UPSC 2012 Polity & Governance PYQs with Answers

Judicial independence is protected by consultation with the CJI in appointments and by charging judges' salaries on the Consolidated Fund. Judges are removed by parliamentary impeachment, not by the CJI, and staff appointments are made by the CJI or his nominee, not the government after consultation.

Preserving composite culture, developing scientific temper and striving for excellence are Fundamental Duties under Article 51A. Protecting weaker sections from social injustice is a constitutional value/directive, but not listed as a Fundamental Duty in this form.

Joint sitting is available for ordinary bills under Article 108. It does not apply to Money Bills or Constitution Amendment Bills.

Finance Commission recommendations, CAG reports and NCSC reports are laid before Parliament through the President. PAC is itself a parliamentary committee, so its report is not laid by the President in the same constitutional sense.

The ESI scheme can be extended to establishments such as hotels, restaurants, motor transport undertakings, newspaper establishments and private medical institutions, subject to notification and coverage conditions. Hence all are included.

Delimitation Commission orders have the force of law and cannot be challenged in court. When laid before legislatures, they cannot be modified by those bodies.

A person can be appointed Prime Minister without being an MP at that moment, but must become a member of either House of Parliament within six months. Membership of Lok Sabha specifically is not mandatory.

Janani Suraksha Yojana promotes institutional deliveries and provides cash/monetary assistance linked to delivery. Wage-loss compensation is associated with maternity benefit schemes, not JSY.

CAG reports are examined by the PAC, and information in them may support investigations into financial irregularities. CAG does not exercise emergency exchequer control or possess judicial powers to prosecute offenders.

Education is affected by DPSPs, local bodies, special provisions for Scheduled Areas and tribal areas, and the Seventh Schedule's distribution of legislative subjects. Therefore all listed constitutional provisions bear on education.

Parliament controls public finance through the Annual Financial Statement, Appropriation Bill, supplementary grants/vote-on-account and Finance Bill. A Parliamentary Budget Office mid-year review was not an existing constitutional/parliamentary control mechanism in India.

Rajya Sabha has special powers under Articles 249 and 312: it can authorize Parliament to legislate on State List matters in national interest and create All India Services.

ASHA workers mobilize and support women for antenatal care, use pregnancy test kits and spread information on nutrition and immunization. Conducting deliveries is not their normal designated function.

Article 131 gives the Supreme Court original jurisdiction in disputes between the Union and States or between States. Election disputes and disputes involving a Union Territory alone are not part of this original jurisdiction.

The Speaker is elected from among Lok Sabha members and does not hold office at the President's pleasure. A Speaker resigns by writing to the Deputy Speaker, so only statement 3 is correct.

Consumers can have food samples tested, and legal heirs can pursue complaints after a consumer's death. Consumer forum complaints are not universally fee-free, so statement 2 is incorrect.

Some Union Territories are represented in the Rajya Sabha. Election disputes are adjudicated by courts/tribunals as provided by law, not by the CEC. Parliament consists of the President, Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, so statement 3 is also wrong.

The National Green Tribunal relates to environmental justice and the right to a healthy environment, which courts have read into Article 21. Articles 275(1) and 243A concern scheduled-area grants and Gram Sabha powers, not the NGT.

An adjournment motion interrupts normal business to discuss a definite, urgent matter of public importance. It is not meant for information collection, grant reduction or disciplinary adjournment.