UPSC CDS-1 Archives

31. Which one of the following is not correct about Administrative

Which one of the following is not correct about Administrative Tribunals?

The Parliament may by law constitute Administrative Tribunals both at the Union and State levels.

Tribunals may look into disputes and complaints with respect to recruitment and conditions of service of persons appointed to public services.

Tribunals established by a law of the Parliament can exclude the jurisdiction of all Courts to allow for special leave to appeal.

The law establishing the Tribunals may provide for procedures including rules of evidence to be followed.

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Administrative Tribunals are constituted under Articles 323A and 323B of the Constitution. While the law establishing a tribunal can exclude the jurisdiction of lower courts and even the original jurisdiction of High Courts, it cannot exclude the power of judicial review vested in the High Courts under Articles 226 and 227 or in the Supreme Court under Article 32 (for fundamental rights) and Article 136 (special leave petition). The Supreme Court, in the L. Chandra Kumar case (1997), held that the power of judicial review of the High Courts under Articles 226/227 and the Supreme Court under Article 32 constitute the basic structure of the Constitution and cannot be excluded by a law establishing tribunals. Therefore, tribunals established by a law cannot exclude the jurisdiction of all Courts, especially for judicial review.

– Administrative Tribunals can exclude the jurisdiction of lower courts and original jurisdiction of High Courts in specific matters.
– The power of judicial review of High Courts (Articles 226/227) and the Supreme Court (Article 32/136) over decisions of tribunals cannot be excluded.

– Option A is correct: Article 323A allows Parliament to constitute Administrative Tribunals at the Union and State levels.
– Option B is correct: Administrative Tribunals deal with disputes and complaints concerning recruitment and conditions of service of persons appointed to public services (Article 323A(1)).
– Option D is correct: Article 323A(2)(d) states that the law may provide for the procedure to be followed by the tribunals, including rules of evidence.

32. Which one of the following is not correct about the Panchayats as la

Which one of the following is not correct about the Panchayats as laid down in Part IX of the Constitution of India?

The Chairperson of a Panchayat needs to be directly elected by people in order to exercise the right to vote in the Panchayat meetings.

The State Legislature has the right to decide whether or not offices of the Chairpersons in the Panchayats are reserved for SCs, STs or women.

Unless dissolved earlier, every Panchayat continues for a period of five years.

The State Legislature may by law make provisions for audit of accounts of the Panchayats.

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Part IX of the Constitution (Panchayats) does not mandate that the Chairperson of a Panchayat must be directly elected by people in order to exercise the right to vote in Panchayat meetings. Article 243C(2) states that the Chairperson of a Panchayat at the intermediate and district level shall be elected by and from amongst the elected members thereof (indirect election). The mode of election for the Chairperson of a village Panchayat is determined by the State Legislature. Even if indirectly elected, Chairpersons who are members of the Panchayat body are generally entitled to vote in its meetings, unless specified otherwise by state law. Therefore, linking the right to vote in meetings solely to direct election is incorrect as per constitutional provisions and common practice.

– The mode of election of the Chairperson varies with the level of Panchayat (village, intermediate, district) and is determined by State law, not always direct election.
– The right of a Chairperson to vote in Panchayat meetings depends on their status as a member and applicable state law, not necessarily on being directly elected.

– Option B is correct: Article 243D(4) allows the State Legislature to provide for reservation of offices of Chairpersons in Panchayats for SCs, STs, and women.
– Option C is correct: Article 243E provides for a five-year term for every Panchayat unless dissolved earlier.
– Option D is correct: Article 243J empowers the State Legislature to make provisions by law for the audit of accounts of the Panchayats.

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33. Which one of the following is not a correct statement regarding the

Which one of the following is not a correct statement regarding the provision of Legislative Council in the State Legislature?

The States of Bihar and Telangana have Legislative Councils.

The total number of members in the Legislative Council of a State shall not exceed one-third of the total number of members in the Legislative Assembly.

One-twelfth of all members shall be elected by electorates consisting of local bodies and authorities.

One-twelfth of all members shall be elected by graduates residing in the State.

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Article 171 of the Constitution of India deals with the composition of the Legislative Councils. It states that the total number of members in the Legislative Council of a State shall not exceed one-third of the total number of members in the Legislative Assembly of that State, and shall in no case be less than forty. The composition includes members elected by local bodies (one-third), elected by graduates (one-twelfth), elected by teachers (one-twelfth), elected by members of the Legislative Assembly (one-third), and nominated by the Governor (one-sixth). Option C incorrectly states that one-twelfth of the members are elected by electorates consisting of local bodies and authorities; the correct proportion is one-third.

– The composition of a Legislative Council (Vidhan Parishad) in India is detailed in Article 171.
– The proportion of members elected by local bodies is one-third, not one-twelfth.

– States currently having Legislative Councils are Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Telangana, and Uttar Pradesh.
– Option A is correct: Bihar and Telangana both have Legislative Councils.
– Option B is correct: The total number of members is limited to one-third of the Assembly’s strength (with a minimum of 40).
– Option D is correct: One-twelfth of the members are elected by electorates consisting of graduates.

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34. Which one of the following is not a change brought about by the Indi

Which one of the following is not a change brought about by the Indian Independence Act of 1947?

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The Government of India Act, 1935 was amended to provide an interim Constitution.

India ceased to be a dependency.

The Crown was the source of authority till new Constitution was framed.

The Governor-General was the constitutional head of Indian Dominion.

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The Indian Independence Act of 1947 declared India independent and sovereign. Consequently, the authority of the Crown ceased to exist. The Constituent Assembly of India became sovereign, and its power to frame a new Constitution was not derived from the British Crown but from the will of the Indian people. Therefore, the statement that “The Crown was the source of authority till new Constitution was framed” is incorrect.

