Question Discussion & Solution

The correct answer is (A) - (3), (B) - (4), (C) - (1), (D) - (2)

Key Points

• The Constitution (61st Amendment Act), 1989, reduced the voting age for Lok Sabha and state legislative assembly elections from 21 years to 18 years under Article 326.  
• Article 354 concerns the elections to the Lok Sabha and the Assemblies.
• The 42nd Amendment Act, 1976 was enacted from 25 June 1975 – 21 March 1977.
• 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act made two changes in the Preamble that is changed the characterization of India to "sovereign, socialist secular democratic republic" from "sovereign democratic republic.  
• It also changes the words ‘unity of the nation'  to ‘unity and integrity of the nation'.
• 38th Amendment Constitutional Amendment Act, officially known as The Constitution Act, 1975, made the declaration of The Emergency final and conclusive.
• The Constitution (44th Amendment Act), 1978 replaced the term ‘internal disturbance’ with the term ‘armed rebellion’ concerning the national emergency.
• 44th Amendment Act has made the President declare a national emergency only on the cabinet‘s written recommendation.
• 44th Amendment Act also guaranteed the fundamental rights during a national emergency by Articles 20 and 21 can not be suspended. 

Additional Information

• Under The Constitution (36th Amendment) Act, 1975, Sikkim became the 22nd state of the India Union.
• It also includes the omission of the 10th schedule.

The correct answer is option 4.

Key Points

• The parliamentary system of government
  • The parliamentary system is based on the principle of cooperation and coordination between the legislative and executive organs while the presidential system is based on the doctrine of separation of powers between the two organs.
• The features of parliamentary government in India are:
  • Presence of nominal and real executives
  • Majority party rule
  • Collective responsibility of the executive to the legislature. i.e., the Council of Ministers is responsible to the Lok Sabha. So, option 4 is the correct answer.
  • Membership of the ministers in the legislature.

The correct answer is I, II, IV.

Key Points

• Under the purview of enquiry of 'LOKAYUKTA' in Rajasthan
  • Ministers
  • Secretaries
  • Chairpersons of autonomous institutions

Additional Information 

• The Lokayukta has been empowered under Section 7 of the Rajasthan Lokayukta and Sub-Lokayukta Act, 1973 to investigate allegations against ministers and public servants, in certain cases.
• According to the definition of public servant given in section 2 (i) of the Act, the Lokayukta has the jurisdiction to investigate against the following:
  • A member of the Council of Ministers of the State of Rajasthan (other than the Chief Minister and Governor), by whatever name is known, namely, Minister, Minister of State or Deputy Minister,
  • A person appointed to public service or a public post in relation to the activities of the State of Rajasthan,
• Every head and deputy head of the Zilla Parishad, the head and deputy head of the:
  • Panchayat Samiti and the chairman of any standing committee constituted by or under the Rajasthan Panchayati Raj Act.
  • Every Mayor and Deputy Mayor of the Municipal Corporation, each Chairman and Vice- Chairman of the Municipal / Council, the Chairman of the Municipal Board, and the Vice- Chairman and the Chairman of any committee constituted under the Rajasthan Municipal Act.
• Every person who is in the service of the following or has been paid his salary, namely:
  • Any local authority in the State of Rajasthan, to be notified on this behalf by the State Government in the Gazette,
  • Any corporation (not being a local authority), established by or under a State Act and owned or controlled by the State Government.
  • Any Government company under section 617 of the Companies Act, in which twenty-one per cent of the paid-up share capital is held by the State Government or any company which is a subsidiary of any such company in which the State Government is holding fifty-one per cent of the paid-up share capital.

The correct answer is Up to 15% of the strength of the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly.

• According to the constitution, the Council of Ministers constitutes 15% of the total number of legislators (91st Amendment Amendment).
• The maximum number of ministers in Rajasthan is 30 which is 15% of 200.

Key Points

• The Council of Ministers in states is mentioned in Articles 163, 164, and 167.
• The Council of Ministers is headed by the Chief Minister.
• There are three classes of ministers:
  • Cabinet minister
  • Minister of State 
  • Deputy Minister
• Cabinet ministers are in charge of important departments.
• The cabinet-level group of ministers is called the cabinet ministers.
• Ministers of State are appointed to assist cabinet ministers. 
• Deputy Ministers are there to assist the State Ministers.
• Sometimes the Ministers of State are also given independent departments.

Additional Information

• Cabinet Secretariat:
  • The administrative head is the chief secretary.
  • The political head is the chief minister.

The correct answer is Heera Lal Shastri.

• Heera Lal Shastri was the first Chief Minister of Rajasthan.

Key Points

• Chief Minister is the head of the state government.
• According to Article 164 in the Indian Constitution, Governor appoints Chief Minister.
• However, the Governor cannot appoint any random person as the Chief Minister but has to follow a provision.
• The present state of Rajasthan was created on 30 January 1949 by merging the earlier state of Rajputana and a number of princely states.
• The latter were further regrouped in 1956.
• Hiralal Shastri, a prominent politician, and educationist, the serving ‘Prime Minister’ of the princely Jaipur State.
• He was appointed as the 1st Chief Minister of this state. (General election in India came into effect in 1952).
• About Rajasthan (as of Sep 2021)
  • ​Current Governor: Kalraj Mishra
  • Capital: Jaipur (Executive Branch)
  • Current Chief minister: Ashok Gehlot
  • Rajya Sabha Seats: 10
  • Lok Sabha Seats: 25

Additional Information