Current Affairs Quiz 19 May 2022
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Current Affairs Quiz 19 May 2022 for UPSC Prelims
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- Question 1 of 5
1. Question
Consider the following statements:
1. The Constitution of India only mentions the office of the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and not the Election Commissioners (EC).
2. The CEC has overriding powers while deciding upon any matter or issue.
3. Both CEC and ECs enjoy the security of tenure.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?CorrectAnswer: D
• Article 324 of the Constitution states that the Election Commission shall consist of the Chief Election
Commissioner (CEC) and such number of other election commissioners (ECs), if any, as the president
may from time to time fix. Hence statement 1 is not correct.
• Today, the Election Commission has been functioning as a multi-member body consisting of three
election commissioners.
• The CEC and the two other ECs have equal powers and receive equal salaries, allowances. (similar
to that of a judge of the Supreme Court).
• In case of difference of opinion amongst the CEC and/or two other ECs, the matter is decided by the
Commission by a majority. Hence statement 2 is not correct.
• The CEC is provided with the security of tenure. He cannot be removed from his office except in the
same manner and on the same grounds as a judge of the Supreme Court.
• Other ECs, cannot be removed from office except on the recommendation of the CEC. Hence
statement 3 is not correct.IncorrectAnswer: D
• Article 324 of the Constitution states that the Election Commission shall consist of the Chief Election
Commissioner (CEC) and such number of other election commissioners (ECs), if any, as the president
may from time to time fix. Hence statement 1 is not correct.
• Today, the Election Commission has been functioning as a multi-member body consisting of three
election commissioners.
• The CEC and the two other ECs have equal powers and receive equal salaries, allowances. (similar
to that of a judge of the Supreme Court).
• In case of difference of opinion amongst the CEC and/or two other ECs, the matter is decided by the
Commission by a majority. Hence statement 2 is not correct.
• The CEC is provided with the security of tenure. He cannot be removed from his office except in the
same manner and on the same grounds as a judge of the Supreme Court.
• Other ECs, cannot be removed from office except on the recommendation of the CEC. Hence
statement 3 is not correct. - Question 2 of 5
2. Question
With reference to the State Election Commission, consider the following statements:
1. It is a constitutional body.
2. State Election Commissioner is elected by the President.
3. State Election Commissioner has no security of tenure and can be removed anytime by the Governor of the State.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?CorrectAns. A
The Constitution of India vests in the State Election Commission, consisting of a State Election Commissioner, the superintendence, direction and control of the preparation of electoral rolls for, and the conduct of all elections to the Panchayats and the Municipalities (Articles 243K, 243ZA).
The State Election Commissioner is appointed by the Governor.
As per article 243(C3) the Governor, when so requested by the State Election Commission, make available to the State Election Commission such staff as may be necessary for the discharge of the functions conferred on the SEC by clause (1).
What was the need for State Election Commissions?
• Under the Constitution, establishment of local self-government institutions is the responsibility of the states (entry 5, List II, Seventh Schedule).
• However, experience showed that not all state governments were serious about empowering Panchayati Raj institutions as elections were not being conducted regularly.
• The Constitution was amended in 1992 to define the term (five years) for these institutions. Simultaneously, another provision was made for setting up a constitutional authority, the SEC, on the lines of the EC to conduct regular panchayat elections.
• The ECI and SECs have a similar mandate; do they also have similar powers?
• The provisions of Article 243K of the Constitution, which provides for setting up of SECs, are almost identical to those of Article 324 related to the EC. In other words, the SECs enjoy the same status as the EC.
• In 2006, the Supreme Court emphasised the two constitutional authorities enjoy the same powers. In Kishan Singh Tomar vs Municipal Corporation of the City of Ahmedabad, the Supreme Court directed that state governments should abide by orders of the SECs during the conduct of the panchayat and municipal elections, just like they follow the instructions of the EC during Assembly and Parliament polls.
• How far can courts intervene?
• Courts cannot interfere in the conduct of polls to local bodies and self-government institutions once the electoral process has been set in motion.
• Article 243-O of the Constitution bars interference in poll matters set in motion by the SECs; Article 329 bars interference in such matters set in motion by the EC.
• Only after the polls are over can the SECs’ decisions or conduct be questioned through an election petition.
• These powers enjoyed by the SECs are the same as those by the EC.
• In practice, are the SECs as independent as the EC?
• Although state election commissioners are appointed by the state governors and can only be removed by impeachment, in the last two decades many have struggled to assert their independenceIncorrectAns. A
The Constitution of India vests in the State Election Commission, consisting of a State Election Commissioner, the superintendence, direction and control of the preparation of electoral rolls for, and the conduct of all elections to the Panchayats and the Municipalities (Articles 243K, 243ZA).
The State Election Commissioner is appointed by the Governor.
