An electoral college elects him.
• Once President is elected, he holds office for five years.
• He sits in office even after the completion of five years given no new election has taken place or no new President has been elected till then.
• He can also be re-elected and there is no cap on his re-election.

The correct answer is To establish a Welfare State.

Key Points

• The Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP) were included in the Indian Constitution to establish a welfare state, which is a concept of government where the state has a responsibility for the welfare of its citizens.
• DPSP represents the ideals and aspirations of the framers of the Constitution, who wanted India to be a welfare state.
• The concept of a welfare state implies that it plays a key role in protecting and promoting its citizens' social and economic well-being, essentially based on the principles of equal opportunity, equitable distribution of wealth, and public responsibility for those who lack the minimal necessities of a good life.
• The principles include various socioeconomic rights, environmental rights, and administrative instructions to the government

Additional Information

• Though the establishment of social and economic justice is an important goal of DPSP, they are meant for more than this.
• They are aimed at realizing the high ideals of justice, liberty, equality, and fraternity as outlined in the Preamble to the Constitution.
• Economic and social justice is a part of the larger concept of the welfare of the state.
• In order to reach total justice as envisaged by our Constitution makers, our Constitution introduced comprehensive DPSP, which if implemented in their true spirit, may result in an egalitarian society.

Key Points

•  Indian single integrated judicial system, the high court operates below the Supreme Court but above the subordinate courts.
• The judiciary in a state consists of a high court and a hierarchy of subordinate courts. The high court occupies the top position in the judicial administration of a state.
• The institution of the high court originated in India in 1862 when the high courts were set up at Calcutta, Bombay and Madras 1 . In 1866, a fourth high court was established at Allahabad.
• In the course of time, each province in British India came to have its own high court. After 1950, a high court existing in a province became the high court for the corresponding state.
• The Constitution of India provides for a high court for each state, but the Seventh Amendment Act of 1956 authorized the Parliament to establish a common high court for two or more states or for two or more states and a union territory.
• The territorial jurisdiction of a high court is co-terminus with the territory of a state. Similarly, the territorial jurisdiction of a common high court is co-terminus with the territories of the concerned states and union territory.

The correct answer is 6 months

Key Points

•  Article 243E, says if a Panchayat is dissolved, elections are to be held before 6 months from the date of dissolution provided that where the remaining period for which the dissolved.
• State Election Commissioner through Tehsildar and District Collector conducts the election of Gram Panchayat every 5 years.
• The date of the election is announced by the Election Commission. 
• The first meeting of elected members is considered as the date of commencement of the functioning of the Gram Panchayat.
• The superintendence, direction and control of the preparation of electoral rolls, and the conduct of, all elections to the Panchayats is vested in the State Election Commission consisting of a State Election Commissioner to be appointed by the Governor.

The correct answer is Balwant Rai Mehta.

Key Points

• The Decentralization System was recommended by Balwant Rai Mehta Committee.
• Recommendations by the Committee:
  • Three-tier Panchayati Raj system: Gram Panchayat, Panchayat Samiti, and Zila Parishad.
  • Directly elected representatives to constitute the gram panchayat and indirectly elected representatives to constitute the Panchayat Samiti and Zila Parishad.
  • Planning and development are the primary objectives of the Panchayati Raj system.
  • Panchayat Samiti should be the executive body and Zila Parishad will act as the advisory and supervisory body.
  • District Collector to be made the chairman of the Zila Parishad.

Additional Information

• Ashok Mehta Committee:
• The key recommendations are:
  • The three-tier system should be replaced with a two-tier system: Zila Parishad (district level) and the Mandal Panchayat (a group of villages).
  • District level as the first level of supervision after the state level.
  • Zila Parishad should be the executive body and responsible for planning at the district level.
  • The institutions (Zila Parishad and the Mandal Panchayat) have compulsory taxation powers to mobilize their own financial resources.

The correct answer is 'The president of India'.

• Attorney General is a part of the Union Executive.
• He is the highest law officer in the country.
• Article 76 provides for the Attorney General of India, hence it is a constitutional office.
• His term is not fixed by the constitution and he works on the pleasure of the President.
• Functions-
  • To advice, the government upon such legal matters, referred by President.
  • To appear on behalf of the GoI in all cases in the Supreme Court or in  High Court.
  • To represent the GoI in any reference made by the President to the Supreme Court under Article 143.
  • To discharge the functions conferred by on him by the constitution or any other law.

Important Points

• He can take part in proceedings of both the Houses of Parliament but can't vote.
• He enjoys the same privileges and immunities as enjoyed by members of parliament.
• He does not fall in the category of government servants.
• He is assisted by the Solicitor Generals of India.

The correct answer is Sir B.N.Rau

Key Points

Some important facts about constituent assembly:

• The Constitutional advisor (Legal advisor) to the Constituent Assembly-Sir B.N. Rau
• The first elected president of The Constituent Assembly- ​Dr Rajendra Prasad.
•  First interim chairman of the Constituent Assembly- Sachchidananda Sinha
• Sachchidananda Sinha took the charges on 9 Dec1946 but resigned on 11 Dec 1946 as Dr Rajendra Prasad was elected as the first chairman of the Constituent Assembly.
• The symbol (seal) of the Constituent Assembly- The elephant.
• The Secretary to the Constituent Assembly- H.V.R. Iyengar.
• The chief draftsman of the constitution in the Constituent Assembly- S.N. Mukerjee.
• The original Preamble illuminated, beautified and ornamented by Beohar Rammanohar Sinha.
• Prem Behari Narain Raizada calligraphed the original Preamble.