Indian Politics Questions and Answers

Answer: A

Correct answer: Article 14

Article 14 provides that the State shall not deny to any person equality before the law or the equal protection of the laws within the territory of India. The article contains two distinct guarantees. Equality before the law is a British concept, negative in form: no one is above the law, and there are no special privileges. Equal protection of the laws is American, positive in form: like should be treated alike, which permits - indeed requires - reasonable classification. That second limb is what makes affirmative action constitutional. Treating unequals equally would itself be unequal, so classification is allowed provided it rests on an intelligible differentia and that differentia bears a rational relation to the object of the law. Note that it speaks of any person, not any citizen, so it protects foreigners and companies too. Articles 19, 21 and 25 cover the six freedoms, life and personal liberty, and freedom of religion.

Answer: D

A.P.J. Abdul Kalam was the first Indian president to fly in a combat aircraft, taking a thirty-minute sortie in a Sukhoi-30 MKI from Lohegaon near Pune in June 2006.

He was 74. A missile scientist by profession, he had led the development of the Agni and Prithvi missiles before becoming president.

Answer: D

Arun Jaitley held charge of the Ministry of Defence in June 2017, alongside the Finance Ministry, after Manohar Parrikar returned to Goa as chief minister.

Nirmala Sitharaman took over as full-time defence minister in September 2017.

Answer: C

The essential feature of parliamentary government is the accountability of the executive to the legislature.

The ministry is drawn from the legislature and holds office only so long as it retains the confidence of the lower house. An independent judiciary and a written constitution belong to other principles entirely, and Britain, the model parliamentary system, has no written constitution at all.

Answer: B

Sachchidananda Sinha, the oldest member, presided over the first meeting of the Constituent Assembly on 9 December 1946 as temporary chairman.

Rajendra Prasad was elected permanent president two days later, and Ambedkar chaired the Drafting Committee.

Answer: C

An election petition is decided by the High Court of the state concerned.

Article 329 bars any court from questioning an election except by such a petition, and an appeal from the High Court's decision lies to the Supreme Court. The Election Commission conducts the election but does not adjudicate disputes about it.

Answer: A

The Supreme Court of India was inaugurated on 28 January 1950, two days after the Constitution came into force.

It first sat in the Chamber of Princes in Parliament House, moving to its own building in 1958. It replaced the Federal Court of India and the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council.

Answer: B

Rajya Sabha members are elected by the members of the state legislative assemblies, using the single transferable vote.

Members of the legislative councils have no part in it. Each state's representation is roughly proportional to its population, and the Union Territories of Delhi, Puducherry and Jammu and Kashmir elect members through their own assemblies.

Answer: C

Members of parliamentary committees are drawn from the various groups and parties in Parliament in proportion to their strength.

They are elected by the House or nominated by the Speaker on that basis, so a committee mirrors the composition of the House and its findings carry cross-party weight.

Answer: A

The dignity of the individual is secured chiefly by guaranteeing equal fundamental rights to every citizen, which are enforceable in court.

Adequate means of livelihood, humane conditions of work and equal pay all appear in the Constitution too, but as directive principles, which are not enforceable by any court.