– The Indian Independence Act, 1947 ended British rule and declared India independent and sovereign.
– The sovereignty was transferred from the British Crown to the Constituent Assemblies of the Dominions of India and Pakistan.

– The Government of India Act, 1935 was adapted and amended (not as a new ‘interim Constitution’ but as the working legal framework) to serve as the Constitution for each Dominion until a new Constitution was framed and adopted.
– India ceased to be a dependency and attained the status of a free and sovereign nation.
– The Governor-General became the constitutional head of the Indian Dominion, acting on the advice of the Council of Ministers.

35. ‘Sub-prime crisis’ is a term associated with which one of the followin

‘Sub-prime crisis’ is a term associated with which one of the following events?

Economic recession

Political instability

Structural adjustment programmes

Growing social inequality

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The term ‘Sub-prime crisis’ is associated with the Economic recession of 2008-2009.

The Sub-prime crisis refers to the financial crisis that began in the United States in 2007 with a high default rate on subprime mortgages (loans given to borrowers with poor credit history). The packaging and selling of these mortgages as complex financial instruments spread the risk throughout the global financial system, leading to the collapse of major financial institutions and triggering a severe global economic recession in 2008 and 2009.

The crisis severely impacted economies worldwide through interconnected financial markets, reduced international trade, and decreased consumer confidence. While structural adjustment programmes relate to economic policies, and social inequality exists, the ‘sub-prime crisis’ is directly and specifically linked to the financial sector collapse that caused the major economic recession. Political instability can be a consequence, but the crisis itself is fundamentally an economic event.

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36. Which Indian social theorist had argued that the idea of a homogenized

Which Indian social theorist had argued that the idea of a homogenized Hinduism was constructed through the ‘cultural arrogance’ of post-enlightenment Europe?

Ashis Nandy

Partha Chatterjee

T. K. Oommen

Rajni Kothari

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Ashis Nandy is the Indian social theorist who has argued that the idea of a homogenized Hinduism was constructed through the ‘cultural arrogance’ of post-Enlightenment Europe.

Ashis Nandy’s work critically examines the impact of colonialism and Western categories on Indian identity and culture. He argues that the colonial gaze and the post-Enlightenment Western framework of understanding religion as a unified, systematic entity contributed to the redefinition and homogenization of the diverse practices, beliefs, and traditions known as Hinduism into a single, uniform religion.

Nandy suggests that this homogenization served colonial administrative purposes and also influenced Indian nationalist thought, leading to the adoption of a more unified identity that did not fully reflect the historical and regional diversity of religious practices in India. Partha Chatterjee has written on colonial power, nationalism, and civil society, T. K. Oommen on social movements, identity, and religion, and Rajni Kothari on Indian politics and democracy, but Nandy is particularly known for this specific critique regarding the colonial construction of categories like Hinduism.

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37. Who was the author of the book, Plagues and Peoples?

Who was the author of the book, Plagues and Peoples?

W. L. Thomas

Rachel Carson

David Cannadine

William H. McNeill

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The author of the acclaimed book ‘Plagues and Peoples’ is William H. McNeill.

William H. McNeill (1917-2016) was a highly influential American historian known for his contributions to world history and the study of the impact of diseases on historical developments.

‘Plagues and Peoples’, published in 1976, is a seminal work that explores the role of infectious diseases in shaping the course of human history, from prehistoric times to the present day. It argues that disease history is crucial to understanding demographic changes, migrations, conquests, and the rise and fall of civilizations. Rachel Carson is known for ‘Silent Spring’ (environmental science), W. L. Thomas (likely referring to William Thomas) was a sociologist known for the Thomas theorem, and David Cannadine is a historian specializing in British social and cultural history.

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38. Which European traveller had observed, “A Hindu woman can go anywhere

Which European traveller had observed, “A Hindu woman can go anywhere alone, even in the most crowded places, and she need never fear the impertinent looks and jokes of idle loungers”?

Francois Bernier

Jean-Baptiste Tavernier

Thomas Roe

Abbe J. A. Dubois

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The observation about the safety and respect accorded to Hindu women traveling alone is made by Abbe J. A. Dubois.

Abbe J. A. Dubois was a French missionary who lived in India for many years in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. He wrote extensively about Indian society, customs, and manners based on his direct observations.

His book ‘Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies’ provides a detailed, albeit sometimes biased, account of Indian life during his time. The quote reflects a specific observation he made about the societal norms and safety environment for women in the regions he visited, which stands in contrast to some other accounts or later perceptions influenced by colonial narratives or changing social conditions. Francois Bernier and Jean-Baptiste Tavernier were French travelers in the 17th century, and Sir Thomas Roe was an English ambassador in the early 17th century; while they wrote about India, this particular observation is specifically attributed to Dubois.

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39. Which European ruler had observed, “Bear in mind that the commerce of

Which European ruler had observed, “Bear in mind that the commerce of India is the commerce of the world … he who can exclusively command it is the dictator of Europe”?

Queen Victoria

Peter the Great of Russia

Napoleon Bonaparte

Gustav II Adolf

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The observation about the importance of the commerce of India and its link to dominating Europe is attributed to Peter the Great of Russia.

Peter the Great, the Tsar of Russia from 1682 to 1725, was known for his expansionist policies and efforts to modernize Russia and increase its influence, including seeking access to warm-water ports and controlling vital trade routes.

This quote reflects Peter the Great’s understanding of the immense economic value of Indian trade, particularly spices, textiles, and other goods, and how control over this trade could confer significant political and economic power in Europe, where various European powers were competing fiercely for dominance in the East Indies trade.

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