Question Discussion & Solution

The correct answer is All of the above.

Key Points

• Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP):
  • Articles 36-51 of Part-IV of the Indian Constitution deals with Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP).
  • They are borrowed from the constitution of Ireland. 
  • DPSP's are non-justiciable and are enforceable in the court of law.
  • They act as directives to the government to create any law.
  • They act as the ‘instrument of instructions’.
  • Dr. B. R. Ambedkar described Directive Principles as a “Novel Feature” of the Constitution. 
• The Directive Principles are classified on the basis of their ideological source and objectives.
• For the sake of making their study convenient, we can broadly place them in four categories, These are;
  • Economic and Socialist Principles;
  • Directives Based on Gandhian Principles;
  • Directive Principles relating to International Peace; and
  • Liberal-Intellectual Principles.

The correct answer is 2 and 3 only.

Key Points

• The Public Accounts Committee consists of not more than 22 members comprising 15 members elected by Lok Sabha every year from amongst its members.
  • Hence statement 1 is not correct.
• The Public Account Committee carries out the examination of the Appropriation Accounts relating to the Railways, Defence Services, P&T Department and other Civil Ministries of the Government of India and Reports of the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India thereon as also the Reports of the Comptroller and Auditor-General on Revenue Receipts mainly form the basis of the deliberation of the Committee.
  • ​Hence statements 2 and 3 are correct.
• The Comptroller and Auditor General is the “friend, philosopher and guide” of the Committee.
• He attends the sittings of the Committee and assists it in its deliberations.
• Hence option 2 is correct.

​​Additional Information 

• Types of Parliamentary Committees:
  • India’s Parliament has multiple types of committees.
    • They can be differentiated on the basis of their work, their membership and the length of their tenure.
  • However, broadly there are two types of Parliamentary Committees– Standing Committees and Ad Hoc Committees.
  • The Standing Committees are permanent (constituted every year or periodically) and work on a continuous basis.
  • Standing Committees can be classified into the following six categories:
    • Financial Committees
    • Departmental Standing Committees
    • Committees to Enquire
    • Committees to Scrutinise and Control
    • Committees Relating to the Day-to-Day Business of the House
    • House-Keeping Committees or Service Committees
  • While the Ad Hoc Committees are temporary and cease to exist on completion of the task assigned to them.
  • They are further subdivided into Inquiry Committees and Advisory Committees.

The correct answer is The maximum number is not fixed.

• According to the Indian Constitution, at one time, a person can be the Governor of a maximum of any number of states, the maximum number is not fixed.

Key Points

• The office of the Governor is the highest office in the state.
• The Governor is also called the first-person of the state.
• The Governor is appointed and removed by the President of India.
• Governor holds the office till the President of India.
• Condition for the office of the governor:
  • He should be an Indian Citizen.
  • He should be 35 years old or more.
  • He should not hold any office of profit.
  • He cannot be a member of parliament or state legislature.

Additional Information

• Article Related to Governor:
  • Article 152: Definition
  • Article 153: Governors of states.
  • Article 154: Executive Power of Governor.
  • Article 155: Appointment of Governor
  • Article 156: Term of office of Governor
  • Article 157: Qualifications for that appointment of Governor
  • Article 158: Conditions of Governor's office.
  • Article 159: Oath or Affirmation by Governor
  • Article 160: Discharge Of the functions of the Governor in Contingencies
  • Article 161: Power of Governor to grant pardon, etc.
  • Article 162: Extent of Executive Power of State. 

The correct answer is Freedom from attendance as Witness.

Key Points

• Originally the constitution envisaged two types of privileges under Article 105 of the Indian constitution.
• One is freedom of speech in Parliament and the right of publication of its proceedings.
• The concept of parliamentary privilege in the Constitution of India has been taken from the British Constitution.
• The main motive of these privileges is to uphold the supremacy of the office of the Parliament and its members.
• These rights are also given to those individuals who speak and participate in any committee of the Parliament, which includes the Attorney General of India and the Union Ministers.
• The President, even if he is part of Parliament, does not have parliamentary privileges.

Additional Information

• The collective privileges of Members of Parliament are as follows
  • No person (either a member or outsider) can be arrested and no legal process (criminal or civil) can be initiated within the premises of the house without the permission of the presiding officer of the house.
  • No Court has the right to investigate proceedings of the House or any of its committees.
  • Parliament can exclude guests from its proceedings and in some cases of national interest it can also hold a secret meeting on any important matter.
  • Parliament can punish members as well as outsiders for breach of its privileges or its contempt by reprimand, admonition, or imprisonment (also suspension or expulsion in case of members).
• Individual Privileges of Members of Parliament are as follows
  • When the Parliament is in session, a Member of Parliament or a privileged person may refuse to appear in court or to present any evidence in a court.
  • The members of Parliament can’t be arrested during the session of the Parliament and 40 days before the beginning and 40 days after the end of the session. However, this privilege is available in civil cases only not in criminal cases.
  • No member is liable to any proceedings in any given court for anything said or any vote by him/her in the parliament or its committees.

The correct answer is option 2, i.e. Article 14 to Article 18.