UPSC 2003 Prelims Questions with Answers

Explanation

According to Article 368 of the Indian Constitution, an amendment to the Constitution can be initiated only by introducing a Bill in either House of Parliament. The Bill must be passed in each House by a majority of the total membership of that House and by a two-thirds majority of the members present and voting (Special Majority). Once both Houses pass the Bill, it is presented to the President, who must give assent. Upon the President’s assent, the Constitution stands amended in accordance with the terms of the Bill.

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct: For the Committees on Public Accounts and Public Undertakings, 15 members are elected from the Lok Sabha and 7 members from the Rajya Sabha. In the case of the Committee on Estimates, all the 30 members are elected from the Lok Sabha.

Statement 2 is correct: The Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs renders secretarial assistance to the Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs, which recommends prorogation of both the Houses of the Parliament and the Government’s stand on Private Members’ Bills and Resolutions.

Statement 3 is correct: The Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs is responsible for nominating Members of Parliament (MPs) to various committees, councils, boards, and commissions established by the Government of India across different ministries.

Explanation

The Ilbert Bill was introduced in 1883 by Sir Courtenay Ilbert, the then Law Member of the Viceroy’s Council, to amend the criminal procedure code in British India. The bill sought to allow Indian judges, including the district magistrates, to try British offenders in criminal cases. At the time, only British judges had the authority to try European offenders. The proposal faced strong opposition from the European community in India, leading to protests. The British government eventually modified the bill, allowing Indian judges to try Europeans only if they consented. The controversy highlighted racial discrimination in colonial India.

Explanation

Assertion (A) is true: Weight is the force of gravity acting on an object, and gravity weakens as the distance from the Earth>s center increases. Since altitude represents a greater distance from the Earth>s center, the force of gravity and thus the weight of the body diminish. Reason (R) is true: The Earth is not a perfect sphere, being slightly flattened at the poles and bulging at the equator, this fact does not primarily explain the decrease in weight with altitude. The primary reason lies in the inverse square law of gravity, which states that the force of gravity between two objects decreases proportionally to the square of the distance between them. Hence, Reason (R) does not correctly explain the Assertion (A).

Explanation

Stamp duty is a tax levied by the state government on the transfer of property/property ownership. It is governed by Section 3 of the Indian Stamp Act, 1899. The amount of stamp duty at the time of registration depends on the value of the property. It also varies based on the location of the property, as well as whether the property is newly constructed or pre-owned.

Statement 1 is correct: Stamp duties on financial transactions are levied and collected by State Governments under the Seventh Schedule of the Indian Constitution (State List).

Statement 2 is incorrect: The revenue from stamp duties is not appropriated by the Union Government but remains a vital source of income for state governments. Stamp duties play a significant role in generating non-tax revenue for states. They are imposed on documents such as property deeds, share certificates, and other financial instruments.

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct: When a vehicle takes a sharp turn at high speed, the centrifugal force may push the vehicle outwards. This can cause the vehicle to tilt outwards and potentially overturn about its outer wheels.

Statement 2 is incorrect: This is less likely to happen. The centrifugal force pushes the vehicle outwards, not inwards.

Statement 3 is correct: If the friction between the tires and the road is insufficient to provide the necessary centripetal force, the vehicle may skid outwards, away from the center of the turn.

Statement 4 is incorrect: Skidding typically occurs outwards, not inwards, due to the centrifugal force.

Explanation

When the oil tanker accelerates forward, the oil inside experiences an inertial force (pseudo force) acting in the opposite direction to the acceleration. This causes the free surface of the oil to tilt. 1. The rear end of the tanker has larger depth because the inertial force pushes the oil backward.

2. The front end has smaller depth as the oil moves away from it. Thus, The free surface of the oil becomes inclined, with the rear end having a larger depth

Explanation

The Whitley Commission (1929), also known as the Royal Commission on Labour in India, was established by the British colonial government to investigate labour conditions in India. Chaired by Sir William Whitley, its purpose was to examine issues like wages, working hours, and living conditions of industrial workers. It recommended improving labour welfare, establishing labour unions, and creating welfare funds, along with measures for industrial peace, better working conditions, and health and safety improvements for workers.

Explanation

The Oudh Commercial Bank, founded in 1881 in Faizabad, Uttar Pradesh, was the first Indian-managed bank to be established as a limited liability company. It was created by local businessmen and marked a significant shift in India’s banking sector, which had previously been dominated by the British. The bank’s establishment highlighted the increasing involvement of Indians in economic activities, especially in banking, and it aimed to provide financial services to local industries and trade, representing a milestone in Indian-controlled commercial banking.

Explanation

In India, a High Court (HC) can have jurisdiction over more than one state or Union Territory. This means that a High Court may serve as the judiciary for multiple states and Union Territories.

Option (b) is correct: The Andaman and Nicobar Islands, a Union Territory of India, come under the jurisdiction of the Kolkata High Court. This arrangement is due to the geographical and administrative placement of the islands under the jurisdiction of West Bengal.