Question Discussion & Solution

The correct answer is 1 only.

Confusion Points

• The Northern Zonal Council, The Central Zonal Council, The Eastern Zonal Council, The Western Zonal Council and The Southern Zonal Council are established by an Act of the Parliament, that is, the States Reorganisation Act of 1956. 
• In addition to the above Zonal Councils, a North-Eastern Council was created by a separate Act of Parliament i.e. the North-Eastern Council Act of 1971. Hence, statement 3 is NOT correct.

Key Points

• Zonal Councils:
  • The Zonal Councils are the statutory (and not the constitutional) bodies. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
  • They are established by an Act of the Parliament, that is, the States Reorganisation Act of 1956. 
  • There are 5 five Zonal councils:
    • The Northern Zonal Council, comprising the States of Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, National Capital Territory of Delhi, and Union Territory of Chandigarh.
    • The Central Zonal Council, comprising the States of Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh.
    • The Eastern Zonal Council, comprising the States of Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa, and West Bengal.
    • The Western Zonal Council, comprising the States of Goa, Gujarat, Maharashtra, and the Union Territories of Daman & Diu and Dadra & Nagar Haveli.
    • The Southern Zonal Council, comprising the States of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and the Union Territory of Puducherry.
  • North-Eastern Council
    • In addition to the above Zonal Councils, a North-Eastern Council was created by a separate Act of Parliament i.e. the North-Eastern Council Act of 1971.
    • Its functions are similar to those of the zonal councils, but with few additions.
    • Its members include Assam, Manipur, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Sikkim.
  • While forming these zones, several factors have been taken into account which includes:
    • The natural divisions of the country, the river systems and means of communication, the cultural and linguistic affinity, and the requirements of economic development, security, and law and order.
    • They are only deliberative and advisory bodies.
• Composition:-
  • Chairman: The Union Home Minister is the Chairman of each of these Councils. Hence, statement 2 is NOT correct.
  • Vice-Chairman: The Chief Ministers of the States included in each zone act as Vice-Chairman of the Zonal Council for that zone by rotation, each holding office for a period of one year at a time.
  • Members: Chief Minister and two other Ministers as nominated by the Governor from each of the States and two members from Union Territories included in the zone.
  • Advisers: One person nominated by the Planning Commission (which has been replaced by NITI Ayog now) for each of the Zonal Councils, Chief Secretaries, and another officer/Development Commissioner nominated by each of the States included in the Zone.
  • Union Ministers are also invited to participate in the meetings of Zonal Councils depending upon necessity.

The correct answer is 1, 2, 4

Key Points

• Schedule 3 enriched Forms of oaths and Affirmations of offices for elected officials including judges.
• It contains the forms of oath and affirmation for:
  • Union Ministers of India
  • Parliament Election Candidates
  • Members of Parliament (MPs)
  • Supreme Court Judges
  • Comptroller and Auditor General
  • State Ministers
  • State Legislature Elections Candidates
  • State Legislature Members
  • High Court Judges

Additional Information

• First Schedule contains the Lists of the states and territories of India (also about their changes).
• The second Schedule lists the salaries of officials holding public office, Presidents, judges, and the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India.
• The fourth Schedule contains the Allocation of seats in the Rajya Sabha (the Upper House of Parliament) per State or Union Territory.
• The fifth Schedule includes the Provisions as to the Administration and Control of Scheduled Areas and Scheduled Tribes.
• The sixth Schedule includes the Provisions as to the Administration of Tribal Areas in the States of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram.
• The seventh Schedule contains The Union (central government), state, and concurrent lists of responsibilities.
• 8^th, 9^th, 11^th and 12^th Schedule contains the Languages, Validation of certain Acts and Regulations, Panchayat Raj (rural local government), and Municipalities (urban local government) respectively.
• The tenth Schedule enriched "Anti-defection" provisions for the Members of Parliament and the Members of the State Legislatures.

The correct answer is Neither 1 nor 2.

Key Points

• Role of the commission:
  • From the above, it is clear that the functions of the commission are mainly recommendatory in nature.
  • It has no power to punish the violators of human rights, nor to award any relief including monetary relief to the victim. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.
  • Notably, its recommendations are not binding on the concerned government or authority. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.
  • But, it should be informed about the action taken on its recommendations within one month.
  • In this context, a former member of the Commission observed: 
    • The government cannot wash away the recommendations made by the Commission.
    • The commission’s role may be recommendatory, advisory, yet the Government considers the cases forwarded by it.
    • It is, therefore, improper to say that the commission is powerless.
    • It enjoys great material authority and no government can ignore its recommendation’.
    • Moreover, the commission has a limited role, powers and jurisdiction with respect to the violation of human rights by the members of the armed forces.
    • In this sphere, the commission may seek a report from the Central government and make its recommendations.
    • The Central government should inform the Commission of the action taken on the recommendations within three months.
    • The commission submits its annual or special reports to the Central government and to the state government concerned.
    • These reports are laid before the respective legislatures, along with a memorandum of action taken on the recommendations of the commission and the reasons for non-acceptance of any of such recommendations.

The correct answer is Mohan Lal Sukhadia.

Key Points

• Mohan Lal Sukhadia was an Indian politician who served as the Chief Minister of the state of Rajasthan for 17 years from 1954 to 1971.
• He is also known as "Founder of Modern Rajasthan".
• He also served as the Governor of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu.
• He became the Chief Minister at the age of 38 and was responsible for bringing major reforms and development in Rajasthan.

Additional Information

•  Heera Lal Devpura
  • ​Hira Lal Devpura was the Chief Minister of Rajasthan state in India from 23 February 1985 to 10 March 1985.
  • Heera Lal Devpura was the Chief Minister for only 15 days.
• Ashok Gehlot
  • ​Ashok Gehlot is an Indian politician serving as the current Chief Minister of Rajasthan.
  • He held this position from December 1998 to 2003, and from 2008 to 2013, and again from 17 December 2018.

The Correct answer is option 3 i.e. 1 and 3 only