Question Discussion & Solution

Today most countries in the world have a Constitution. While all democratic countries are likely to have a Constitution, it is not necessary that all countries that have a Constitution are democratic.

Important Points

Key features of the Indian Constitution:

• Federalism:
  • This refers to the existence of more than one level of government in the country.
  • In India, we have governments at the state level, at the centre and Panchayati Raj at the village level.
  • The Constitution contains lists that detail the issues that each tier of government can make laws on.
  • In addition, the Constitution also specifies where each tier of government can get the money from, for the work that it does.
  • All persons in India are governed by laws and policies made by each of these levels of government.
• Parliamentary form of government:
  • The people of India have a direct role in electing their representatives. Also, every citizen of the country, irrespective of his/her social background, can contest in elections.
• Separation of powers:
  • There are 3 organs of government:
    • The legislature: refers to elected representatives by the people.
    • The executive: is a smaller group of people who are responsible for implementing laws and running the government.
    • The judiciary: refers to the system of courts in India.
  • Each organ mentioned above acts as a check on the other organs of government. This ensures the balance of power between all three.
• Fundamental rights:
  • The constitution guarantees the rights of individuals against the State as well as against other individuals. It also guarantees the rights of minorities against the majority.
  • The Fundamental Rights in the Indian Constitution include:
    • Right to Equality
    • Right to Freedom
    • Right against Exploitation
    • Right to Freedom of Religion
    • Cultural and Educational Rights
    • Right to Constitutional Remedies

From the above, we can conclude that the Presidential form of government is not a feature of the Indian constitution.

The relation among the given numbers is:

1 × 2 = 2

2 % 3 = 2

2 × 4 = 8

8 % 5 = 3

3 × 6 = 18

18 % 7 = 4

4 × 8 = 32

32 % 9 = 5

(where ‘%’ is the modulo or the remainder operator.)

The correct answer is Mr Sachin Pilot.

• As of June 2020, Mr. Sachin Pilot is the Minister of Science and Technology, Panchayati Raj of Rajasthan.

Key Points

• Mr. Sachin Pilot s the Minister of Science and Technology, Panchayati Raj of Rajasthan.
• He is also the current Deputy Chief Minister of Rajasthan.
• His constituency is Ajmer, Rajasthan.
• He is associated with Indian National Congress.

Additional Information

• Mr. Ashok Gehlot is the current Chief Minister of Rajasthan in the Government of Rajasthan.
• Mr. Bulaki Das Kalla is the Minister of Energy, Public Health & Engineering, Ground Water, Art, Literature, Culture & Archeology in the Government of Rajasthan.
• Master Bhanwarlal Meghwal is the Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment in the Government of Rajasthan.

Similar figure repeat in every second step. Each time the first figure reappear it rotates one space anticlockwise direction and each time the second figure reappear it rotates one space clockwise direction.

From the above explanation we can conclude (1), (3) and (5) are same figure with anticlockwise rotation.

UPDATE -  the number of wetlands in India has increased to 42.

Key Points

The Ramsar Convention:

• Ramsar Convention, 1971: on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat is an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands
• The Convention on Wetlands is an intergovernmental treaty that provides the framework for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources.
• The Convention was adopted in the Iranian city of Ramsar in 1971 and came into force in 1975. Since then, almost 90% of UN member states, from all the world’s geographic regions, have acceded to become “Contracting Parties”.
• India is a party to the Ramsar Convention. India signed under it on 1st February 1982.
• Chilika Lake (Orissa) and Keoladeo National Park (Rajasthan) were recognized as the first Ramsar Sites of India
• Sundarbans is the largest Ramsar Site of India
• On 2nd February 2021, India’s first Centre for Wetland Conservation and Management has been set up in Chennai.
• There are 42 wetlands in India that have international importance and hence recognized as the Ramsar Sites in India. Ramsar Sites are wetlands that have international importance.

Three Pillars:

• ​Under the “three pillars” of the Convention, the Contracting Parties commit to:
  • work towards the wise use of all their wetlands;
  • designate suitable wetlands for the list of Wetlands of International Importance (the “Ramsar List”) and ensure their effective management;
  • cooperate internationally on transboundary wetlands, shared wetland systems, and shared species.

The Montreux record:

• The Montreux Record is a register of wetland sites on the List of Wetlands of International Importance where changes in ecological character have occurred, are occurring, or are likely to occur as a result of technological developments, pollution, or other human interference.
• It is maintained as part of the Ramsar List.