Insights Static Quiz -298, 2019–Polity

Solution: d)

The Constitution of India is the lengthiest of all the written constitutions of the world. It is a very comprehensive, elaborate and detailed document.

Centre-state relations have been given in so much detail containing even the minutest of provisions of taxation, administration and finances. For e.g. which taxes will be appropriated by either centre or state has been given in the constitution. Similarly, 5th and 6th schedule areas have not only been defined and demarcated by the constitution, but also several administrative provisions like tribal advisory council; power of Gram Sabhas in those areas etc. have also been provided.

Solution: b)

While the Constitution does not have any provision for categorisation of any state as a Special Category Status (SCS) State, but considering the fact that some areas in India are historically disadvantaged as compared to others, the Centre has assisted states with funds in the past allocated by the former Planning Commission body called the National Development Council (NDC).

The Centre pays 90 per cent of the funds required in a centrally-sponsored scheme to special category status category states as against 60 per cent in case of normal category states, while the remaining funds are provided by the state governments.

The NDC first accorded SCS in 1969 to Jammu and Kashmir, Assam and Nagaland. Over the years, eight more states were added to the list — Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Sikkim, Tripura and, finally, in 2010, Uttarakhand.

Some of the features required for special status are: (i) hilly and difficult terrain; (ii) low population density or sizeable share of tribal population; (iii) strategic location along borders with neighbouring countries; (iv) economic and infrastructural backwardness; and (v) non-viable nature of state finances.

Source

Solution: b)

It literally means ‘we command ‘. It is a command issued by the court to a public official asking him to perform his official duties that he has failed or refused to perform. It can also be issued against any public body, a corporation, an inferior court, a tribunal or government for the same purpose.

The writ of mandamus cannot be issued

• against a private individual or body
• to enforce departmental instruction that does not possess statutory force
• when the duty is discretionary and not mandatory
• to enforce a contractual obligation
• against the president of India or the state governors
• against the chief justice of a high court acting in judicial capacity

Solution: d)

• The maximum strength of the council is fixed at one-third of the total strength of the assembly and the minimum strength is fixed at 40 (with some exceptions).
• The Chairman of the Legislative Council is elected by the council itself from amongst its members.

Solution: c)

• As provided by the Constitution, the Speaker of the last Lok Sabha vacates his office immediately before the first meeting of the newly-elected Lok Sabha. Therefore, the President appoints a member of the Lok Sabha as the Speaker Pro Tem. Usually, the senior most member is selected for this. (Statement 1)
• The President himself administers oath to the Speaker Pro Tem. (Statement 2)
• The Speaker Pro Tem has all the powers of the Speaker. (Statement 3)