Question Discussion & Solution

The correct answer is Hardeep Singh Puri.

• Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri introduced the National Capital Territory of Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Second (Amendment) Bill, 2021 in the Rajya Sabha on 8 February 2021.
• It will replace the National Capital Territory of Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Second (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020 which was promulgated by President Ram Nath Kovind on 30th December 2020.
• The 2011 Act was valid till December 31, 2020.
• The Ordinance extended the deadline to December 31, 2023.

Right to Education Act (RTE) provided free and compulsory education to children in 2009 and enforced it as a fundamental right under Article 21-A.

Important Points The right to freedom guarantees freedom for citizens to live a life of dignity among other things. These are given in Articles 19, 20, 21A, and 22 of the Indian Constitution. 

Below are the associated articles of the Constitution under the right to freedom:

Thus, we can say that the ‘Right to Education’ was made part of the right to freedom by the 86th Constitution Amendment Act.

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 (A) - (2), (B) - (3), (C) - (1), (D) - (4)

Key Points

The correct answer is ​Secularism.

Key Points

• Secularism
  • The Indian Constitution allows individuals the freedom to live by their religious beliefs and practices as they interpret these.
  • In keeping with this idea of religious freedom for all, India also adopted a strategy of separating the power of religion and the power of the State.
  • Secularism refers to this separation of religion from the State. 
  • The most important aspect of secularism is its separation of religion from state power.
  • This is important for a country to function democratically.
  • Almost all countries of the world will have more than one religious group living in them. Within these religious groups, there will most likely be one group that is in a majority.
  • If this majority religious group has access to State power, then it could quite easily use this power and financial resources to discriminate against and persecute persons of other religions.
  • This tyranny of the majority could result in discrimination, coercion, and at times even the killing of religious minorities.
  • The majority could quite easily prevent minorities from practicing their religions.
  • Any form of domination based on religion violates the rights that a democratic society guarantees to every citizen irrespective of their religion.
  • Therefore, the tyranny of the majority and the violation of Fundamental Rights that can result is one reason why it is important to separate the State and religion in democratic societies.
  • Another reason that it is important to separate religion from the State in democratic societies is that we also need to protect the freedom of individuals to exit from their religion, embrace another religion or have the freedom to interpret religious teachings differently.