As per article 243(C3) the Governor, when so requested by the State Election Commission, make available to the State Election Commission such staff as may be necessary for the discharge of the functions conferred on the SEC by clause (1).
What was the need for State Election Commissions?
• Under the Constitution, establishment of local self-government institutions is the responsibility of the states (entry 5, List II, Seventh Schedule).
• However, experience showed that not all state governments were serious about empowering Panchayati Raj institutions as elections were not being conducted regularly.
• The Constitution was amended in 1992 to define the term (five years) for these institutions. Simultaneously, another provision was made for setting up a constitutional authority, the SEC, on the lines of the EC to conduct regular panchayat elections.
• The ECI and SECs have a similar mandate; do they also have similar powers?
• The provisions of Article 243K of the Constitution, which provides for setting up of SECs, are almost identical to those of Article 324 related to the EC. In other words, the SECs enjoy the same status as the EC.
• In 2006, the Supreme Court emphasised the two constitutional authorities enjoy the same powers. In Kishan Singh Tomar vs Municipal Corporation of the City of Ahmedabad, the Supreme Court directed that state governments should abide by orders of the SECs during the conduct of the panchayat and municipal elections, just like they follow the instructions of the EC during Assembly and Parliament polls.
• How far can courts intervene?
• Courts cannot interfere in the conduct of polls to local bodies and self-government institutions once the electoral process has been set in motion.
• Article 243-O of the Constitution bars interference in poll matters set in motion by the SECs; Article 329 bars interference in such matters set in motion by the EC.
• Only after the polls are over can the SECs’ decisions or conduct be questioned through an election petition.
• These powers enjoyed by the SECs are the same as those by the EC.
• In practice, are the SECs as independent as the EC?
• Although state election commissioners are appointed by the state governors and can only be removed by impeachment, in the last two decades many have struggled to assert their independence - Question 3 of 5
3. Question
Which of the following pardoning powers of president are correctly matched ?
1. Remission = It denotes awarding a lesser sentence in place of one originally awarded due to some special fact, such as the physical disability of a convict or the pregnancy of a woman offender.
2. Respite = It denotes the substitution of one form of punishment for a lighter form. For example, a death sentence may be commuted to rigorous imprisonment, which in turn may be commuted to a simple imprisonment.
3. Commutation = It implies reducing the period of sentence without changing its character. For example, a sentence of rigorous imprisonment for two years may be remitted to rigorous imprisonment for one year.CorrectAns;- d) None of the above
Explanation;-
• The pardoning power of the President includes the following;-
1. Pardon: It removes both the sentence and the conviction and completely absolves the convict from all sentences, punishments and disqualifications.
2. Commutation: It denotes the substitution of one form of punishment for a lighter form. For example, a death sentence may be commuted to rigorous imprisonment, which in turn may be commuted to a simple imprisonment.
3. Remission: It implies reducing the period of sentence without changing its character. For example, a sentence of rigorous imprisonment for two years may be remitted to rigorous imprisonment for one year.
4. Respite: It denotes awarding a lesser sentence in place of one originally awarded due to some special fact, such as the physical disability of a convict or the pregnancy of a woman offender.
5. Reprieve: It implies a stay of the execution of a sentence (especially that of death) for a temporary period. Its purpose is to enable the convict to have time to seek pardon or commutation from the President.
IncorrectAns;- d) None of the above
Explanation;-
• The pardoning power of the President includes the following;-
1. Pardon: It removes both the sentence and the conviction and completely absolves the convict from all sentences, punishments and disqualifications.
2. Commutation: It denotes the substitution of one form of punishment for a lighter form. For example, a death sentence may be commuted to rigorous imprisonment, which in turn may be commuted to a simple imprisonment.
3. Remission: It implies reducing the period of sentence without changing its character. For example, a sentence of rigorous imprisonment for two years may be remitted to rigorous imprisonment for one year.
4. Respite: It denotes awarding a lesser sentence in place of one originally awarded due to some special fact, such as the physical disability of a convict or the pregnancy of a woman offender.
5. Reprieve: It implies a stay of the execution of a sentence (especially that of death) for a temporary period. Its purpose is to enable the convict to have time to seek pardon or commutation from the President.
- Question 4 of 5
4. Question
Which of the following reasons associated with the Flash Droughts?
1. Long-term monsoon breaks
2. low precipitation
3. abnormally low temperaturesCorrectAns;- a) Only 1 and 2
Explanation;-
• The 3rd is incorrect it is abnormally high temperatures.
IncorrectAns;- a) Only 1 and 2
Explanation;-
• The 3rd is incorrect it is abnormally high temperatures.
- Question 5 of 5
5. Question
Brihatsamhita, a famous work on astrology is written by
CorrectAnswer: B
IncorrectAnswer: B
