UPSC 2009 Polity Questions with Answers

Explanation

Option (b) is correct: The 91st Constitutional Amendment Act limits the number of ministers in the Council of Ministers, including the Prime Minister, to a maximum of 15% of the total members of the Lok Sabha (House of the People). The limit was imposed to keep the size of the cabinet in check and reduce unnecessary bureaucratic expansion, ensuring that the government remains efficient and effective. Options (a), (c) and (d) are incorrect: 90th Amendment concerns the reservation of seats for Scheduled Tribes in the legislatures of Nagaland, Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Arunachal Pradesh The 92nd Amendment deals with the addition of languages to the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution. 93rd Amendment enables reservations for socially and educationally backward classes in admission to educational institutions including private educational institutions, whether aided or unaided by the State, other than the minority educational institutions

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.

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect: Under Article 75, the President appoints the Prime Minister, and the other Ministers are appointed by the President based on the Prime Minister’s advice. The Cabinet Secretary has no official role in the creation of either Ministries or Departments of the Government of India.

Statement 2 is correct: According to Article 75 of the Constitution of India, after the general elections or ministry reshuffling, the Prime Minister advises the President on the appointment of ministers to various ministries. The President, acting on the advice of the Prime Minister, formally assigns ministries to the elected ministers.

Explanation

Lok Adalats are alternative dispute resolution mechanisms in India, aimed at providing a speedy and cost-effective resolution to disputes.

Statement 1 is correct: An award made by a Lok Adalat is deemed to be a decree of a civil court and is enforceable as such. Moreover, no appeal lies against it in any higher court, ensuring finality and quick resolution of the dispute.

Statement 2 is incorrect: Matrimonial and family disputes are covered under Lok Adalats. In fact, they often serve as a platform for resolving family-related disputes, including matters related to divorce, child custody, and maintenance.

Explanation

According to Article 243E of the Constitution, if a Panchayat is dissolved before its term ends, elections must be held within six months. This ensures that the democratic process is restored promptly. However, if the remainder of the term is less than six months, elections may not be necessary.

Explanation

The first Municipal Corporation in India was established in Madras (now Chennai) in 1688 during British rule. It was created by the British East India Company to address administrative and civic issues in growing urban settlements. This was followed by the establishment of municipal corporations in Bombay (now Mumbai) and Calcutta (now Kolkata) in 1726.