Question Discussion & Solution

The correct answer is 42nd Amendment.

Key Points

• The term "Secular" was added to the Preamble by Indira Gandhi Government in the 42nd amendment.
• Secular means the relationship between the government and the religious groups is defined by constitution and law.
• Under the 42nd Amendment Act, three words were added: Socialist, Secular, and Integrity.
• The Indian Constitution embodies the positive concept of secularism, all the religions in our country have the same status and support from the state.
• However, as the Supreme Court said in 1974, although the words ‘secular state’ was not explicitly mentioned in the Constitution, there can be no doubt that Constitution-makers wanted to establish such a state, and accordingly, Articles 25 to 28 (guaranteeing the fundamental right to freedom of religion) have been included in the constitution.
• On 18 December 1976, during the Emergency in India, the Indira Gandhi government pushed through several changes in the Forty-second Amendment of the constitution.
• Through this amendment, the words "socialist" and "secular" were added between the words "sovereign" and "democratic" and the words "unity of the Nation" were changed to "unity and integrity of the Nation".

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 1, 2, 4

Key Points

• Schedule 3 enriched Forms of oaths and Affirmations of offices for elected officials including judges.
• It contains the forms of oath and affirmation for:
  • Union Ministers of India
  • Parliament Election Candidates
  • Members of Parliament (MPs)
  • Supreme Court Judges
  • Comptroller and Auditor General
  • State Ministers
  • State Legislature Elections Candidates
  • State Legislature Members
  • High Court Judges

Additional Information

• First Schedule contains the Lists of the states and territories of India (also about their changes).
• The second Schedule lists the salaries of officials holding public office, Presidents, judges, and the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India.
• The fourth Schedule contains the Allocation of seats in the Rajya Sabha (the Upper House of Parliament) per State or Union Territory.
• The fifth Schedule includes the Provisions as to the Administration and Control of Scheduled Areas and Scheduled Tribes.
• The sixth Schedule includes the Provisions as to the Administration of Tribal Areas in the States of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram.
• The seventh Schedule contains The Union (central government), state, and concurrent lists of responsibilities.
• 8^th, 9^th, 11^th and 12^th Schedule contains the Languages, Validation of certain Acts and Regulations, Panchayat Raj (rural local government), and Municipalities (urban local government) respectively.
• The tenth Schedule enriched "Anti-defection" provisions for the Members of Parliament and the Members of the State Legislatures.

The Correct Answer is State Election Commission.

Key Points

• A state's chief minister is appointed by the governor. He or she frequently appoints the Advocate General, the Chairman of the State Public Service Commission, and the members of the State Public Service Commission. Aside from that, the Governor appoints the State Election Commissioner (though removed by thea President).
• The State Election Commission has been tasked with holding free, equal, and impartial elections for local government bodies in the state.
• Part-IX and Part-IXA of the Indian Constitution, which cover provisions concerning Panchayats and Municipalities, respectively, were introduced by amendments 73 and 74 to the Indian Constitution.
• The constitutions of Panchayats and Municipalities, as well as their elections by the State Election Commission, are included in these parts.

Additional Information

• The President of India, in accordance with Article 280 of the Indian Constitution, appoints Finance Commissions on a regular basis to determine the financial ties between the central government of India and the various state governments.
• The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is India's premier public-sector recruitment agency. It is in charge of all promotions and examinations for All India Services and Group A and Group B positions in the central government's civil service and defence services cadres.
• The Inter-State Council is a permanent legislative body formed by presidential order under Article 263 of the Indian Constitution.

The correct answer is 2004-2007.

Key Points

• Pratibha Devi Singh Patil: 
  • She was the 12th President of India from 2007 to 2012
  • She was the first female President in India.
  • She was also a Governor of Rajasthan from 2004 to 2007.
  • She was also the first female Governor of Rajasthan.

Additional Information

• Prabha Rau:
  • She was the 2nd female Governor(Acting) of Rajasthan from 2009 to 2010.
  • She also served as a Governor of Himachal Pradesh.
• ​​Margret Alva:
  • She was 3rd female Governor of Rajasthan from 2012 to 2014
  • She was also a Governor of Goa, Gujarat, and Uttrakhand.
  • She also held the office of Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Ministry Youth and Sports and Women and Child Development, and Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs.