Which one among the following statements about the Department of Defence (DoD) is not correct?
- A.It is headed by the Defence Secretary.
- B.It deals with defence policy and planning.
- C.It facilitates the restructuring of military commands for optimal utilization of resources.
- D.It is responsible for defence cooperation with foreign countries.
Correct answer
Explanation
The correct answer is C. Restructuring military commands for the best use of resources, including joint and theatre commands, is a task of the Department of Military Affairs, not of the Department of Defence.
The Ministry of Defence has five departments: Defence, Military Affairs, Defence Production, Defence Research and Development, and Ex-Servicemen Welfare. The Department of Military Affairs was created on 1 January 2020 and is headed by the Chief of Defence Staff as its Secretary. Its allocation of business includes promoting jointness among the Army, Navy and Air Force and facilitating the restructuring of military commands. The Department of Defence, headed by the Defence Secretary, handles integrated defence policy and planning, the Integrated Defence Staff, the defence budget, and defence cooperation with foreign countries.
A is wrong to pick: the Defence Secretary does head the Department of Defence.
B is wrong to pick: defence policy and planning are a core function of the department.
D is wrong to pick: defence cooperation with foreign countries is handled by the Department of Defence.
Exam tip: Department of Defence is under the Defence Secretary; Department of Military Affairs (2020) is under the CDS and handles jointness and theatre commands.
Practice Questions
View allWhich one of the following statements best reflects the Chief purpose of the 'Constitution' of a country?
- A.It determines the objective for the making of necessary laws.
- B.It enables the creation of political offices and a government.
- C.It defines and limits the powers of government.
- D.It secures social justice, social equality and social security.
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The core idea of a constitution is constitutionalism: power is granted to the government, but only within set limits. A constitution sets up the organs of the State and divides power among them, but its chief purpose is to stop that power from becoming arbitrary.
Read the full explanation →Which of the following amendments requires ratification by the legislatures of at least half the States?
- A.An amendment adding a new language to the Eighth Schedule
- B.An amendment changing the manner of election of the President
- C.An amendment altering the name of a State
- D.An amendment changing the salaries of ministers
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Article 368(2) lists the provisions whose amendment needs a special majority in each House and, in addition, ratification by the legislatures of not less than one-half of the States: the election of the President, the extent of the executive power of the Union and the States, the Supreme Court and…
Read the full explanation →Which amendment limited the size of the Council of Ministers to fifteen per cent of the strength of the House?
- A.The 88th Amendment Act
- B.The 91st Amendment Act
- C.The 97th Amendment Act
- D.The 104th Amendment Act
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It added clauses to Articles 75 and 164 so that the total number of ministers, including the Prime Minister or the Chief Minister, cannot exceed fifteen per cent of the total number of members of the Lok Sabha or of the State Legislative Assembly, with a floor of twelve ministers…
Read the full explanation →The Ninth Schedule of the Constitution, which protects certain laws from judicial review, was added by which amendment?
- A.The First Amendment Act, 1951
- B.The Fourth Amendment Act, 1955
- C.The Seventh Amendment Act, 1956
- D.The Seventeenth Amendment Act, 1964
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It added Article 31B and the Ninth Schedule so that the zamindari abolition and land reform laws of the States could not be struck down for violating the Fundamental Rights, and it also added reasonable restrictions on the freedom of speech in Article 19(2) and Article 15(4) for the advancement…
Read the full explanation →The Eleventh Schedule, which lists the subjects of the panchayats, was added by which amendment?
- A.The 73rd Amendment Act
- B.The 74th Amendment Act
- C.The 65th Amendment Act
- D.The 97th Amendment Act
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The amendment also made a three-tier structure, five-year terms, reservation for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and women, a State Election Commission and a State Finance Commission compulsory.
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