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UPSC Previous Years (Prelims & Mains) Questions
A)
Directive Principles of State Policy
B)
Fundamental Rights
C)
Preamble
D)
Seventh Schedule

Correct Answer : Option (A) - Directive Principles of State Policy

Note : The Directive Principles constitute a very comprehensive economic, social and political programme for a modern democratic State. They aim at realising the high ideals of justice, liberty, equality and fraternity as outlined in the Preamble to the Constitution. They embody the concept of a ‘welfare state’ through the socialistic principles and not that of a ‘police state’, which existed during the colonial era. For example, Article 38 seeks to promote the welfare of the people by securing a social order permeated by justice–social, economic and political– and to minimise inequalities in income, status, facilities and opportunities.

Year : 2020
Category : General Studies
2 .
Consider the following statements:

  1. The Constitution of India defines its ‘basic structure’ in terms of federalism, secularism, fundamental rights and democracy.
  2. The Constitution of India provides for ‘judicial review’ to safeguard the citizens’ liberties and to preserve the ideals on which the Constitution is based.

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

Correct Answer : Option (B) - 2 only

Note :

The doctrine of basic features is neither defined nor mentioned anywhere in the Constitution. This doctrine was laid down by the Supreme Court in the landmark Keshavnand Bharati case. And even the Supreme Court is yet to define or clarify what all constitutes basic features, and the doctrine therefore, remains open ended. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.

The doctrine of judicial review originated and developed in the USA. It was propounded for the first time in the famous case of Marbury versus Madison (1803) by John Marshall, the then chief justice of the American Supreme Court. In India, on the other hand, the Constitution itself confers the power of judicial review on the judiciary (both the Supreme Court as well as High Courts). Judicial review is needed for the following reasons:

(a) To uphold the principle of the supremacy of the Constitution.
(b) To maintain federal equilibrium (balance between the Centre and the states)
(c) To protect the Fundamental Rights of the citizens.

Therefore, statement 2 is correct.

Year : 2020
Category : General Studies
A)
the final goal of a stateless society
B)
class struggle
C)
abolition of private property
D)
economic determinism

Correct Answer : Option (A) - the final goal of a stateless society

Note :

Classless society, in Marxism, the ultimate condition of social organization, expected to occur when true communism is achieved. According to Karl Marx (1818–83), the primary function of the state is to repress the lower classes of society in the interests of the ruling class. However, after the class struggle has resulted in the victory of the proletariat and the establishment of a socialist society, there will be no further need for such a repressive institution; with the disappearance of classes, the state is expected to “wither away.”

According to Gandhiji, ideal society is a Stateless democracy, the state of enlightened anarchy where social life has become so perfect that it is self-regulated. "In the ideal state, there is no political power because there is no State."

Hence, stateless society is the common point in the two thinkers.

Year : 2020
Category : General Studies
A)
An agency for widening the scope of parliamentary democracy
B)
An agency for strengthening the structure of federalism
C)
An agency for facilitating political stability and economic growth
D)
An agency for the implementation of public policy

Correct Answer : Option (D) - An agency for the implementation of public policy

Note :

Bureaucracy or the permanent executive is body of appointed officials which primarily responsible for two functions

1. Providing policy inputs to the elected representatives who form the popular executive
2. Implementation of the public policy approved by the popular executive

Therefore, option (d) is most appropriate answer as it represents one of the primary function of bureaucracy.

Bureaucracy has no direct role in the dynamics of parliamentary democracy as it works on principles of political neutrality and anonymity. Hence, it is apolitical. In context of India, bureaucracy is represented by All India Services like IAS which are unitary in characteristic and they are often criticised by state governments as going against the federal spirit. Though bureaucracy acts as catalyst for economic growth and provides stability to administration and policy to some extent, it has no direct role in political stability. Political stability in India’s parliamentary system is dependent on the confidence enjoyed by executive in Lok Sabha. Therefore, options (a), (b), (c) are not correct.

Year : 2020
Category : General Studies
A)
a part of the Constitution but has no legal effect
B)
not a part of the Constitution and has no legal effect either
C)
part of the Constitution and has the same legal effect as any other part
D)
a part of the Constitution but has no legal effect independently of other parts

Correct Answer : Option (D) - a part of the Constitution but has no legal effect independently of other parts

Note :

With respect to whether the Preamble is In the Kesavananda Bharati case(1973), the Supreme Court rejected the earlier opinion and held that Preamble is a part of the Constitution. It observed that the Preamble is of extreme importance and the Constitution should be read and interpreted in the light of the grand and noble vision expressed in the Preamble. In the LIC of India case18 (1995) also, the Supreme Court again held that the Preamble is an integral part of the Constitution.

In both the Berubari Union case (1963) and the Kesavnanda Bharati Case (1973), the Supreme Court of India quoted the following observations of Willoughby about the Preamble to the American Constitution:- It has never been regarded as the source of any substantive power conferred on the Government of the United States, or on any of its departments. Such power embrace only those expressly granted in the body of the Constitution and such as may be implied from those so granted. What is true about the powers is equally true about the prohibitions and limitations.

Hence Preamble to the constitution of India is part of the Constitution but has no legal effect independently of other parts

Year : 2020
Category : General Studies
A)
a loan system of the World Bank
B)
one of the operations of a Central Bank
C)
a credit system granted by WTO to its members
D)
credit system granted by IMF to its members

Correct Answer : Option (D) - credit system granted by IMF to its members

Note :

The IMF is funded through its members and their quota contributions. The reserve tranche is basically an emergency account that IMF members can access at any time without agreeing to conditions or paying a service fee. In other words, a portion of a member country’s quota can be withdrawn free of charge at its own discretion.

