With reference to 'Scheduled Areas' in India, consider the following statements : 1. Within a State, the notification of an area as Scheduled Area takes place through an Order of the President. 2. The largest administrative unit forming the Scheduled Area is the District and the lowest is the cluster of villages in the Block. 3. The Chief Ministers of the concerned States are required to submit annual reports to the Union Home Ministry on the administration of Scheduled Areas in the States. How many of the above statements are correct?
- A.Only one
- B.Only two
- C.All three
- D.None
Correct answer
Explanation
The correct answer is B, Only two. Statements 1 and 2 are correct; statement 3 is wrong because the annual report comes from the Governor and goes to the President.
Scheduled Areas are governed by the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution. Under its paragraph 6, the President declares an area to be a Scheduled Area by order, and may also increase, reduce or alter it after consulting the Governor. In practice the largest unit declared has been a whole district and the smallest a cluster of villages within a block. Paragraph 3 of the Fifth Schedule requires the Governor of each such State to report annually, or whenever asked, to the President on the administration of its Scheduled Areas, and the Union can give directions to the State on that administration.
A is wrong: two statements, not one, are correct.
C is wrong: statement 3 is not correct.
D is wrong: statements 1 and 2 are correct.
Exam tip: Fifth Schedule = President declares Scheduled Areas, Governor reports to the President; Sixth Schedule = autonomous districts in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram.
Practice Questions
View allWhich of the following statements about the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women are correct? 1. The Convention was the culmination of more than thirty years of work by the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women. 2. The Convention devotes major attention to women's reproductive rights. 3. The implementation of the Convention is monitored by the Committee on Human Rights. Select the answer using the code given below.
- A.1 and 2 only
- B.1 and 3 only
- C.2 and 3 only
- D.1, 2 and 3
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CEDAW grew out of the Commission on the Status of Women and addresses reproductive rights, but it has its own monitoring committee.
Read the full explanation →Which of the following are a part of the 'basic features' of the Constitution of India as drawn from various decisions of the Supreme Court? 1. Effective access to justice 2. Rule of Law 3. Limitations upon the amending power under Article 368 Select the correct answer using the code given below.
- A.1 and 2 only
- B.1 and 3 only
- C.2 and 3 only
- D.1, 2 and 3
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The Supreme Court has counted all three among the basic features that Parliament cannot destroy. The basic structure doctrine was laid down in Kesavananda Bharati (1973): Parliament can amend any part of the Constitution under Article 368 but cannot alter its basic structure.
Read the full explanation →The Governor of a state may exercise discretionary powers when 1. he or she is not convinced by the advice of the Council of Ministers 2. the Constitution requires him/her to act in his/her discretion in certain matters 3. he or she is appointed as the administrator of an adjoining Union Territory Select the correct answer using the code given below :
- A.1, 2 and 3
- B.1 and 2 only
- C.2 and 3 only
- D.3 only
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The Governor acts in discretion only where the Constitution allows it, which includes running an adjoining Union Territory. Article 163 says the Council of Ministers headed by the Chief Minister aids and advises the Governor, except where the Constitution requires the Governor to act in discretion.
Read the full explanation →Which of the following statements in respect of the nature of the federal system in India is/are correct? 1. Since the States had an independent existence prior to the formation of the Federation, the Constitution of India provided for safeguards for protecting 'State rights', similar to the Constitution of the United States. 2. The residuary powers are reserved with the States under the Constitution of the United States, but these are with the Union under the Constitution of India. 3. The Constitution of India has followed the Irish Constitution in vesting the residuary powers. Select the answer using the code given below.
- A.1, 2 and 3
- B.2 only
- C.2 and 3 only
- D.1 and 3 only
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Only the statement about where residuary powers lie is correct. The American federation was formed by an agreement among states that already existed, so its Constitution guards 'State rights'.
Read the full explanation →With reference to the election of the President of India, consider the following statements : 1. The value of the vote of each MLA varies from State to State. 2. The value of the vote of MPs of the Lok Sabha is more than the value of the vote of MPs of the Rajya Sabha. Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?
- A.1 only
- B.2 only
- C.Both 1 and 2
- D.Neither 1 nor 2
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An MLA's vote value depends on the State's population, but every elected MP, in either House, has the same vote value.
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