Medium Level – GK Questions

Answer: 5

Article 344(1): President to constitute Official Language Commission: (a) After 5 years from Constitution commencement (1955 Commission), (b) Thereafter at 10-year intervals. Commission examines: progress in Hindi use, restrictions on English, promotion of Hindi, representation of Eighth Schedule languages. Recommendations guide language policy evolution.

Answer: True

Article 348(1)(b): Authoritative texts of Union legislation/subordinate legislation shall be in English. Article 348(3): President may authorize authoritative Hindi translation of Acts, etc., but English text remains authoritative until Parliament otherwise provides. Ensures legal certainty and uniformity in interpretation while allowing progressive use of Hindi.

Answer: Mizoram

Sixth Schedule: Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) and Regional Councils for tribal areas in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, Mizoram. ADCs have legislative, judicial, administrative powers over: land, forests, agriculture, village administration, inheritance, marriage, social customs. Enables tribal self-governance while remaining within State/Union framework. Unique model of asymmetric federalism.

Answer: True

Fifth Schedule: Administration of scheduled areas/tribes in States except Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, Mizoram (covered by Sixth Schedule). Provides for: (a) Tribal Advisory Councils, (b) Governor's special powers, (c) Restrictions on land transfer, (d) Customary law protection. PESA Act, 1996 extends Panchayati Raj to Fifth Schedule areas with tribal self-governance modifications.

Answer: Composite culture of India

Article 351: Union duty to promote Hindi development to serve as medium of expression for composite culture of India; secure richness by assimilating elements from Hindustani and other Eighth Schedule languages; draw vocabulary primarily from Sanskrit, secondarily from other languages. Balances Hindi promotion with linguistic diversity and cultural synthesis.

Answer: True

Article 371 (and clauses 371A-J): Special provisions for 11 States addressing: (a) Regional development (Maharashtra, Gujarat), (b) Tribal protection (Nagaland, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh), (c) Cultural autonomy (Manipur, Sikkim), (d) Administrative flexibility (Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Goa). Reflects Constitution's flexibility to accommodate regional diversity within unified framework.

Answer: 1963

Official Languages Act, 1963: Provided for continued use of English for official Union purposes indefinitely, alongside Hindi. Section 3: English may be used for transactions between Union and States, or between States. Section 6: Hindi to be progressively used for Union official purposes. Pragmatic solution to linguistic diversity while promoting Hindi.

Answer: True

Article 348(1)(a): Proceedings in SC and HCs shall be in English. Article 348(2): Governor may authorize use of Hindi/State language in HC proceedings with President's consent, but judgments/decrees/orders must be in English. Some States (e.g., UP, MP, Bihar) have authorized Hindi in subordinate courts. Balances access to justice with legal precision.

Answer: Eighth

Article 120: Parliamentary business in Hindi/English; members may speak in any Eighth Schedule language with presiding officer's permission. Similar provision for State Legislatures under Article 210. Ensures linguistic diversity in legislative proceedings while maintaining efficiency through common official languages.

Answer: Hindi

Article 345: State Legislature may adopt: (a) any language in use in State, OR (b) Hindi, as official language(s). Subject to Article 346 (language for communication between States/with Union) and Article 347 (President's direction for recognition of language). Balances State linguistic autonomy with national integration needs.

Answer: 324

Article 324(1): EC has superintendence, direction and control of elections. MCC, though not statutory, is enforced by EC under this plenary power. Violations can lead to: censure, campaign ban, derecognition, filing of FIR. Supreme Court has upheld EC's power to enforce MCC as part of 'direction and control' of elections, ensuring free and fair polls.

Answer: True

Election Symbols Order: ECI can derecognize party for: (a) Failure to conduct organizational elections, (b) Non-submission of audited accounts, (c) Violation of model code of conduct, (d) Engaging in activities prejudicial to sovereignty/integrity of India. Derecognition leads to loss of reserved symbol and other benefits. Ensures accountability of recognized parties.

Answer: ₹20,000

Section 29B, R.P. Act: Political parties can accept donations; donations above ₹20,000 must be reported to ECI with donor details. Electoral Bonds Scheme (2018-2024) allowed anonymous donations via banks, but Supreme Court struck it down in 2024 (Association for Democratic Reforms case) citing transparency and right to information. Ongoing debate on political funding reforms.

Answer: Minister

Article 75(1B)/164(1B), inserted by 91st Amendment (2003): Person disqualified under Tenth Schedule cannot be appointed as Minister (Union or State) until re-elected or expiry of term, whichever earlier. Prevents reward of defectors with ministerial berths, strengthening anti-defection law's deterrent effect. Applies to CM, PM, and all ministers.

Answer: True

Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968: ECI recognizes parties as: (a) National Party: meets criteria in 6+ States (e.g., 6% votes + 4 LS seats in 4+ States, or 2% LS seats in 3+ States), (b) State Party: meets criteria in that State. Recognition grants benefits: reserved symbol, broadcast time, campaign advantages. Criteria revised periodically.

Answer: Speaker/Chairman

Paragraph 6(1) of Tenth Schedule: Speaker of Lok Sabha/State Assembly or Chairman of Rajya Sabha/State Council decides disqualification petitions. Their decision is subject to judicial review (Kihoto Hollohan case, 1992). Controversy exists over Speaker's impartiality when belonging to ruling party; reforms debated to transfer power to independent tribunal.

Answer: 6

Paragraph 2(3) of Tenth Schedule: Nominated members can join a political party within 6 months of taking seat without disqualification. After 6 months, joining any party leads to disqualification. Rationale: Allows nominated members time to align with political groups while preventing opportunistic late affiliations. Applies to Rajya Sabha and State Legislative Council nominated members.

Answer: True

Paragraph 2(2) of Tenth Schedule: Independent member (elected without party symbol) is disqualified if they join any political party after election. Rationale: Voters elected them as independent; joining party post-election betrays electoral mandate. However, they can support a party without joining it, though this may have political consequences.

Answer: whip

Paragraph 2(1)(b): Member disqualified if they vote/abstain contrary to party whip without prior permission, and such act is not condoned by party within 15 days. Whip is formal direction on voting. Exception: If vote/abstention relates to motion of no-confidence, confidence, money bill, or constitutional amendment, whip violation doesn't lead to disqualification (91st Amendment).

Answer: True

Paragraph 2(1)(a) of Tenth Schedule: A member is disqualified if they voluntarily give up membership of political party on whose ticket they were elected. 'Voluntarily giving up' includes actions showing resignation from party even without formal letter (Kihoto Hollohan case). Prevents opportunistic defections for personal gain.