According to Article 24 of the Indian Constitution, what is the minimum age for employment in factories or mines or other hazardous employment?

The correct answer is A, A-I, B-III, C-IV, D-II. The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) is covered by a neat run of four articles in Part V of the Constitution. Article 148 creates the office: the President appoints the CAG by warrant under his hand and seal, and the CAG can be removed only in the manner of a Supreme Court judge. Article 149 deals with the duties and powers, which Parliament has spelt out in the CAG (Duties, Powers and Conditions of Service) Act, 1971. Article 150 says the accounts of the Union and the states are kept in the form the President prescribes on the CAG's advice. Article 151 sends the CAG's audit reports on Union accounts to the President, who lays them before Parliament, while reports on a state go to the Governor. Option B is wrong because it puts appointment under Article 151. Option C is wrong because it places appointment under Article 149 and duties under Article 148. Option D is wrong because it swaps appointment and audit reports. Exam tip: 148 appointment, 149 powers, 150 form of accounts, 151 reports.

The correct answer is A, Santhanam Committee. The Committee on Prevention of Corruption (1962-64), headed by K. Santhanam, recommended a central body to keep watch over honesty in government, and the Central Vigilance Commission was set up in February 1964 by an executive resolution of the Union government. For almost four decades it had no law of its own; the Central Vigilance Commission Act, 2003 made it a statutory, multi-member body with a Central Vigilance Commissioner and up to two Vigilance Commissioners. It is not a constitutional body, which is a common trap in exams. Option B is wrong because the committees headed by Vijay Kelkar dealt with tax reform and public finance. Option C is wrong because the Swaran Singh Committee of 1976 recommended adding Fundamental Duties to the Constitution. Option D is wrong because the Bakshi Tek Chand Committee reviewed the working of the anti-corruption law of 1947 soon after independence; it did not lead to the CVC. Exam tip: Santhanam Committee gave the CVC in 1964; statutory status came in 2003.

The correct answer is D, A-iii, B-i, C-ii, D-iv. Each case tested an amendment against the basic structure of the Constitution. In Indira Gandhi vs Raj Narain (1975), the Supreme Court struck down the part of the 39th Amendment that put the Prime Minister's election beyond the courts, holding free and fair elections to be part of the basic structure. In Minerva Mills (1980), it struck down clauses of the 42nd Amendment that gave Parliament unlimited power to amend and let all Directive Principles override the rights in Articles 14 and 19. In Kihoto Hollohan (1992), it upheld the anti-defection law brought by the 52nd Amendment but kept the Speaker's decision open to judicial review. In P. Sambamurthy (1987), it struck down a clause of Article 371D, added by the 32nd Amendment, that let the state government overrule a tribunal. Option A is wrong because it links Raj Narain with the 42nd Amendment. Option B is wrong because it pairs Minerva Mills with the 52nd. Option C is wrong because it pairs Raj Narain with the 32nd. Exam tip: 39th–Raj Narain, 42nd–Minerva, 52nd–Kihoto, 32nd–Sambamurthy.

The correct answer is D, Articles 15, 16, 19 and 30. Only five Fundamental Rights are reserved for Indian citizens. Article 15 bars discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth; Article 16 gives equality of opportunity in public employment; Article 19 gives the six freedoms of speech, assembly, association, movement, residence and profession; Article 29 protects the language, script and culture of minorities; and Article 30 gives minorities the right to set up and run educational institutions. All the other rights, such as equality before law, the right to life and freedom of religion, are available to every person, foreigners included. Option A is wrong because Articles 14, 20 and 23 protect every person, not just citizens. Option B is wrong because Articles 21, 25 and 28 also apply to all persons. Option C is wrong because Articles 20, 21 and 25 are rights of every person, citizen or not. Exam tip: citizens-only rights are 15, 16, 19, 29 and 30.

The correct answer is B, Election Commission. Article 103 says the President shall obtain the opinion of the Election Commission and shall act according to that opinion. Article 102 lists the grounds on which a member of either House can be disqualified, such as holding an office of profit, being of unsound mind, being an undischarged insolvent or not being a citizen of India. When a question arises on these grounds, Article 103 makes the President's decision final, but the President is bound by the Commission's opinion, so the advice is not a formality. Disqualification for defection is a different route: under the Tenth Schedule it is decided by the Speaker or the Chairman. For state legislators, Article 192 gives the same role to the Governor. Option A is wrong because the Attorney General advises the government on law but has no role under Article 103. Option C is wrong because the Supreme Court is not consulted in this process. Option D is wrong because the Speaker decides only defection cases. Exam tip: Article 102 gives the grounds; Article 103 gives the decision to the President on the Election Commission's opinion.