UPSC SO-Steno Archives

1. Which one of the following Articles of the Constitution of India relat

Which one of the following Articles of the Constitution of India relates to National Commission for Scheduled Castes ?

Article 332

Article 334

Article 336

Article 338

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Article 338 of the Constitution of India provides for the National Commission for Scheduled Castes. Originally, Article 338 provided for a Special Officer for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. The 65th Amendment Act, 1990, replaced the Special Officer with a multi-member National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. Later, the 89th Amendment Act, 2003, bifurcated this commission into two separate bodies: the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (under Article 338) and the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (under Article 338A).

The National Commission for Scheduled Castes is a constitutional body responsible for investigating and monitoring all matters relating to the safeguards provided for the Scheduled Castes under the Constitution or under any other law or order of the Government and to evaluate the working of those safeguards.

Article 332 deals with the reservation of seats for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in the Legislative Assemblies of the States. Article 334 deals with the period of reservation of seats and special representation to cease. Article 336 deals with special provision for Anglo-Indian community in certain services.

2. The Constitution (Twenty-sixth Amendment) Act, 1971,

The Constitution (Twenty-sixth Amendment) Act, 1971,

omitted Articles 291 and 362

substituted Article 365

amended Article 367

substituted Article 373

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The Constitution (Twenty-sixth Amendment) Act, 1971, is specifically known for abolishing the concept of privy purses and privileges of the former rulers of Indian states. This was achieved by omitting Article 291, which dealt with privy purses, and Article 362, which guaranteed the rights and privileges of rulers.

The abolition of privy purses and privileges was a significant step towards ensuring equality and dismantling the vestiges of the princely order that continued after their integration into the Union of India.

The initial attempt to abolish privy purses through a Presidential order in 1970 was struck down by the Supreme Court. This led the government to bring about the 26th Constitutional Amendment to achieve the objective.

3. In which one of the following Articles of the Constitution of India, t

In which one of the following Articles of the Constitution of India, the State shall provide free and compulsory education to all children between the age of six to fourteen years in such manner as the State may, by law, determine ?

Article 20A

Article 21A

Article 22A

Article 23A

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Article 21A of the Constitution of India, inserted by the Constitution (Eighty-sixth Amendment) Act, 2002, makes elementary education a fundamental right. It states that “The State shall provide free and compulsory education to all children of the age of six to fourteen years in such manner as the State may, by law, determine.”

This Article places a constitutional obligation on the State to ensure access to education for children in the specified age group. It gave constitutional backing to the right to education, which was previously only a Directive Principle of State Policy (Article 45).

Following the insertion of Article 21A, the Parliament enacted the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 (RTE Act) to provide the legal framework for implementing this fundamental right. The 86th Amendment also changed the subject matter of Article 45 and added a new fundamental duty under Article 51A(k).

4. Which one of the following schedules of the Constitution of India has

Which one of the following schedules of the Constitution of India has been amended to include ‘Sindhi’ as one of the languages ?

Fourth Schedule

Sixth Schedule

Eighth Schedule

Tenth Schedule

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The Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of India lists the official languages of the Republic of India. ‘Sindhi’ was not one of the original 14 languages listed in the Eighth Schedule. It was added to the list by the Constitution (Twenty-first Amendment) Act, 1967.

The Eighth Schedule currently lists 22 languages. Amendments have added languages to this list over time, reflecting linguistic diversity and demands for recognition.

Subsequent amendments that added languages to the Eighth Schedule include the 71st Amendment Act, 1992 (adding Konkani, Manipuri, and Nepali) and the 92nd Amendment Act, 2003 (adding Bodo, Dogri, Maithili, and Santhali). The other schedules mentioned deal with different subjects: Fourth Schedule (Rajya Sabha seat allocation), Sixth Schedule (administration of tribal areas in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram), and Tenth Schedule (anti-defection law).

5. Which one of the following Articles of the Constitution of India provi

Which one of the following Articles of the Constitution of India provides for the appointment of a retired High Court judge to sit and act as a judge of a High Court ?

Article 222A

Article 224A

Article 226A

Article 228A

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Article 224A of the Constitution of India provides for the appointment of retired judges at sittings of High Courts. It states that the Chief Justice of a High Court for any State may at any time, with the previous consent of the President, request any person who has held the office of a Judge of that Court or of any other High Court to sit and act as a Judge of the High Court for that State.

This provision allows for the temporary engagement of retired High Court judges to help clear backlog or assist with judicial work when needed, ensuring the efficient functioning of the High Court.

Article 224A was inserted by the Constitution (Fifteenth Amendment) Act, 1963. This is distinct from the appointment of additional and acting judges (Article 224), who are appointed for a specific period to address temporary increases in the business of the High Court or absence of a judge.

6. Consider the following statements: Acts of Parliament shall not appl

Consider the following statements:

Acts of Parliament shall not apply to Nagaland unless so decided by a resolution by the Legislative Assembly of Nagaland with regard to
1. religious or social practices of the Nagas.
2. Naga customary law and procedure.
3. ownership and transfer of land and its resources.

Which of the above statements are correct ?

