Static Quiz – 31st May, 2022

Exp) The Parliament in India has two houses. When there are two houses of the legislature, it is called a

bicameral legislature. The two Houses of the Indian Parliament are the Council of States or the Rajya Sabha

and the House of the People or the Lok Sabha.

Statement 1 is correct. Countries with large size and much diversity usually prefer to have two houses of the

national legislature to give representation to all sections in the society and to give representation to all

geographical regions or parts of the country.

Statement 2 is incorrect. There was no such condition of becoming a member of Commonwealth of

Nations.

Statement 3 is correct. A bicameral legislature makes it possible to have every decision reconsidered. Every

decision taken by one house goes to the other house for its decision. This means that every bill and policy

would be discussed twice. This ensures a double check on every matter. Even if one house takes a decision in

haste, that decision will come for discussion in the other house and reconsideration will be possible.

Exp) Option a is correct

The Constitution has given the States the option of establishing either a unicameral or bicameral legislature. At

present only six States have a bicameral legislature.

States having a bicameral legislature are given below:

1) Andhra Pradesh

2) Bihar

3) Karnataka

4) Maharashtra

5) Telangana

6) Uttar Pradesh

Tamil Nadu does not have a bicameral legislature.

Exp) Statement 1 is incorrect. Only Money Bills can be introduced by only a Minister, all non-money bills

can be introduced by both by a Minister or by a private member of Parliament. Thus even a Constitutional

Amendment Bill can be introduced by a Minister or by a private member.

Statement 2 is correct. Money Bills can be introduced only in the Lok Sabha, only by a Minister and on prior

recommendation of the President of India.

Statement 3 is incorrect. No prior recommendation of the President is required for introducing a

Constitutional Amendment bill. Also, a Constitutional Amendment bill can be introduced in either of the

houses of the Parliament.

Exp) All the statements are correct

A significant feature of the legislative process is the appointment of committees for various legislative purposes.

These committees play a vital role not merely in law making, but also in the day-to-day business of the House.

Since the Parliament meets only during sessions, it has very limited time at its disposal. The making of law for

instance requires in-depth study of the issue under consideration. This in turn demands more attention and

time.

Similarly, there are other important functions also, like studying the demands for grants made by various

ministries, looking into expenditure incurred by various departments, investigating cases of corruption etc.

Parliamentary committees perform such functions.

Since 1983, India has developed a system of parliamentary standing committees. There are over twenty such

departmentally related committees. Standing Committees supervise the work of various departments, their

budget, their expenditure and bills that come up in the house relating to the department.

Apart from standing committees, the Joint Parliamentary Committees have occupied a position of eminence

in our country. Joint Parliamentary Committees (JPCs) can be set up for the purpose of discussing a particular

bill, like the joint committee to discuss bill, or for the purpose of investigating financial irregularities.

Members of these committees are selected from both Houses.

Exp) Statement 1 is correct. Debate and discussions in the Parliament must be meaningful and orderly so that

the functions of the Parliament are carried out smoothly and its dignity is intact. In this regard, the Constitution

has made certain provisions to ensure smooth conduct of business. The presiding officer of the legislature is

the final authority in matters of regulating the business of the legislature.

Statement 2 is correct. The 52nd amendment act of 1985 introduced 10th schedule in the constitution, which is

also known as anti-defection law. It has also been subsequently modified by the 91st amendment.

Under Anti-defection law, if a member remains absent in the House when asked by the party leadership to

remain present or votes against the instructions of the party or voluntarily leaves the membership of the party, it

is deemed as defection.

The presiding officer of the House is the authority who takes final decisions on all such cases. If it is proved

that a member has ‘defected’, then such member loses the membership of the House. Besides, such a person

is also disqualified from holding any political office like ministership, etc.

Exp) Sstatement 1 is correct. ‘Negative liberty’ seeks to define and defend an area in which the individual

would be inviolable, in which he or she could ‘do, be or become’ whatever he or she wished to ‘do, be or

become’. This is an area in which no external authority can interfere. It is a minimum area that is sacred and in

which whatever the individual does, is not to be interfered with.

The existence of the ‘minimum area of non-interference’ is the recognition that human nature and human

dignity need an area where the person can act unobstructed by others.

Statement 2 is correct. Positive liberty recognizes that an individual can be free only in society (not outside

it) and hence tries to make that society such that it enables the development of the individual whereas negative

liberty is only concerned with the inviolable area of non-interference and not with the conditions in

society, outside this area, as such.

Positive Liberty is concerned with looking at the conditions and nature of the relationship between the

individual and society and of improving these conditions such that there are fewer constraints to the

development of the individual personality.

Exp) Option b is correct

Absence of laws will lead to a situation of anarchy where liberty would be highly curtailed.

Good Public education system for all will contribute in increasing the capability of a person of developing

her potential, thereby increasing the choices for that person. This is related to the positive liberty. Positive

liberty recognizes that one can be free only in society (not outside it) and hence tries to make that society such

that it enables the development of the individual.

The individual to develop his or her capability must get the benefit of enabling positive conditions in material,

political and social domains.

 That is, the person must not be constrained by poverty or unemployment; they must have adequate

material resources to pursue their wants and needs.

 They must also have the opportunity to participate in the decision-making process so that the laws

made reflect their choices, or at least take those preferences into account.

 Above all, to develop their mind and intellect, individuals must have access to education and other

associated opportunities necessary to lead a reasonably good life.

From the above discussion, we can understand that a high inequality in access to material resources and lack

of involvement of certain section in the political decision making will reduce the liberty in the society.

Exp) Statement 1 is correct. Banning of books, plays or movies, etc. is an easy solution for the short term to

appease certain section of the society. However in long term it develops the culture of banning anything that is

against the established views of the society. Thus it curtails the Fundamental tight of expression of the

section of the society which support such views.

Statement 2 is correct. Constraints of different kind on freedom of expression exist and we are subject to them

in different situations. While reflecting on such situations we need to realise that when constraints are backed

by organised social — religious or cultural — authority or by the might of the state, they restrict our freedom in

ways that are difficult to fight against.

However, if we willingly, or for the sake of pursuing our goals or ambitions, accept certain restrictions, our

freedom is not similarly limited. In any case if we are not coerced into accepting the conditions, then we

cannot claim that our freedom has been curtailed.

Exp) Option d is correct

The first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru played a crucial role in setting the national agenda. He also held the

charge of foreign minister in his own cabinet. Thus, both as the Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister, he exercised profound influence in the formulation and implementation of India’s foreign policy from 1946 to

1964.

The three major objectives of Jawaharlal Nehru’s foreign policy were

1) To preserve the hard-earned sovereignty,

2) To protect territorial integrity, and

3) To promote rapid economic development.

Jawaharlal Nehru wished to achieve these objectives through the strategy of Non-alignment.

Exp) Option a is correct

The US-China rapprochement that began in the late 1960s resulted in a realignment of forces in Asia. Henry

Kissinger, the adviser to the US President Richard Nixon, made a secret visit to China via Pakistan in July 1971.

In order to counter the US-Pakistan-China axis, India signed a 20-year Treaty of Peace and Friendship with

the Soviet Union in August 1971. This treaty assured India of Soviet support if the country faced any attack.