Question Discussion & Solution

Untouchability refers to discrimination on the basis of caste.

• It is the practice of excluding a group of people regarded as 'untouchables', resulting in the segregation and persecutions from the people regarded as "higher" caste.
• The term is most commonly associated with the treatment of the Dalit communities in the Indian subcontinent. 
• Article 17 of the Indian Constitution abolishes untouchability and forbids its practise in any form.
• In 1976 the Untouchability Act 1955 was amended and renamed the Protection of Civil Rights act 1955.
• The term untouchability has not been defined in the constitution or in any act.

The correct answer is Nagaland.

• English is the official language of Nagaland.

Key Points

• The Official Language:
  • Part XVII of the Constitution deals with the official language in Articles 343 to 351.
  • Hindi written in Devanagari Script is to be the official language of the Union.
  • Originally there were fourteen languages in Eighth Schedule, but eight were added during amendments.
  • The first Official Language Commission was appointed in 1955 under Shri B.G. Kher as Chairman.
• Language of the State/Link Language:
  • The Legislature of a State can adopt any one or more languages used in the State or Hindi for the official purposes of that State.

Additional Information

• Konkani is the official language of Goa.
• The official languages of Puducherry are Tamil (in Puducherry and Karaikal), Telugu (in Yanam), Malayalam (in Mahe).
• Bengali and Kokborok are the official languages of Tripura.

Rajasthan Panchayati Raj Act, 1994:

Resignation of Sarpanch, Up-Sarpanch, Panch, Pradhan, Up-Pradhan, Pramukh, Up-Pramukh and Members of Panchayat Samiti or Zila Parishad-

• The Sarpanch, Up-Sarpanch, or Panch may resign his office by writing under his hand addressed to the Vikas Adhikari.
• A member holding office as Pradhan of the Panchayat Samiti may resign his office at any time by writing under his hand addressed to the Pramukh, Zila Parishad, and the UpPradhan or a member of a Panchayat Samiti may resign his office at any time by writing under his hand addressed to the Pradhan, Panchayat Samiti.
• The Pramukh may resign his office by writing under his hand addressed to the Divisional Commissioner, and the Up-Pramukh or a member, Zila Parishad may resign his office by writing under his hand addressed to the Pramukh. 
• Every resignation under Sub-secs. (1), (2), and (3) shall take effect on the expiry of fifteen days from the date of its receipt by the authority aforesaid unless withdrawn within this period of fifteen days.
• Every Up-Sarpanch, Pradhan, Up-Pradhan, Pramukh, and Up-Pramukh shall vacate the office if he ceases to be a member of Panchayat or, as the case may be, a Panchayat Samiti or a Zila Parishad.

Thus, we can conclude that in Rajasthan, a member of Zila Parishad may resign his office by writing under his hand addressed, to Zila Pramukh.

The Correct answer is ​42nd Amendment.

 Key Points

• The 42nd Amendment of the Indian Constitution is the most comprehensive amendment to the Constitution and carried out major changes.
• It is also known as “mini-constitution”.
•  Amendments:
  • Added three new words (i.e., socialist, secular, and integrity) in the Preamble.
  • Added Fundamental Duties by the citizens (new Part IV A).
  • Made the president bound by the advice of the cabinet.
  • Provided for administrative tribunals and tribunals for other matters (Added Part XIV A).
  • Froze the seats in the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies on the basis of 1971 census till 2001 - Population Controlling Measure
  • Made the constitutional amendments beyond judicial scrutiny.
  • Curtailed the power of judicial review and writ jurisdiction of the Supreme Court and high courts.
  • Raised the tenure of Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies from 5 to 6 years.
  • Provided that the laws made for the implementation of Directive Principles cannot be declared invalid by the courts on the ground of violation of some Fundamental Rights.
  • Added three new Directive Principles viz., equal justice and free legal aid, the participation of workers in the management of industries and protection of the environment, forests, and wildlife.
  • Provided for the creation of the All-India Judicial Service.
  • Shortened the procedure for disciplinary action by taking away the right of a civil servant to make representation at the second stage after the inquiry (i.e., on the penalty proposed).

 Important Points

• The 24th Amendment had re-established Parliament's authority to amend the Fundamental Rights in the Constitution.
• The 25th Amendment was intended to strip the Supreme Court of the power to go into the quantum of compensation for the takeover of property for public use.
• 44th Amendment Act nullified this unjustified power to the government.
• Right to Property was removed from the list of fundamental rights (Article 31) and was made a legal right under Article 300A.
• 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments were passed by Parliament in December 1992.
• Through these amendments, local self-governance was introduced in rural and urban India.

The correct answer is 17.

Key Points

• Untouchability is neither defined in the Constitution nor in the Act.
  • It refers to a social practice that looks down upon certain depressed classes solely on account of their birth and makes any discrimination against them on this ground.
  • In 1976, it was made more stringent and was renamed ‘The Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955.
  • It defines ‘Civil Right’ as ‘any right accruing to a person by reason of the abolition of untouchability by 'Article 17 of the Constitution.’
  • All offenses under the Act have been made non-compoundable. 

Additional Information

• Article 14 of the Indian Constitution states that “The State shall not deny to any person equality before the law or the equal protection of the laws within the territory of India”.
• Article 48 of DPSP in the Indian Constitution directs the State to prohibit the slaughter of cows, calves, and other milch and draught cattle and to improve their breeds.
• Article 22 is one such Fundamental Right that safeguards the rights of individuals who have been arrested and detained for committing an offence.