1. Consider the following statements about Public Accounts Committee:

(1) It was set up under the Government of India Act, 1919.

(2) Since 1967, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha is the Chairman of Public Accounts Committee.

(3) It consists of 15 members each from the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.

Which of the statements given above is/are not correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (b) Explanation: Statement (1) is correct. The Public Accounts Committee was set up in 1921 under the provisions of the Government of India Act of 1919. Statement (2) is not correct. The Chairman of the Committee is appointed from amongst its members by the Speaker. Until 1966-67, the Chairman of the Committee belonged to the ruling party. However, since 1967 a Convention has developed whereby the Chairman of the Committee is selected invariably from the Opposition, but not necessarily the Leader of the Opposition. Any member from the Opposition in the Lok Sabha can be appointed as the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee. Statement (3) is not correct. At present, it has 22 members: 15 members from the Lok Sabha and 7 members from the Rajya Sabha.

2. Under which of the following circumstances, a Bill pending in the Parliament shall

not lapse?

(1) A Bill passed by both the Houses but pending assent of the President.

(2) A Bill passed by the Lok Sabha but pending in the Rajya Sabha

(3) A Bill pending in the Rajya Sabha but not passed by the Lok Sabha

(4) A Bill not passed by the two Houses due to disagreement and if the President has notified the holding of a joint sitting before the dissolution of the Lok Sabha.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1, 2 and 4 only

(b) 1, 3 and 4 only

(c) 2, 3 and 4 only

(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Answer: (b) Explanation: The position with respect to lapsing of the Bills in Houses of the Parliament are as follows: 1. A bill pending in the Lok Sabha lapses (whether originating in the Lok Sabha or transmitted to it by the Rajya Sabha). 2. A bill passed by the Lok Sabha but pending in the Rajya Sabha lapses. 3. A bill not passed by the two Houses due to disagreement and if the President has notified the holding of a joint sitting before the dissolution of Lok Sabha, does not lapse. 4. A bill pending in the Rajya Sabha but not passed by the Lok Sabha does not lapse. 5. A bill passed by both Houses but pending assent of the President does not lapse. 6. A bill passed by both Houses but returned by the President for reconsideration of Houses does not lapse. Hence, option (b) is the correct answer.

3. Consider the following statements regarding the role of the Governor of a State in India:

(1) The office of the Governor of a State is an employment under the Central Government.

(2) The provision of appointment of a Governor for two or more States at the same time was not present originally in the Constitution.

(3) The part of the Constitution related to the Governor is not applicable in case of the State of Jammu and Kashmir.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (b) Explanation: Articles 153 to 167 in Part VI of the Constitution deals with the State Executive:

● The Governor is the Chief Executive Head of the State.

● He is a nominal executive head as well as an agent of the Central Government.

● As held by the Supreme Court in 1979, the office of the Governor of a State is not an employment under the Central Government. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.

● The 7th Constitutional Amendment, 1956 facilitated the appointment of the same Governor for two or more States. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

● Part VI of the Constitution is not applicable to the State of Jammu and Kashmir. Hence, Statement 3 is correct.

4. In the context of the Indian Parliamentary system, the principle of 'Collective Responsibility' of the Council of Ministers implies:

(1) That all the Ministers own joint responsibility to the Parliament for all their acts of omission and commission.

(2) When the Lok Sabha passes a No-Confidence Motion against the Council of Ministers, all the Ministers have to resign including those Ministers who are from the Rajya Sabha.

(3) The Cabinet decisions bind all Cabinet Ministers (and other Ministers) even if they differed in the Cabinet meeting.

(4) If any Minister disagrees with a Cabinet decision and is not prepared to defend it, he must resign.

Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 1 and 3 only

(c) 2, 3 and 4 only

(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Answer: (c) Explanation: Collective Responsibility: The fundamental principle underlying the working of Parliamentary System of government is the principle of Collective Responsibility. Article 75 clearly states that the Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha.

• This means that all the Ministers own joint responsibility to the Lok Sabha and not to the Parliament, for all their acts of omission and commission. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.

• They work as a team and swim or sink together. When the Lok Sabha passes a No- Confidence Motion against the Council of Ministers, all the Ministers have to resign including those Ministers who are from the Rajya Sabha. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

• The principle of collective responsibility also means that the Cabinet decisions bind all Cabinet Ministers (and other Ministers) even if they differed in the Cabinet meeting. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

• It is the duty of every Minister to stand by Cabinet decisions and support them both within and outside the Parliament. If any Minister disagrees with a Cabinet decision and is not prepared to defend it, he must resign. Hence, statement 4 is correct.

5. A citizen of India being identified as a “distinguished jurist” by the President of India is one of the qualifications for appointment as a Judge for which of the following Courts?

(a) The Supreme Court of India

(b) The High Courts of India

(c) Both the Supreme Court and the High Courts

(d) None of the Above

Answer: (a) Explanation: Article 124 (3) of the Constitution prescribes that for appointment as a Judge of

(a) A citizen of India. (not necessarily born in India). (b) Have been a Judge of any High Court for at least 5 years, or (c) Have been an advocate in a High Court for 10 years or is in the opinion of the President a distinguished jurist. The criterion of “distinguished jurist” does not apply for the appointment of Judges to the High Courts of India. Hence, option (a) is the correct answer.