UPSC Previous Years (Prelims & Mains) Questions

Correct Answer : Option (C) - 1 and 3 only

Note :

About Ethics Committee :

* This committee was constituted in Rajya Sabha in 1997 and in Lok Sabha in 2000. It enforces the code of conduct of members of Parliament. It examines the cases of misconduct and recommends appropriate action. Thus, it is engaged in maintaining discipline and decorum in Parliament.

* It is the only committee that probes lay citizen's complaints against lawmakers of the Lok Sabha.

History of Ethics Committee in LokSabha :

* In the case of Lok Sabha, a study group of the House Committee of Privileges, after visiting Australia, the UK, and the US in 1997 to look into practices pertaining to the conduct and ethics of legislators, recommended the constitution of an Ethics Committee, but it could not be taken up by Lok Sabha.

* The Committee of Privileges finally recommended the constitution of an Ethics Committee during the 13th Lok Sabha. The late Speaker, G M C Balayogi, constituted an ad hoc Ethics Committee in 2000, which became a permanent part of the House only in 2015. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

Procedure for Complaints :

* Initially, there was a provision under the rules of the Ethics Committee that allowed any Indian citizen to file a complaint against a lawmaker.

* But, in 2014, a sub-committee suggested that such a provision would allow any political rival to lodge complaints against a lawmaker on flimsy grounds. The rule was then modified to the extent that a complaint had to be submitted to the panel through a lawmaker.

* Till then, any person can complain against a Member through another Lok Sabha MP, along with evidence of the alleged misconduct, and an affidavit stating that the complaint is not “false, frivolous, or vexatious”. If the Member himself complains, the affidavit is not needed. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

* However, the committee does not entertain complaints solely based on media reports or matters currently under judicial review. Hence, statement 3 is correct

Hence, option C is correct.

Source : Rajyasabha, Indianexpress, Indianexpress, Business Standard

Correct Answer :   Canada and the United States of America

Note : * Canada and the United States share the longest international border in the world, spanning a massive 8,890 kilometres. Hence, option (a) is correct.

* In comparison, the Russia-Kazakhstan border measures 6,846 kilometres, and the Chile-Argentina border measures 5,308 kilometres.

* India shares 3488 Km of border with China that runs along the States of Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh.

Source :

International perspective

MHA

Correct Answer :   Operation Sadbhavana

Note : "Operation Sadbhavana" is a humanitarian initiative of the Indian Army aimed at improving the social and economic conditions of the people of remote areas.  

Through various welfare activities, including running schools, developing infrastructure, and promoting national integration tours, the Indian Army aims to empower the local population, provide employment opportunities, and support education, thus contributing to nation-building efforts.

Hence, option C is correct..

Source : operation sadbhavana in ladakh

Correct Answer : Option (D) - 1 and 3 only

Note :

Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) :

* Its creation was recommended in 2001 by a Group of Ministers (GoM) that was tasked with studying the Kargil Review Committee (1999) report.
* The post of CDS was also established on the recommendation of Shekatkar committee headed by the Lt. General D.B. Shekatkar (retd.).

The duties and functions of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) include the following :
* To function as the Permanent Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
* However, CDS will not exercise any military command over the three service chiefs, CDS will ensure coordination in joint operations. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.
* To act as the Principal Military Advisor to Hon’ble Raksha Mantri on all Tri-Service matters. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

To administer the Tri-Service organizations/agencies/commands.

* To be a member of the Defence Acquisition Council chaired by Hon’ble Raksha Mantri.

Hence, option D is correct.

Source : PIB, Chief of Defence Staff Page no. 6

Correct Answer :   Article 21

Note : The Supreme Court described privacy and its importance in the landmark decision of K.S. Puttaswamy vs Union of India in 2017 that the right to Privacy is fundamental and inalienable and attaches to the person covering all information about that person and the choices that he/she makes. The right to privacy is protected as an intrinsic part of the right to life and personal liberty under Article 21.

Hence, Option D  is correct.

Source : Loksabhadocs

Correct Answer :   Inter-State quarantine is a Union subject under the Union List.

Note : The Seventh Schedule of the Constitution contains three lists that distribute power between the Centre and states (Article 246).

* There are 98 subjects (originally 97) in the Union List, on which Parliament has exclusive power to legislate.
* The State List has 59 subjects (originally 66) on which states alone can legislate.
* The Concurrent List has 52 subjects (originally 47) on which both the Centre and states can legislate,

Categorization of Subjects under Union List :

* Interstate trade and commerce is under the Union list. Hence statement A is not correct.
* Inter-state migration is under the Union list.  Hence statement  B is not correct.
* Inter-state quarantine is under the Union list.  Hence statement  C is correct.
* Corporation tax is under the Union list. Hence statement D is not correct.

Entry Number	List	Subject
42	Union	Interstate Trade and Commerce
81	Union	Inter-state migration
81	Union	Inter-state quarantine
85	Union	Corporation Tax

Source : Constitutionofindia, MEA

Correct Answer : Option (D) - 1, 2 and 3

Note : * art IXA of the Constitution was inserted by the Constitution (Seventy-fourth Amendment) Act, 1992. It contains provisions for local self-government at the urban level or for the municipalities. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

* Part XVIII of the Constitution contains provisions for emergencies, including national, state and financial emergencies. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

* Article 368 in Part XX of the Constitution deals with the power of parliament to amend the Constitution and its procedures. It states that the Parliament may amend the Constitution by way of addition, variation or repeal of any provision in accordance with the procedure laid down for the purpose. Hence, statement 3 is correct.


Source : Constitutionofindia, Part-xviii, Article-368

Correct Answer : Option (B) - Only two

Note : * Bharatiya Jana Sangh was founded in 1951 by Syama Prasad Mukherjee.  Hence, pair 1 is correctly matched.

* Jai Prakash Narayan, Ram Manohar Lohia, and Acharya Narendra Dev were prominent leaders of the Socialist Party. Hence, pair 2 is not correctly matched.

* The Congress for Democracy (CFD) was an Indian political party founded in 1977 by Jagjivan Ram. Hence, pair 3 is correctly matched.

* Swatantra Party was founded in the year 1959 by leaders opposing the socialistic policies of the Congress government. Some of the prominent leaders of the time including C Rajagopalachari, Minoo Masani and N G Ranga collaborated to form a liberal-conservative party. The party stood for market-based economy and the dismantling of the license raj. Hence, pair 4 is not correctly matched

Hence, Option B is correct.

Source : BJP, SPI, NIOS, The Hindu

Correct Answer : Option (A) - 1, 2 and 3

Note : * It lists the official languages of the republic of India. Part XVII of the Indian constitution deals with the official languages in Articles 343 to 351.

* The Eighth Schedule of the Constitution specifies 22 languages (originally 14 languages). These are Assamese, Bengali, Bodo, Dogri (Dongri), Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Mathili (Maithili), Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Nepali, Odia, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Santhali, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu and Urdu.

Hence, Option A is correct.

Source : MHA

Correct Answer :   Four

Note : * Delimitation means the act or process of fixing limits or boundaries of territorial constituencies in a country to represent population changes. Under Article 82, the Parliament enacts a Delimitation Act after every Census.

* The Delimitation Commission in India is a high-power body whose orders have the force of law and cannot be questioned before any court.

* In India, Delimitation Commissions have been constituted 4 times – in 1952 under the Delimitation Commission Act, 1952, in 1963 under the Delimitation Commission Act, 1962, in 1973 under the Delimitation Act, 1972 and in 2002 under the Delimitation Act, 2002.

Source : https://www.eci.gov.in/delimitation