Daily subject-wise quiz: Polity and Governance MCQs on first General Elections to the Lok Sabha, Ashok Pahwa Committee and more (Week 110)

Indian Express

13-05-2025

UPSC Essentials brings to you its initiative of daily subject-wise quizzes. These quizzes are designed to help you revise some of the most important topics from the static part of the syllabus. Attempt today's subject quiz on Polity and Governance to check your progress.
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With reference to the first General Elections to the Lok Sabha, consider the following statements:
1. It was conducted over four months in 1951-52.
2. The first elections were conducted when Sukumar Sen was the Chief Election Commissioner.
3. The first Lok Sabha had multiple-member constituencies.
How many of the statements given above are correct?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None
Explanation
— India's first Lok Sabha election, conducted over four months in 1951-52, began the democratic process by which the reins of the newly independent nation were put in the hands of its people. Votes were cast for 489 Lok Sabha and 3,283 state Assembly seats around the country. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
— The office of the Election Commission of India (ECI) was set up on January 25, 1950. Sukumar Sen, an officer of the Indian Civil Service and a former Chief Secretary of West Bengal, became Chief Election Commissioner on March 21, 1950. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
— The ballot papers were the size of a Re 1 currency note. They were pink in colour, with 'Election Commission India' inscribed on them. They displayed a serial number with two letters of the alphabet denoting the state — BR for Bihar, AS for Assam, etc.
— The ballots also had serial numbers printed in black, and the national crest in white. The papers for Lok Sabha elections had a thick vertical bar of olive green colour; those for state Assemblies had a chocolate-coloured bar.
— The first Lok Sabha also had multiple-member constituencies, a practice that was done away with in the elections of 1962. Under this, some constituencies returned two members — one from the general category, another from the SC or ST categories — and, in one constituency, all three categories returned one member each. Hence, statement 3 is correct.
— The ECI had granted 14 parties the status of 'national parties', and designated more than 50 parties as 'state parties'. After the elections, only the Congress, Praja Socialist Party (formed with the merger of the Socialist Party and KMPP), CPI, and BJS were able to retain their national party status.
Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.
The provisions under Article 19 of the Constitution of India are:
1. to assemble peaceably and with arms
2. to form unions
3. to reside and settle in any part of the territory of India
4. to carry on any occupation
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
(a) 1, 2 and 3
(b) 2, 3 and 4
(c) 3 and 4 only
(d) 2 and 4 only
Explanation
— Article 19 of the Constitution of India provides for the protection of certain rights regarding freedom of speech, etc.
— All citizens shall have the right—
(a) to freedom of speech and expression;
(b) to assemble peaceably and without arms;
(c) to form associations or unions or co-operative societies;
(d) to move freely throughout the territory of India;
(e) to reside and settle in any part of the territory of India;
(f) to acquire, hold, and dispose of property. However, this right was omitted by the 44th amendment to the Constitution.
(g) to practise any profession, or to carry on any occupation, trade or business.
Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.
(Other Source: Constitution of India)
With reference to the Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs, consider the following statements:
1. It was first constituted in 1949.
2. Before 1954, the Ministry of Defence was providing secretarial assistance to the committee.
3. Its function is to watch the progress of Government Business in Parliament and to give such directions as may be necessary from time to time.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 3 only
(c) 2 only
(d) 1 and 3 only
Explanation
— With the establishment of a bicameral Parliament composed of multiple representatives of the people, it was believed appropriate for the Cabinet to transfer overall responsibility for detailed parliamentary concerns to a small standing committee of the Cabinet that specialised in this duty.
— A Parliamentary and Legal Affairs Committee was established in 1949. This body was eventually renamed the Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs. Since 1954, the committee has had secretarial assistance from the then-Department of Parliamentary Affairs, which is now the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
— Prior to 1954, the Ministry of Law provided secretarial support to the committee, though the then-Department of Parliamentary Affairs also offered secretarial aid for the organisation of Government Business in both Houses of Parliament. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.
— The following functions have been assigned to the Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs:
(i) To watch the progress of Government Business in Parliament and to give such directions as may be necessary from time to time, in order to secure smooth and efficient conduct of such business; Hence, statement 3 is correct.
(ii) to scrutinise, and to consider the attitude of the Government on non-official bills and resolutions to be presented to Parliament;
(iii) to maintain a review from an all-India point of view of legislations undertaken by State legislatures; and
(iv) to consider proposals to summon or prorogue the Houses of Parliament.
Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.
(Source: mpa.gov.in)
The Ashok Pahwa Committee (1996) was associated with:
(a) Reforms in the Lok Sabha
(b) Caste Census
(c) Eighth Schedule
(d) Delimitation
Explanation
— The Ashok Pahwa Committee (1996) proposed that a language be added to the Eighth Schedule if it was an official language in at least one state, a significant portion of a state's population spoke it, it was an independent language rather than a dialect or derivative of one already listed, it was recognised by the Sahitya Akademi, and it had a well-defined and developed literary tradition.
Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.
Consider the following statements:
1. A Member of Parliament shall be liable to any proceedings in any court in respect of a vote given by him in Parliament or any committee.
2. Members of Parliament shall be liable to proceedings in any court in respect of anything said by them in Parliament or any committee.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Explanation
— Article 105 of the Constitution of India provides for the powers, privileges, etc., of the Houses of Parliament and of the members and committees.
— There shall be freedom of speech in Parliament.
— No member of Parliament shall be liable in any court for anything said or voted on in Parliament or any committee thereof, nor shall any person be liable in respect of any report, paper, votes, or proceedings published by or under the authority of either House of Parliament. Hence, statements 1 and 2 are not correct.
— Each House of Parliament, as well as its members and committees, must have the rights, privileges, and immunities prescribed by Parliament by legislation from time to time.
Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.
(Other Source: Constitution of India)
Daily Subject-wise quiz — History, Culture, and Social Issues (Week 109 and 110)
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Daily subject-wise quiz — Environment and Geography (Week 109)
Daily subject-wise quiz – International Relations (Week 109)
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