Question Discussion & Solution

The correct answer is 1 only.

Confusion Points

• The Northern Zonal Council, The Central Zonal Council, The Eastern Zonal Council, The Western Zonal Council and The Southern Zonal Council are established by an Act of the Parliament, that is, the States Reorganisation Act of 1956. 
• In addition to the above Zonal Councils, a North-Eastern Council was created by a separate Act of Parliament i.e. the North-Eastern Council Act of 1971. Hence, statement 3 is NOT correct.

Key Points

• Zonal Councils:
  • The Zonal Councils are the statutory (and not the constitutional) bodies. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
  • They are established by an Act of the Parliament, that is, the States Reorganisation Act of 1956. 
  • There are 5 five Zonal councils:
    • The Northern Zonal Council, comprising the States of Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, National Capital Territory of Delhi, and Union Territory of Chandigarh.
    • The Central Zonal Council, comprising the States of Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh.
    • The Eastern Zonal Council, comprising the States of Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa, and West Bengal.
    • The Western Zonal Council, comprising the States of Goa, Gujarat, Maharashtra, and the Union Territories of Daman & Diu and Dadra & Nagar Haveli.
    • The Southern Zonal Council, comprising the States of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and the Union Territory of Puducherry.
  • North-Eastern Council
    • In addition to the above Zonal Councils, a North-Eastern Council was created by a separate Act of Parliament i.e. the North-Eastern Council Act of 1971.
    • Its functions are similar to those of the zonal councils, but with few additions.
    • Its members include Assam, Manipur, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Sikkim.
  • While forming these zones, several factors have been taken into account which includes:
    • The natural divisions of the country, the river systems and means of communication, the cultural and linguistic affinity, and the requirements of economic development, security, and law and order.
    • They are only deliberative and advisory bodies.
• Composition:-
  • Chairman: The Union Home Minister is the Chairman of each of these Councils. Hence, statement 2 is NOT correct.
  • Vice-Chairman: The Chief Ministers of the States included in each zone act as Vice-Chairman of the Zonal Council for that zone by rotation, each holding office for a period of one year at a time.
  • Members: Chief Minister and two other Ministers as nominated by the Governor from each of the States and two members from Union Territories included in the zone.
  • Advisers: One person nominated by the Planning Commission (which has been replaced by NITI Ayog now) for each of the Zonal Councils, Chief Secretaries, and another officer/Development Commissioner nominated by each of the States included in the Zone.
  • Union Ministers are also invited to participate in the meetings of Zonal Councils depending upon necessity.

The correct answer is 11 + one Chief Minister.

• The minimum number of Council of Ministers in Rajasthan can be 11 + one Chief Minister.

• The minimum strength of the council of ministers is 12 and the maximum is 15 per cent of the Legislative Assembly.
  • Sh. Ashok Gehlot-CM
  • Sh. Bulaki Das Kalla - Energy Dept., Public Health & Engineering
  • Sh. Shanti Kumar Dhariwal- Local Self Government, Urban Development & Housing Dept.,
  • Sh. Parsadi Lal-Industry Dept., State Enterprise Dept.
  • Sh. Lalchand Katariya-Agriculture Dept., Animal Husbandry Dept., Fisheries Dept.
  • Sh. Raghu Sharma-Medical & Health Dept., Ayurved & Indian Medical
  • Sh. Pramod Bhaya-Mines Dept., Gopalan Dept
  • Sh. Harish Choudhary-Revenue Dept., Colonization Dept., Command Area Development 
  • Sh. Anjana Udaylal-Co-operative Dept.,
  • Sh. Pratap Singh-Khachariyawas Transport Dept., Soldier Welfare Dept.
  • Sh. Shale Mohammad-Minority Affairs Dept., Waqf Dept.

• Source: https://rajassembly.nic.in/Cabinet.aspx 

The Correct answer is ​President has refused to give his assent to the Bill.

Key Points

• Joint sitting is not summoned when the president has refused to give his assent to the Bill. Hence it is not a sufficient ground to call joint sitting.

Occasions when Joint Session of Parliament is summoned:

• To resolve deadlock when any house of the Parliament passes a bill and:
• The other House rejects this bill, or
• The Houses do not agree on the amendments made to the bill, or
• More than six months elapsed with the bill being received by the other House without it being passed. Hence Option 1, 2, and 3 are sufficient grounds for join sitting.

​Important Points

• Article 108 of the Indian Constitution provides for a joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament.
• The joint session is summoned by the President.
• It is presided over by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha.
• The joint sitting is governed by the Rules of Procedure of Lok Sabha and not of Rajya Sabha.
• The quorum to constitute a joint sitting: 1/10th of the total number of members of the House.
• The Bill is passed by a simple majority of the total number of members of both the Houses present and voting in the joint sitting.

Option 4 is incorrect.

Key Points

• The tenth Schedule contains provisions as to disqualification on the ground of defection.
• It was added by the Constitution (52^nd Amendment) Act, 1985. Hence Option 4 is an incorrect statement.

 Important Points

• India has the world’s lengthiest constitution with 448 articles, 25 parts, and 12 schedules. Hence Option 1 is correct.
• The eleventh Schedule contains the powers, authority, and responsibilities of Panchayats.
• The twelfth Schedule contains the powers, authority, and responsibilities of Municipalities.
• These two were added in 1992 by the 73rd  and 74th Constitution Amendment Act. Hence Option 2 is correct.
• The Ninth Schedule was incorporated in 1951 by the First Amendment to the Constitution to protect land reform laws. Hence Option 3 is correct.

The correct answer is The Canadian System.

Key Points

• By vesting the residuary powers in the Union, the Indian Constitution has followed the Canadian System.
• The provisions of a Federation with a strong center, Residuary powers of the Centre, the appointment of State governors by the Centre, and the advisory jurisdiction of the Supreme Court, are all borrowed from the Canadian constitution.

Additional Information

Important borrowed features of the constitution: