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Daily subject-wise quiz: Polity and Governance MCQs on qualifications for membership of Parliament, fundamental duties and more (Week 115)
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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Which of the following is/are not a fundamental duty mentioned in the Constitution of India?
1. To abide by the Constitution and respect its ideals and institutions, the National Flag and the National Anthem
2. To value and preserve the rich heritage of our composite culture
3. To maintain just and honourable relations between nations
4. To protect monuments and places and objects of national importance.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
(a) 2 and 3 only
(b) 3 and 4 only
(c) 3 only
(d) 4 only
Explanation
— The fundamental duties were incorporated in Part IV-A of the Constitution by The Constitution (42nd Amendment) Act, 1976, during Indira Gandhi's Emergency. Article 51(A) describes 11 fundamental duties — 10 came with the 42nd Amendment; the 11th was added by the 86th Amendment in 2002.
— These duties are not enforceable by law. However, a court may take them into account while adjudicating on a matter. They were made a part of the Constitution to emphasise the obligation of the citizen in return for the fundamental rights that he or she enjoys. The Russian Constitution has the concept of fundamental duties.
— Article 51(A) says it shall be the duty of every citizen of India:
(a) to abide by the Constitution and respect its ideals and institutions, the National Flag and the National Anthem;
(b) to cherish and follow the noble ideals which inspired our national struggle for freedom;
(c) to uphold and protect the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India;
(d) to defend the country and render national service when called upon to do so;
(e) to promote harmony and the spirit of common brotherhood amongst all the people of India transcending religious, linguistic and regional or sectional diversities; to renounce practices derogatory to the dignity of women;
(f) to value and preserve the rich heritage of our composite culture;
(g) to protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wild life, and to have compassion for living creatures;
(h) to develop the scientific temper, humanism and the spirit of inquiry and reform;
(i) to safeguard public property and to abjure violence;
(j) to strive towards excellence in all spheres of individual and collective activity so that the nation constantly rises to higher levels of endeavour and achievement;
(k) who is a parent or guardian to provide opportunities for education to his child or, as the case may be, ward between the age of six and fourteen years.
— To maintain just and honourable relations between nations is a part of promotion of international peace and security under Article 51 of the Constitution of India while the protection of monuments and places and objects of national importance is provided under Article 49.
Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.
Recently, the Supreme Court ruled that 'Zudpi jungle' (shrub forest) should be considered as 'forest' lands. These forests are in:
(a) Maharashtra
(b) Gujarat
(c) Odisha
(d) Kerala
Explanation
— After several decades of litigation over about 86,000 hectares of Zudpi jungle (shrub forest) lands peculiar to Maharashtra's eastern Vidarbha region, the Supreme Court last month ruled that such lands should be considered as 'forest' lands.
— According to an official report cited by the court, Zudpi is a Marathi word that literally means bushes or shrubs, and Zudpi land denotes an inferior form of empty property with bushy growth.
— The phrase referred to all wastelands that were not utilised by individual farmers for farming or other reasons.
— According to the paper, Zudpi jungle lands are unique to six districts in eastern Vidarbha (Nagpur division): Nagpur, Chandrapur, Gadchiroli, Bhandara, Wardha, and Gondia, and have been used for non-forest activities for several decades. These properties, which were traditionally utilised for grazing, were categorised as Gairan under the Maharashtra Land Revenue Code in 1966.
Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.
With reference to Article 81 of the Constitution of India, consider the following pairs:
How many of the pairs given above are correctly marked?
(a) Only one pair
(b) Only two pairs
(c) All three pairs
(d) None
Explanation
— The existing freeze on delimitation, which has allocated members to states in the Lok Sabha for the past 50 years based on 1971 census results, would expire in 2026 unless Parliament adopts another Constitutional Amendment Bill to extend it.
Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.
An election to constitute a Panchayat shall be completed —
1. after the expiry of its duration specified
2. before the expiration of a period of three months from the date of its dissolution
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
— Every Panchayat, unless sooner dissolved under any legislation in force, shall exist for five years from the date set for its first meeting and no longer.
— No amendment to any law now in force shall have the effect of precipitating the dissolution of a Panchayat at any level that was functioning immediately prior to such amendment, until the expiration of its term.
— An election to constitute a Panchayat shall be completed —
(a) before the expiry of its duration specified in clause (1); Hence, statement 1 is not correct.
(b) before the expiration of a period of six months from the date of its dissolution. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.
— Provided that if the balance of the term for which the dissolved Panchayat would have continued is less than six months, no election under this section is required to constitute the Panchayat for that period.
Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.
(Source: Constitution of India)
What are the qualifications for membership of Parliament?
1. A person should be a citizen of India
2. In the case of a seat in the Council of States, not less than thirty five years of age and, in the case of a seat in the House of the People, not less than thirty years of age
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Explanation
— Article 84 of the Constitution of India provides for the qualifications for membership of Parliament.
— A person shall not be qualified to be chosen to fill a seat in Parliament unless he —
(a) is a citizen of India, and makes and subscribes before some person authorised in that behalf by the Election Commission an oath or affirmation according to the form set out for the purpose in the Third Schedule; Hence, statement 1 is correct.
(b) is, in the case of a seat in the Council of States, not less than thirty years of age and, in the case of a seat in the House of the People, not less than twenty-five years of age; and Hence, statement 2 is not correct.
(c) possesses such other qualifications as may be prescribed in that behalf by or under any law made by Parliament.
Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.
(Source: Constitution of India)
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