Question Discussion & Solution

The correct answer is 3 only

Key Points

• There are several political features that are common to India and America (USA).
• Both Nation have
  • Written Constitution.
  • Bill of Rights and Fundamental Rights.
  • The supremacy of the Federal or Union Government.
  • Separation of powers and Powers of Checks and Balance in common.

Additional Information

• The Constitution of both US and India is a written Constitution, which provides for a federal political structure where both the governments exercise their respective powers.
• Both countries amending the Constitution to meet the changing circumstances and the growing political, economic, social needs and demands political and economic needs.
• In both countries, the federal government works at the center to which various states have acceded to.
• Both in the US and India, states which have accepted the Federal set up have no individual power to separate from the Central Government or the Union Government.
• Both the Central as well as State Government is empowered to makes laws on subjects.
• The law enacted by the Federal or Union Government will prevail over the law enacted by the states on the same subject in case of a dispute.
• Both US and Indian Constitutions provide for separation of powers among three institutions namely executive, legislature, and the judiciary.
• The executive governs the country, the legislature makes laws, and the judiciary ensures justice.

• There are 22 languages that have been recognized in the eighth schedule of the Indian constitution.
• Part XVII of the Indian constitution deals with the official languages of India from articles 343 to 351.
• Originally, only 14 languages were mentioned and later, after several amendments, the other languages were added. 
• Sindhi language was added in the 8th schedule by the 21st Amendment Act of 1967.
• Konkani, Manipuri and Nepali were added by the 71st Amendment Act of 1992
• Bodo, Dongri, Maithili and Santhali were added by the 92nd Amendment Act of 2003.
• In all the 22 official languages the Hindi language is spoken by most of the Indians.

The correct answer is Article 20 and 21.

• Article 20 and 21 are the two articles (Fundamental Rights) of the Indian Constitution that are not suspended even during the National Emergency under Article 359.
• Article 20 gives protection in respect of conviction for offences.
• Article 21 gives the right to life, personal liberty, and the right to die with dignity.
• Article 21A gives free education to all children of the age of six to fourteen(6-14) years.
• Article 14 - Equality before the law
• Article 15 - Prohibition of discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex, or place of birth.
• Article 16 - Equality of opportunity in matters of public employment
• Article 17 - Abolition of untouchability
• Article 18 - Abolition of titles
• Article 19 - Protection of certain rights regarding freedom of speech, etc.

The Fundamental Rights from the article 12-35 have been classified under six categories:

• Right to Freedom
• Right to Equality
• Right against Exploitation
• Right to Freedom of Religion
• Cultural and Educational rights
• Right to constitutional remedies.

The correct answer is One of the senior-most members of the newly elected Loksabha.

Key Points

• One of the senior-most members of the newly elected Loksabha is generally appointed as a Protem Speaker.

Additional Information

• As per the second provision to article 94 of the Constitution, the office of the Speaker becomes vacant immediately before the first meeting of the new Lok Sabha.
• In that case list of senior Lok Sabha members prepared by the Legislative Section is submitted to the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, who selects a protem speaker and approved by the President.

• A President pro tempore or speaker pro tempore is a constitutionally recognized officer of a legislative body who presides over the chamber in the absence of the normal presiding officer.

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.