1. Which of the following rulings of the Supreme Court of India or High Courts was/were meant to uphold the Fundamental Rights?
(1) Allowing women entry into Sabarimala Temple
(2) Decriminalization of Adultery.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (c) Explanation: Statement 1 is correct. The Supreme Court of India has struck down a rule that disallowed girls and women in the 10-50 years age group from entering the temple in Kerala. Chief Justice Dipak Misra-headed Constitution bench in a 4-1 verdict said the temple rule violated their right to equality (under Article 14) and right to worship (under Article 25) of the Constitution. Statement 2 is correct. The Supreme Court of India’s Constitution Bench argued, though ‘Decriminalization of Adultery’ affects the matrimonial sanctity aspect, but the provisions enacted counter to Article 14 (Right to Equality of the Constitution).
2. Which of the following Office holders are given a fixed two-year tenure in their postings?
(1) Cabinet Secretary
(2) Foreign Secretary
(3) Director, Research and Analysis Wing
(4) Defence Secretary
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 1, 2 and 3 only
(b) 1, 2 and 4 only
(c) 2, 3 and 4 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
Answer: (d) Explanation: Apart from the above, the Director, Intelligence Bureau; the Union Home Secretary; the Director, CBI; the DGP of States also enjoy a fixed two-year tenure. However, among the Central government-level officers, the Director, CBI's fixed tenure's sanctity is mandated by the Supreme Court and Others' fixed tenure was decided by the Central government.
3. Which of the following laws exist for the implementation of the ‘Fundamental Duties’?
(1) The Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955
(2) The Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971
(3) The Representation of People Act, 1951
(4) The Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 2 and 4 only
(b) 1, 2 and 4 only
(c) 2, 3 and 4 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
Answer: (d) Explanation: The Verma Committee on Fundamental Duties of the Citizens (1999) identified the existence of legal provisions for the implementation of some of the Fundamental Duties. They are mentioned below: 1. The Protection of Civil Rights Act (1955) provides for punishments for
offences related to caste and religion. 2. The Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act (1971) prevents disrespect to the Constitution of India, the National Flag and the National Anthem. 3. The Representation of People Act (1951) provides for the disqualification of members of the Parliament or a state legislature for indulging in corrupt practice, that is, soliciting votes on the ground of religion or promoting enmity between different sections of people on grounds of caste, race, language, religion and so on. 4. The Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972 prohibits trade in rare and endangered species. Hence, (d) is the correct answer.
4. Consider the following statements:
(1) The Zonal Councils are constitutionally mandated to achieve an emotional integration of the country.
(2) The Inter-State Council has exclusive jurisdiction in deciding issues relating to inter-state, centre–state and centre–union territories relations.
Which of the statements given above is/are incorrect?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (c) Explanation: Statement 1 is incorrect: The Zonal Councils are statutory and not constitutional bodies. Hence, their mandate of emotional integration is legal and not constitutional one. They are established by an Act of the Parliament, that is, States Reorganisation Act of 1956. The Act divided the country into five zones (Northern, Central, Eastern, Western and Southern) and provided a Zonal Council for each zone. While forming these zones, several factors have been taken into account which includes: the natural divisions of the country, the river systems and means of communication, the cultural and linguistic affinity and the requirements of economic development, security and law and order. Statement 2 is incorrect: The Inter-State Council’s function to enquire and advise upon inter-state disputes is complementary to the Supreme Court’s jurisdiction under Article 131 to decide a legal controversy between the governments. The Council can deal with any controversy whether legal or non- legal, but its function is advisory unlike that of the Supreme Court which gives a binding decision.
5. Secular character of the Indian State is evident from which of the following provisions of the Constitution?
(1) Preamble of the Indian Constitution
(2) Fundamental Duties
(3) Fundamental Rights
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (d) Explanation: The Indian Constitution embodies the positive concept of secularism i.e. all religions in our country (irrespective of their strength) have the same status and equal support from the State. The Western concept of secularism connotes a complete separation between the religion (the church) and the state (the politics). The term ‘secular’ was added to the Preamble of the Indian Constitution by the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act of 1976. Secular state finds its connotation in Fundamental rights (Articles 25-30: Right to freedom of religion; Cultural and educational rights). According to Fundamental duties enshrined under Article 51 A (e) of the Constitution, it shall be duty of every citizen of India to: promote harmony and spirit of common brotherhood amongst all the people of India transcending religious, linguistic and regional or sectional diversities. Hence, the correct answer code is (d).