Polity – Fill in the Blank – GK Questions

Article 275: Parliament may make statutory grants-in-aid to States in need, charged on Consolidated Fund of India (not subject to annual vote). Includes specific grants for welfare of STs, improvement of administration in Assam, etc. Distinct from Article 282 grants (for public purpose, discretionary).

Article 262(2): Parliament may by law exclude jurisdiction of Supreme Court or any other court over inter-State water disputes. Inter-State Water Disputes Act, 1956 establishes tribunals whose awards have same force as Supreme Court orders. Recent amendment (2019) makes tribunal awards final and binding.

Article 254(1): In case of repugnancy between Union and State law on Concurrent List, Union law prevails. Exception under Article 254(2): If State law reserved for President's consideration and receives assent, it prevails in that State (but Parliament can still override by subsequent law).

The 61st Constitutional Amendment Act, 1988 amended Article 326 to reduce the voting age for Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assembly elections from 21 to 18 years. This was aimed at empowering youth and increasing democratic participation. It came into effect in 1989.

The Constituent Assembly of India held its first meeting on December 9, 1946, in the Constitution Hall (now Central Hall of Parliament). Dr. Sachchidananda Sinha was the temporary Chairman. The Assembly later elected Dr. Rajendra Prasad as its permanent President.

Article 21A, inserted by the 86th Amendment Act, 2002, makes education a Fundamental Right for children aged 6 to 14 years. The State is obligated to provide free and compulsory education to this age group. This was operationalized through the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009.

Article 343(1) states: 'The official language of the Union shall be Hindi in Devanagari script.' However, Article 343(2) allowed English to continue for official purposes for 15 years from commencement of Constitution (i.e., till 1965). The Official Languages Act, 1963 extended the use of English indefinitely for certain purposes.

The CAG is appointed by the President under Article 148. For removal, Article 148(1) states that the CAG can be removed only on the grounds and in the manner provided for the removal of a Supreme Court Judge (i.e., by Presidential order after an address by both Houses of Parliament supported by special majority on grounds of proved misbehavior or incapacity).

Originally, the 42nd Amendment Act, 1976 added 10 Fundamental Duties. The 86th Amendment Act, 2002 added the 11th duty: 'to provide opportunities for education to his child or ward between the age of six and fourteen years'. These duties are moral obligations for citizens but are not legally enforceable.

The Constitution was adopted by the Constituent Assembly on November 26, 1949, and came into force on January 26, 1950. November 26 is celebrated as Constitution Day (Samvidhan Divas) in India since 2015 to honor Dr. Ambedkar's contribution.

Article 280 provides for the constitution of a Finance Commission by the President every five years (or earlier). The Commission recommends the distribution of tax revenues between the Union and States, and among States themselves, and principles governing grants-in-aid to States.

The Constituent Assembly took 2 years, 11 months, and 18 days to complete the drafting of the Constitution. It first met on December 9, 1946, and the Constitution was adopted on November 26, 1949 (celebrated as Constitution Day), coming into force on January 26, 1950.

The 86th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2002 inserted Article 21A, making education a Fundamental Right for children aged 6-14 years. It also added a Fundamental Duty under Article 51A(k) for parents/guardians to provide educational opportunities to their children in this age group.

Article 17 abolishes untouchability and makes its practice in any form a punishable offence. The Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955 (formerly Untouchability Offences Act, 1955) provides penalties for enforcing disabilities arising from untouchability.

Article 80 specifies that the Lok Sabha can have a maximum of 552 members: 530 from States, 20 from Union Territories, and 2 nominated Anglo-Indian members (though the Anglo-Indian nomination was removed by the 104th Amendment Act, 2019). Currently, the strength is 543 elected members.

The 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1976, often called the 'Mini-Constitution', added three words to the Preamble: Socialist, Secular, and Integrity. This amendment was enacted during the Emergency period under Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. [[3]][[10]]