Question Discussion & Solution

The correct answer is Article 108

Key Points

• Article 108:
  • Article 108 of the Indian Constitution of India provides for Joint sitting of both Houses.
  • The joint sitting of the Parliament is called by the President.
  • It is presided over by the Speaker or, in his absence, by the Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha or in his absence, the Deputy-Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.
  • The Chairman doesn't preside over the joint session at any means/cost.
  • The joint sitting of both the houses is also held to resolve the deadlock over the passing of key legislation.
  • Not all bills can be referred to a joint sitting of Parliament.
  • There are two exceptions: The money bill under Article 110 and the Constitution amendment bill under Article 368.
  • The Secretary-General shall issue summons to each member specifying the time and place for a joint sitting.
  • The duration and adjournment of the joint sitting shall be determined by the Speaker.
  • The quorum to constitute a joint sitting shall be one-tenth of the total number of members of the Houses.
  • The procedures of joint sessions are subject to modifications and variations as the Speaker may consider necessary or appropriate.

Additional Information

•  Article 72:
  • Article 72 empowers the President the power to grant pardons, reprieves, respites or remissions of punishment or to suspend, remit or commute the sentence of any person convicted of any offence.
• Article 102:
  • Disqualifications for membership. 
  • The Centre is considering a constitutional amendment to define the term ‘office of profit’ and the exempted categories.
  • The draft amendment proposes to exempt advisors appointed by the Centre or states and those appointed to discharge legislative functions such as the leader of the opposition, chief whips, etc from disqualification related to the ‘office of profit’.
• Article 111:
  • Veto Power of the President of India is guided by Article 111 of the Indian Constitution.
  • Three Types of Veto Power: Absolute veto, Suspensive veto and Pocket veto.
  • Exception: The President has no veto power when it comes to the constitutional amendment bills.
• Absolute Veto:
  • It refers to the power of the President to withhold his assent to a bill passed by the Parliament.
  • The bill then ends and does not become an act.
• Suspensive Veto:
  • The President uses a suspensive veto when he returns the bill to the Indian Parliament for its reconsideration.
  • If the Parliament resends the bill with or without amendment to the President, he has to approve the bill without using any of his veto powers.
• Pocket Veto:
  • The bill is kept pending by the President for an indefinite period when he exercises his pocket veto.
  • He neither rejects the bill nor returns the bill for reconsideration.

The correct answer is Jawaharlal Nehru.

Key Points

• Jawaharlal Nehru was the chairman of the Union Power Committee of the Constituent Assembly of India.
• An idea for a Constituent Assembly of India was proposed in 1934 by M. N. Roy.
• The Constituent Assembly appointed a total of 22 committees to deal with different tasks of constitution-making.
• The Assembly met for the first time in New Delhi on 9 December 1946, and its last session was held on 24 January 1950.

Additional Information

• Important Committees of Constituent Assembly and their chairperson -
  • Union Constitution Committee - Jawaharlal Nehru
  • State Power Committee - Jawaharlal Nehru
  • Provincial Committee - Sardar Patel
  • Drafting Committee - BR Ambedkar
  • Minority Committee - Sardar Patel
  • Steering Committee - Rajendra Prasad. 

The correct answer is Justice, Liberty, Equality, Fraternity.

• The correct sequence of assurances given in the Preamble of India Constitution is Justice, Liberty, Equality, Fraternity.

Additional Information 

• Preamble Of Indian Constitution
  • WE, THE PEOPLE OF INDIA, having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a SOVEREIGN SOCIALIST SECULAR DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC and to secure to all its citizens:
  • JUSTICE, social, economic, and political;
  • LIBERTY of thought, expression, belief, faith, and worship;
  • EQUALITY of status and of opportunity;
  • And to promote among them all FRATERNITY assuring the dignity of the individual and the unity and integrity of the Nation;
  • IN OUR CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY this twenty-sixth day of November 1949, do HEREBY ADOPT, ENACT AND GIVE TO OURSELVES THIS CONSTITUTION.

The correct answer is 11 + one Chief Minister.

• The minimum number of Council of Ministers in Rajasthan can be 11 + one Chief Minister.

• The minimum strength of the council of ministers is 12 and the maximum is 15 per cent of the Legislative Assembly.
  • Sh. Ashok Gehlot-CM
  • Sh. Bulaki Das Kalla - Energy Dept., Public Health & Engineering
  • Sh. Shanti Kumar Dhariwal- Local Self Government, Urban Development & Housing Dept.,
  • Sh. Parsadi Lal-Industry Dept., State Enterprise Dept.
  • Sh. Lalchand Katariya-Agriculture Dept., Animal Husbandry Dept., Fisheries Dept.
  • Sh. Raghu Sharma-Medical & Health Dept., Ayurved & Indian Medical
  • Sh. Pramod Bhaya-Mines Dept., Gopalan Dept
  • Sh. Harish Choudhary-Revenue Dept., Colonization Dept., Command Area Development 
  • Sh. Anjana Udaylal-Co-operative Dept.,
  • Sh. Pratap Singh-Khachariyawas Transport Dept., Soldier Welfare Dept.
  • Sh. Shale Mohammad-Minority Affairs Dept., Waqf Dept.

• Source: https://rajassembly.nic.in/Cabinet.aspx 

The correct answer is Election Commission.

Important Points  In India, the political parties are given ‘recognition’ by the Election Commission of India.

• Election Commission of India:
  • The Election Commission of India is an autonomous constitutional authority responsible for administering Union and State election processes in India.
  • The body administers elections to the Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, and State Legislative Assemblies in India, and the offices of the President and Vice President in the country.
  • Part XV of the Indian constitution deals with elections and establishes a commission for these matters.
  • The Election Commission was established in accordance with the Constitution on 25th January 1950.
  • Article 324 to 329 of the constitution deals with powers, function, tenure, eligibility, etc of the commission and the member.
• Articles related to Elections:

Key Points

•  Functions of ECI:
  • Election Commission of India superintendents, direct and control the entire process of conducting elections to Parliament and Legislature of every State and to the offices of President and Vice-President of India.
  • The most important function of the commission is to decide the election schedules for the conduct of periodic and timely elections, whether general or bye-elections.
  • It prepares the electoral roll, issues Electronic Photo Identity Card (EPIC).
  • It decides on the location of polling stations, assignment of voters to the polling stations, location of counting centers, arrangements to be made in and around polling stations and counting centers, and all allied matters.
  • It grants recognition to political parties & allots election symbols to them along with settling disputes related to it.
  • The Commission also has advisory jurisdiction in the matter of post-election disqualification of sitting members of Parliament and State Legislatures.
  • It issues the Model Code of Conduct in elections for political parties and candidates so that no one indulges in unfair practice or there is no arbitrary abuse of powers by those in power.
  • It sets limits of campaign expenditure per candidate to all the political parties and also monitors the same.