Question Discussion & Solution

The correct answer is 3 only.

 Key Points

• In case of a censure motion, reasons must be stated for its adoption in the Lok Sabha while in case of motion of no confidence no such reasons for its adoption are required to be stated in the Lok Sabha. Hence Statement 3 is not correct and option 3 is correct.

 Important Points

• Article 75 of the constitution states that the Council of Ministers shall be collectively responsible to the House of the People.
• Collective responsibility means that the entire Council of ministers is a team that sinks or swims together.
• So if the Lok Sabha passes a no-confidence motion against the Council of ministers then all have to resign. Hence Statement 1 is correct.
• Censure motion is moved against the Council of Ministers, a group of ministers, or as individual ministers for the failure to perform duties.
• The censure motion is usually moved by the opposition party against the ruling party or any of its ministers for failing to act in a certain matter.
• Censure motion must be specific and self-explanatory, stating the reasons for its adoption. Hence Statement 2 is correct.
• It can be moved only in the Lok Sabha and not in the Rajya Sabha.
• No leave of the House is required for moving a censure motion but it must specify the charges against the government for which it is moved.
• If the censure motion is passed, the Council of ministers is bound to seek the confidence of the Lok Sabha as early as possible.

 Additional Information 

Difference between Censure Motion and Motion of No Confidence

• No confidence motion can only be moved against the entire council of ministers while censure motion can be moved against an individual minister, a group of ministers, and the entire council of ministers.
• Censure motion is moved for censuring the council of ministers for specific policies and action and a no-confidence motion, on the other hand, is moved for ascertaining the confidence of Lok Sabha in the council of ministers.
• The council of ministers need not resign from the office if a censure motion is passed in the Lok Sabha while in case of motion of no confidence, the council of minister must resign from office if the motion is passed. Hence Statement 4 is correct.

The correct answer is January 2021.

• Rajya Sabha has passed The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2021.
• It will replace Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Ordinance of 2021 which merged the Jammu and Kashmir cadre of the IAS, IPS, and IFS with the Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Mizoram, and Union Territory cadre, also known as AGMUT cadre.
• The President had promulgated the ordinance in January 2021.

The correct answer is Dr. Sampurnanand. 

Key Points

The correct answer is By indirect elections by the members of the Provincial Legislative Assemblies established in 1935.

• The members of this assembly were elected indirectly, that is by the members of the provincial assemblies by the method of a single transferable vote of proportional representation.

Additional Information 

• Important facts about the Constituent Assembly
  • In 1934, M N Roy first proposed the idea of a constituent assembly.
  • The demand was taken up by the Congress Party in 1935 as an official demand.
  • The British accepted this in the August Offer of 1940.
  • Under the Cabinet Mission plan of 1946, elections were held for the formation of the constituent assembly.
  • The members of this assembly were elected indirectly, that is by the members of the provincial assemblies by the method of a single transferable vote of proportional representation
  • The constituent assembly was formed for the purpose of writing a constitution for independent India
  • Initially, the number of members was 389.
  • After partition, some of the members went to Pakistan and the number came down to 299.
  • Out of this, 229 were from the British provinces and 70 were nominated from the princely states.
  • Dr Sachchidananda Sinha was the first temporary chairman of the Constituent Assembly.
  • Later, Dr Rajendra Prasad was elected as the President and its Vice President was Harendra Coomar Mookerjee.
  • BN Rau was the constitutional advisor.
  • The assembly first met on 9 December 1946.
  • On 13 December 1946, Jawaharlal Nehru moved the ‘Objective Resolution’.
  • The National Flag of the Union was adopted on 22 July 1947.
  • The final document had 22 parts, 395 articles and 8 schedules.
  • The assembly had met for 11 sessions.
  • The last session was held during 14 – 26 November 1949.
  • The constitution was passed and adopted by the assembly on 26 November 1949.
  • On 24 January 1950, ‘Jana Gana Mana’ was adopted as the national anthem.
  • The constitution came into force on 26 January 1950 (which is celebrated as Republic Day).

The correct answer is 1 and 2 only.

Key Points

• Parliamentary government
  • Members of the Cabinet are Members of the Parliament.
    • ​Hence statement 1 is correct.
  • Ministers hold the office till they enjoy confidence in the Parliament.
    • ​Hence statement 2 is correct.
  • The Head of the state is President and he/she does not head the cabinet
    • Hence statement 3 is not correct.​

Additional Information

• Parliamentary System of Government
  • There are two executives:
    • The nominal executive is the head of state e.g. President while the real executive is the Prime Minister, who is the head of government.
  • In such a system, the role of the president or monarch is primarily ceremonial and the Prime Minister along with the cabinet wields effective power.
  • Countries with such a system include Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom as well as Portugal.
  • The Constitution of India provides for a parliamentary form of government, both at the Centre and in the States.
  • Articles 74 and 75 deal with the parliamentary system of government at the Union level and Articles 163 and 164 contain provisions with regard to the States.
  • The executive is responsible to the legislature for its policies and acts.
• Presidential System of Government
  • There is only one executive.
  • In this system, the President is both head of state and government, e.g. the USA, South Korea, etc.
  • The executive is not responsible to the legislature for its policies and acts and is constitutionally independent of the legislature in respect of its term of office.