Question Discussion & Solution

Option 1 is correct, i.e. Article 14-18.

The correct answer is 65th Constitutional Amendment, 1992.

Key Points

• The constitutional recognition to National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes was given by the 65th Constitutional Amendment Act, 1990, and the commission was formed on 12th March 1992. 
• By the 89th Constitutional Amendment Act 2003, the erstwhile National Commission for SC and ST has been replaced by 

1. National Commission for Scheduled Caste.
2. National Commission for Scheduled Tribe. 

• Both the chairman and members of the commission are appointed by the President.
• The term of office of Chairman and members is decided by the President (generally, it is for 3 years) from the date on which he or she assumes office.
• All the members of the commission shall not be eligible for an appointment of more than 2 terms. 
• The composition of the commission includes Chairman, Deputy-Chairman, and 3 other members. 
• At least one member should be a woman.
• The Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Commission have the status of Union Minister and Union Minister of State.
• While investigating any matter or inquiring about any complaint, the Commission shall have all the powers which the Civil Court has while pursuing the suit.
• The commission will submit its annual report to the President in case of Centre and Governor in case of State.

Additional Information

• 102nd Constitutional Amendment, 2018 provides Constitutional status to National Commission for Backward Classes.
• 104th  Constitutional Amendment, 2020 extended the reservation of seats for SCs and STs in the Lok Sabha and states assemblies from 70 years to 80 years.
  • It also removed the reserved seats for the Anglo-Indian community in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies.

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.

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.

The correct answer is option 4.

Key Points

•  Fundamental Duties:
  • ​They were added to the constitution on the recommendation of the Sardar Swaran Singh Committee.
  • They were added by the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act in 1976.
  • This amendment added a new part, namely, Part IVA to the Constitution. This new part consists of only one Article, that is, Article 51A which for the first time specified a code of ten fundamental duties of the citizens. Some of them are:
    • to protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wildlife and to have compassion for living creatures; Hence 1 is correct.
    • to uphold and protect the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India;  Hence 2 is correct.
    • to value and preserve the rich heritage of the country’s composite culture;  Hence 3 is correct.
• To protect monuments, places and objects of artistic or historic interest which are declared to be of national importance; This is a directive principle of State Policy under Article 49. Hence 4 is not correct.