Question Discussion & Solution

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

The Correct answer is All are True.

Important Points

• The States Reorganisation Commission (SRC) constituted by the Central Government of India on 22 December 1953 to recommend the reorganisation of state boundaries. In 1955, after nearly two years of study, the Commission recommended that India's state boundaries should be reorganised to form 14 states and 6 territories.
• States Reorganisation Commission consisted of Fazal Ali, K. M. Panikkar and H. N. Kunzru. Some of its recommendations were implemented in the States Reorganisation Act of 1956.

1. The three-tier (Part-A/B/C) state system should be abolished
2. The institution of Rajapramukh and special agreement with former princely states should be abolished.
3. The general control vested in the Government of India by Article 371 should be abolished
4. Only the following 3 states should be the Union Territories: Andaman & Nicobar, Delhi and Manipur. The other Part-C/D territories should be merged with the adjoining states.
5. With regard to north India, it sought to divide the huge Hindi - speaking belt into four states: Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.
6.  In the East, the existing provinces could stay as they were, with minor adjustments.
7. The Commission rejected the demand for tribal status to be carved out of Bihar and Assam.
8. The Sikh State should not create.

The correct answer is option 2, i.e. Education.

86^th Constitutional Amendment Act inserted Education in Fundamental rights of the constitution.

• It made the elementary education a fundamental right and added a new article 21A.
• It declares that the state shall provide compulsory education to all children of the age 6 to 14 years.
• It changed the subject of Article 45 in directive principles that state shall provide early childhood care and education for all children until they reach the age of 6 years.
• It also added a new fundamental duty in Article 51A that it is the duty of every citizen to provide opportunities for education to their children between the age of 6 to 14 years.
• This was amended in the year 2002.
• Right to property was deleted from the fundamental right by the 44^th Constitutional Amendment Act in 1978. Now it is a legal right under Article 300A.
• Right to equality is a fundamental right under article 14 to 18 of the constitution.
• Right to freedom is given from article 19 to 22 in the constitution.

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 None.

• No members are nominated in the present State Assembly of Rajasthan.
  • Member indirectly elected and nominated in Legislative Council, not Legislative Assembly.

Additional Information 

• Member indirectly elected and nominated in Legislative Council, not Legislative Assembly.
  • The members being drawn from various sources, the Council shall have a variegated composition.
  • 5/6 of the total number of members of the Council shall be indirectly elected and 1/6 will be nominated.
  • One-third of the total number of members of the Council would be elected by electorates consisting of members of local bodies like the municipalities and the district boards.
  • One-third would be elected by members of the Legislative Assembly from amongst people who are not Assembly members.
  • One-twelfth of the members would be elected by electorates comprising of graduates of the standing of three years dwelling in that particular state.
  • One-twelfth of the members would be elected by electorates consisting of teachers who have been in the teaching profession for at least 3 years in educational institutes in that state, which are not lower than secondary schools in the standard.
  • The rest would be nominated by the Governor from persons having knowledge or practical experience in matters like science, literature, cooperative movement, art and social service.