Question Discussion & Solution

The correct answer is Hardeep Singh Puri.

• Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri introduced the National Capital Territory of Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Second (Amendment) Bill, 2021 in the Rajya Sabha on 8 February 2021.
• It will replace the National Capital Territory of Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Second (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020 which was promulgated by President Ram Nath Kovind on 30th December 2020.
• The 2011 Act was valid till December 31, 2020.
• The Ordinance extended the deadline to December 31, 2023.

• Under the 36th Amendment of the Indian Constitution, Sikkim become the 22^nd state of the Indian Union.
• The Prime Minister of Sikkim appealed to the Indian Parliament for making Sikkim a state of India, in the year 1975.
• A referendum was held in Sikkim and 97.5 percent of the people voted to abolish the monarchy.
• Sikkim became the 22nd state of the Indian Union, on 16 May 1975.
• The 36th amendment of the Indian constitution made Sikkim a full state of India and added its name to the First Schedule of the Constitution.
• Every year, the state celebrates May 16 as Sikkim statehood day. 

Additional Information

The correct answer is English.

• The Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of India lists the official languages of the Republic of India.
• As per Articles 344 (1) and 351 of the Indian Constitution, the eighth schedule includes 22 languages.
• Bodo, Dogri, Maithili, and Santhali were added by the 92nd Amendment Act of 2003.

Key Points

There are 22 official languages in the 8th schedule of the Indian constitution are following:-

• Bengali
• Assamese
• Kashmiri
• Gujarati
• Hindi
• Kanada
• Malayalam
• Marathi
• Punjabi
• Odia
• Sanskrit
• Tamil
• Telugu
• Sindhi
• Urdu
• Konkani
• Nepali
• Manipuri
• Bodo
• Dogri
• Santhali
• Maithili

The correct answer is Up to 15% of the strength of the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly.

• According to the constitution, the Council of Ministers constitutes 15% of the total number of legislators (91st Amendment Amendment).
• The maximum number of ministers in Rajasthan is 30 which is 15% of 200.

Key Points

• The Council of Ministers in states is mentioned in Articles 163, 164, and 167.
• The Council of Ministers is headed by the Chief Minister.
• There are three classes of ministers:
  • Cabinet minister
  • Minister of State 
  • Deputy Minister
• Cabinet ministers are in charge of important departments.
• The cabinet-level group of ministers is called the cabinet ministers.
• Ministers of State are appointed to assist cabinet ministers. 
• Deputy Ministers are there to assist the State Ministers.
• Sometimes the Ministers of State are also given independent departments.

Additional Information

• Cabinet Secretariat:
  • The administrative head is the chief secretary.
  • The political head is the chief minister.

The correct answer is Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh.

• Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh were the first states to adopt the Panchayati Raj form of local Government.

Additional Information 

• First Panchayat in Nagaur district of Rajasthan on 2nd October 1959.
• 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act of 1992: The Act added Part IX to the Constitution, “The Panchayats” and also added the Eleventh Schedule which consists of the 29 functional items of the panchayats.
  • Features of Panchayati Raj:
    • Gram Sabha: Gram Sabha is the primary body of the Panchayati Raj system.
    • It is a village assembly consisting of all the registered voters within the area of the panchayat.
    • Three Tier System: village, intermediate and district levels.
    • Election of members and chairperson: The members to all the levels of the Panchayati Raj are elected directly and the chairpersons to the intermediate and the district levels are elected indirectly.
  • Important committees for Panchayati Raj:
    • Balwant Rai Mehta Committee
    • Ashok Mehta Committee
    • G V K Rao Committee
    • L M Singhvi Committee