Question Discussion & Solution

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.

The correct answer is ​Secularism.

Key Points

• Secularism
  • The Indian Constitution allows individuals the freedom to live by their religious beliefs and practices as they interpret these.
  • In keeping with this idea of religious freedom for all, India also adopted a strategy of separating the power of religion and the power of the State.
  • Secularism refers to this separation of religion from the State. 
  • The most important aspect of secularism is its separation of religion from state power.
  • This is important for a country to function democratically.
  • Almost all countries of the world will have more than one religious group living in them. Within these religious groups, there will most likely be one group that is in a majority.
  • If this majority religious group has access to State power, then it could quite easily use this power and financial resources to discriminate against and persecute persons of other religions.
  • This tyranny of the majority could result in discrimination, coercion, and at times even the killing of religious minorities.
  • The majority could quite easily prevent minorities from practicing their religions.
  • Any form of domination based on religion violates the rights that a democratic society guarantees to every citizen irrespective of their religion.
  • Therefore, the tyranny of the majority and the violation of Fundamental Rights that can result is one reason why it is important to separate the State and religion in democratic societies.
  • Another reason that it is important to separate religion from the State in democratic societies is that we also need to protect the freedom of individuals to exit from their religion, embrace another religion or have the freedom to interpret religious teachings differently.

The correct answer is The Prime Minister.

Key Points

•  The Inter-State Council is a constitutional body set up on the basis of provisions in Article 263 of the Constitution of India.

Important Points

• Prime Minister is the Chairman of the Inter-state Council.
• Chief Ministers of all the States and Union Territories having Legislative Assemblies, Administrators of Union Territories not having Legislative Assemblies, Governors of States under President’s rule and six Ministers of Cabinet rank in the Union Council of Ministers, nominated by the Chairman of the Council, are members of the Council.
• Five Ministers of Cabinet rank nominated by the Chairman of the Council are permanent invitees to the Council.
• The Inter-State Council is assisted by the Secretariat, which is headed by a Secretary to the Government of India.

Additional Information

• Inter-State Council is a recommendatory body and it investigates and discusses such subjects, in which some or all of the States of the Union and one or more of the States have a common interest, for better coordination of policy and action with respect to that subject.
• It also deliberates upon such other matters of general interests to the States as may be referred by the Chairman to the Council.

The correct answer is Article 14.

Key Points

• Important articles of the Indian Constitution are following:-
  • Article 14 - Equality before the Law and Equality before law. Hence, option 1 is correct.
  • Article 15 - Prohibition of Discrimination on the grounds of religion, race, caste, sex, or place of birth.
  • Article 16 - Equality of Opportunity in matters of public employment.
  • Article 17 - Abolition of the Untouchability.
  • Article 18 - Abolition of Titles.

Important Points

• Other important articles are following:-
  • Article 20- Protection in respect of Conviction for offences.
  • Article 21 - Protection of Life and personal liberty.
  • Article 22 - Protection against Arrest and detention in certain cases.
  • Article 23 - Prohibition of traffic in human beings and Forced labour.
  • Article 24 - Prohibition of employment of Children (Under the age of 14) in factories and mines.
  • Article 25 - Freedom of Conscience and free profession, practise, and propagation of religion.

The correct answer is 2 and 3 only.

Key Points

• NDC is listed as an advisory body to the Planning commission. Moreover, the plans made by the Planning commission are placed before NDC for its acceptance. Hence statement 1 is not correct.
• Now, the National Development Council (NDC) and Planning Commission (PC) has been abolished now.
  • NDC used to advise PC on planning and included all CMs and union ministers etc.
• The Economic and Social Planning is kept in the Concurrent List in the Constitution of India.
  • Hence statement 2 is correct.
• The Constitution of India prescribes that Panchayats should be assigned the task of preparation of plans for economic development and social justice.
• The 73rd Amendment 1992 added a new Part IX to the constitution titled “The Panchayats” covering provisions from Article 243 to 243(O); and a new Eleventh Schedule covering 29 subjects within the functions of the Panchayats.
  • Hence statement 3 is correct.

​​​Additional Information

• National Development Council is an organ of the Planning Commission
  • Planning Commission was replaced by a new institution – NITI AAYYOG on January 1, 2015, with emphasis on the ‘Bottom –Up’ approach to envisage the vision of Maximum Governance, Minimum Government, echoing the spirit of ‘Cooperative Federalism’.
  • Objectives
    • To foster cooperative federalism through structured support initiatives and mechanisms with the States on a continuous basis, recognizing that strong States make a strong nation.
    • To develop mechanisms to formulate credible plans at the village level and aggregate these progressively at higher levels of government.
    • To ensure, on areas that are specifically referred to it, that the interests of national security are incorporated in economic strategy and policy.
    • To pay special attention to the sections of our society that may be at risk of not benefitting adequately from economic progress.
    • To provide advice and encourage partnerships between key stakeholders and national and international like-minded Think Tanks, as well as educational and policy research institutions.
    • To create a knowledge, innovation and entrepreneurial support system through a collaborative community of national and international experts, practitioners and other partners.
    • To offer a platform for the resolution of inter-sectoral and inter-departmental issues in order to accelerate the implementation of the development agenda.
    • To maintain a state-of-the-art Resource Centre, be a repository of research on good governance and best practices in sustainable and equitable development as well as help their dissemination to stake-holders.