In short,
• The reserve tranche is a segment of an International Monetary Fund member country’s quota that is accessible without fees or economic reform conditions.

• Initially, member nations’ reserve tranches are 25% of their quota, but this position can change according to any lending that the IMF does with its holdings of the member’s currency.

• The reserve tranches that countries hold with the IMF are considered their facilities of first resort, meaning they will tap into them before seeking a formal credit tranche that charges interest.

Year : 2020
Category : General Studies
7 .
With reference to the provisions contained in Part IV of the Constitution of India, which of the following statements is/are correct?

  1. They shall be enforceable by courts.
  2. They shall not be enforceable by any court.
  3. The principles laid down in this part are to influence the making of laws by the State.

Select the correct answer using the code given below :
A)
1 only
B)
2 only
C)
1 and 3 only
D)
2 and 3 only

Correct Answer : Option (D) - 2 and 3 only

Note :

* The phrase ‘Directive Principles of State Policy’ denotes the ideals that the State should keep in mind while formulating policies and enacting laws. These are the constitutional instructions or recommendations to the State in legislative, executive and administrative matters.

* The Directive Principles resemble the ‘Instrument of Instructions’ enumerated in the Government of India Act of 1935. In the words of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, ‘the Directive Principles are like the instrument of instructions, which were issued to the Governor-General and to the Governors of the colonies of India by the British Government under the Government of India Act of 1935. What is called Directive Principles is merely another name for the instrument of instructions. The only difference is that they are instructions to the legislature and the executive’.

* The Directive Principles constitute a very comprehensive economic, social and political programme for a modern democratic State. They aim at realizing the high ideals of justice, liberty, equality and fraternity as outlined in the Preamble to the Constitution. They embody the concept of a ‘welfare state’ and not that of a ‘police state’, which existed during the colonial era. In brief, they seek to establish economic and social democracy in the country.

* The Directive Principles are non-justiciable in nature, that is, they are not legally enforceable by the courts for their violation. Therefore, the government (Central, state and local) cannot be compelled to implement them. Nevertheless, the Constitution (Article 37) itself says that these principles are fundamental in the governance of the country and it shall be the duty of the State to apply these principles in making laws. Hence, statements 2 and 3 are correct.

Year : 2020
Category : General Studies
8 .
Consider the following statements:

  1. According to the Constitution of India, a person who is eligible to vote can be made a minister in a State for six months even if he/she is not a member of the Legislature of that State.
  2. According to the Representation of People Act, 1951, a person convicted of a criminal offence and sentenced to imprisonment for five years is permanently disqualified from contesting an election even after his release from prison.

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

Correct Answer : Option (D) - Neither 1 nor 2

Note :

The Constitution lays down only the following four qualifications for a person to be chosen a member of the state legislature.
* He must be a citizen of India.
* He must make and subscribe to an oath or affirmation before the person authorised by the Election Commission for this purpose. In his oath or affirmation, he swears
* To bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of India
* To uphold the sovereignty and integrity of India
* He must be not less than 30 years of age in the case of the legislative council and not less than 25 years of age in the case of the legislative assembly.
* He must possess other qualifications prescribed by Parliament.
Therefore statement 1 is not correct
According to the Representation of People Act, 1951 A person convicted of any offence and sentenced to imprisonment for not less than two years shall be disqualified from the date of such conviction and shall continue to be disqualified for a further period of six years since his release. Hence, statement 2 is not correct

Year : 2020
Category : General Studies
9 .
Consider the following statements :

  1. The President of India can summon a session of the Parliament at such place as he/she thinks fit.
  2. The Constitution of India provides for three sessions of the Parliament in a year, but it is not mandatory to conduct all three sessions.
  3. There is no minimum number of days of that the Parliament is required to meet in a year.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A)
1 only
B)
2 only
C)
1 and 3 only
D)
2 and 3 only

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

Note : Article 85(1) of the Constitution empowers the President to summon each House of Parliament to meet at such time and place as he thinks fit, but six months shall not intervene between its last sitting in one Session and the date appointed for its first sitting in the next Session. So, the Constitution provides for the maximum gap between two sessions of Parliament, i.e. it cannot be more than six months. In other words, the Parliament should meet at least twice a year. Therefore the constitution prescribes a maximum gap but there is no minimum gap. So, statement 1 and 3 are correct, and 2 is not correct.

Year : 2020
Category : General Studies
10 .
With reference to the history of India, consider the following pairs :
Anurag : In-charge of treasury of the State
Banian : Indian agent of the East India Company
Mirasidar : Designated revenue payer to the State
Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?
A)
1 and 2 only
B)
2 and 3 only
C)
3 only
D)
1, 2 and 3

Correct Answer : Option (B) - 2 and 3 only

Note :

Aurang was a Persian term for a warehouse – a place where goods are collected before being sold; also refers to a workshop. Thus, pair (1) is not correct.

Banians (banias) were agents of the company. “A Banyan is a person…by whom the English gentlemen in general conduct all their business. He is interpreter, head book-keeper, head secretary, head broker, the supplier of cash and cash-keeper, and in general also secret-keeper….They might appear to have become their masters’ servants, merely managing their trade for them; but the reality was often less that of master and servant than of trading partners. The banian brought his skill and his capital to the partnership; the European contributed his privileges.” [ P.J.Marshall – East Indian Fortunes (1976) p.45]. Thus, pair (2) is correct.

Mirasdar in Urdu means hereditary landowner, co-proprietor. In Persian, miras̱ is inheritance, estate. He was also a revenue payer to the state. Thus, pair (3) is correct.

Year : 2020
Category : General Studies