Systems of Government: UPSC Previous Year Questions (Polity)

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect: The Advocate General of a State in India is appointed not by the President but directly by the Governor of the concerned State. This appointment is made under Article 165 of the Indian Constitution. He holds office during the pleasure of the Governor.

Statement 2 is incorrect: The jurisdiction of High Courts is defined by the Constitution of India, not the Civil Procedure Code (CPC). High Courts possess original, appellate, and sometimes advisory jurisdiction, but this is based on constitutional provisions and specific statutes, not the CPC.

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect: The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT), a quasi judicial body, was established in

1985 under Article 323 -A of the Constitution through the Administrative Tribunal Act 1985 during Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi’s tenure, not during Lal Bahadur Shastri’s term (1964-1966).

Statement 2 is correct: The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) members come from both judicial and administrative backgrounds. They include judges qualified for High Courts and officers from Central or State Governments, appointed by the President of India. This mix ensures swift and effective justice in administrative matters related to grievances of central and state government employees.

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct: The number of ministries on 15th August 1947 was 18. At the time of independence, the government had basic departments like Home Affairs, Defence, Finance, External Affairs, etc, to handle the essential governance functions. The number of ministries was quite small as the nation was just beginning to organize itself administratively after the end of British rule.

Statement 2 is incorrect: In 2009, the number of ministries of the Indian government was much higher than 36. At present in November 2024 there are 53 ministries in the central government of India covering a wide range of administrative, governance, and policy functions.