1 and 2 only

2 and 3 only

1 and 3 only

1, 2 and 3

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Article 371A of the Constitution of India contains special provisions for the State of Nagaland. Clause (1)(a) of this Article states that no Act of Parliament in respect of (i) religious or social practices of the Nagas, (ii) Naga customary law and procedure, (iii) administration of civil and criminal justice involving decisions according to Naga customary law, (iv) ownership and transfer of land and its resources, shall apply to the State of Nagaland unless the Legislative Assembly of Nagaland by a resolution so decides.

This special provision grants significant autonomy to the State of Nagaland in specific matters considered sensitive to the Naga identity, ensuring that central laws do not override local customs and practices without the consent of the state’s legislature.

Article 371A was inserted by the Constitution (Thirteenth Amendment) Act, 1962, following the agreement that led to the creation of the State of Nagaland in 1963. This provision is aimed at protecting the cultural and social identity and land rights of the Naga people.

7. In the First Schedule to the Constitution of India, Daman and Diu is l

In the First Schedule to the Constitution of India, Daman and Diu is listed at present as

the fourth Union Territory

the sixth Union Territory

the seventh Union Territory

the eighth Union Territory

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Prior to the merger of Daman and Diu with Dadra and Nagar Haveli in 2020, the First Schedule of the Constitution listed the Union Territories. The standard listing order of the 7 Union Territories typically placed Daman and Diu as the eighth entry in the First Schedule under the heading “II. The Union Territories”. The entries were generally: 1. Andaman and Nicobar Islands, 2. Chandigarh, 3. Dadra and Nagar Haveli, 4. Daman and Diu, 5. Lakshadweep, 6. Puducherry, 7. Delhi, 8. Jammu and Kashmir, 9. Ladakh (J&K and Ladakh added in 2019). However, if the question pertains to the list of UTs *before* the 2019 reorganisation (which is often the case for older PYQs), then Daman and Diu was indeed the fourth among the original 7 UTs. Given the options and the structure of the question, it’s highly likely it refers to a list that includes J&K and Ladakh, where Daman and Diu was listed as the eighth Union Territory before its merger.

The First Schedule lists the States and Union Territories of India and their respective territories. The order and number of entries in the First Schedule change with state reorganisations and the creation/merger of Union Territories.

As of January 26, 2020, the Union Territories of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu were merged into a single Union Territory named “Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu”. This merger reduced the number of Union Territories to eight: Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Chandigarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Lakshadweep, Puducherry. Thus, Daman and Diu no longer exists as a separate entry. The question likely refers to the period between the reorganisation of J&K (2019) and the merger of D&D/DNH (2020).

8. A new Article 372A has been inserted to empower the President to make

A new Article 372A has been inserted to empower the President to make such adaptations and modifications in any law to bring them into accord with the Constitution of India as amended by

the Constitution Seventh Amendment Act

the Constitution Eighth Amendment Act

the Constitution Ninth Amendment Act

the Constitution Tenth Amendment Act

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Article 372A was inserted by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956. This Article empowers the President to make such adaptations and modifications in any law in force immediately before the commencement of the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, as appear to him to be necessary or expedient for bringing the provisions of that law into accord with the provisions of the Constitution as amended by that Act.

Article 372A facilitates the smooth transition and application of existing laws after significant constitutional changes, particularly those brought about by the States Reorganisation Act, 1956, which was enabled by the Seventh Amendment.

The Seventh Amendment Act, 1956, was a comprehensive amendment that primarily focused on the reorganisation of states on a linguistic basis. It abolished the distinction between Part A, B, C, and D states and introduced the concept of Union Territories. It also made various other changes, making Article 372A necessary to adapt existing laws to the new constitutional structure.

9. Which one of the following Articles of the Constitution of India provi

Which one of the following Articles of the Constitution of India provides that the Governor of a State may, with the consent of the Government of India, entrust any State functions to that Government or its officers ?

Article 172A

Article 184A

Article 258A

Article 281A

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Article 258A of the Constitution of India provides that the Governor of a State may, with the consent of the Government of India, entrust functions to that Government or its officers.

Article 258A allows a State, through its Governor and with the Union’s consent, to delegate its executive functions to the Union government or its functionaries. This is the inverse provision of Article 258, which allows the President to entrust Union functions to a State government or its officers.

Article 258A was inserted by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956. This amendment aimed at improving the administrative relations between the Union and the States by providing flexibility in the delegation of executive functions.

10. A proviso has been added to which one of the following Articles of the

A proviso has been added to which one of the following Articles of the Constitution of India making it possible that the same person may be appointed as Governor for two or more States ?

Article 151

Article 153

Article 155

Article 157

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Article 153 states that there shall be a Governor for each State. The Seventh Constitutional Amendment Act, 1956, added a proviso to Article 153: “Provided that nothing in this article shall prevent the appointment of the same person as Governor for two or more States.” This enabled a single individual to hold the office of Governor for multiple states simultaneously.

The possibility of appointing one person as Governor for more than one state is explicitly allowed by a proviso added to Article 153.

Article 151 deals with the form of accounts of the Union and of the States and audit reports. Article 155 deals with the appointment of the Governor by the President. Article 157 deals with the qualifications for appointment as Governor. Only Article 153, which mandates a Governor for each state, needed the proviso to allow one person to cover multiple states.