UPSC Prelims 2012 Question Paper

Detailed Explanation:

The Congress ministries resigned in October 1939 as a protest against Viceroy Lord Linlithgow's unilateral decision to declare India a belligerent in World War II without consulting Indian representatives.

❌ Statement 1 – Incorrect: Congress had formed ministries in 8 out of 11 provinces after the 1937 elections, and the inability to form ministries elsewhere was not a reason for resignation.

❌ Statement 2 – Incorrect: While a left-wing faction existed, it did not make ministry functioning impossible; ministries were working effectively until the war declaration.

❌ Statement 3 – Incorrect: Communal disturbances were not widespread in these provinces at the time of resignation; the sole reason was the war declaration issue.

Detailed Explanation:

The Rowlatt Act (1919), officially the Anarchical and Revolutionary Crimes Act, empowered the British government to imprison suspects without trial and conduct trials using summary procedures without juries.

It aimed to suppress nationalist and revolutionary activities post-World War I by curtailing civil liberties, leading to widespread protests including the Jallianwala Bagh massacre (1919).

Detailed Explanation:

National Social Conference was founded in 1887 by M.G. Ranade and Raghunath Rao because the Indian National Congress decided to focus on political issues and not include social reforms in its deliberations.

The Conference met annually as a subsidiary convention of INC at the same venue, advocated inter-caste marriages, and opposed kulinism and polygamy.

Detailed Explanation:

❌ Statement 1 – Incorrect: The Peasants and Workers Party of India was founded in 1947 by Keshavrao Jedhe and others in Maharashtra, not by Dr. B. R. Ambedkar.

✅ Statement 2 – Correct: All India Scheduled Castes Federation was established by Dr. Ambedkar in 1942 to fight for the rights of the Dalit community.

✅ Statement 3 – Correct: The Independent Labour Party was founded by Dr. Ambedkar in 1936 in Bombay and contested the 1937 elections.

Detailed Explanation:

❌ Statement 1 – Incorrect: Assessment of land revenue based on nature of soil and quality of crops was introduced by Sher Shah Suri and later refined by Akbar's Ain-i-Dahsala system under Todar Mal, not by the English.

❌ Statement 2 – Incorrect: Use of mobile cannons in warfare was introduced to India by the Mughals, particularly Babur at the First Battle of Panipat (1526), not by the English.

❌ Statement 3 – Incorrect: Cultivation of tobacco and red chillies was introduced by the Portuguese in the 16th–17th centuries as these crops came from the Americas (New World), not by the English.

Detailed Explanation:

✅ Statement 1 – Correct: Under the Ryotwari Settlement, peasants (ryots) paid land revenue directly to the Government, eliminating intermediaries like zamindars.

✅ Statement 2 – Correct: The Government issued Pattas (land ownership documents) to ryots, recognizing them as proprietors of land.

✅ Statement 3 – Correct: Lands were surveyed and assessed individually before taxation, with rates varying based on soil quality and crop type.

Detailed Explanation:

✅ Statement 1 – Correct: Brahmo Samaj opposed idolatry and promoted worship of a formless, monotheistic God.
✅ Statement 2 – Correct: It rejected the need for a priestly class and advocated individual interpretation of religious texts based on reason and conscience.
❌ Statement 3 – Incorrect: Brahmo Samaj did not uphold the doctrine of Vedic infallibility; it believed in the supremacy of reason and rationality over scriptural dogma.

Detailed Explanation:

✅ Statement 1 – Correct: Dadabhai Naoroji exposed economic exploitation through his Drain of Wealth Theory, demonstrating how Britain drained India's resources via trade imbalances, unrequited exports, home charges, and pensions paid abroad.

❌ Statement 2 – Incorrect: Swami Vivekananda and cultural revivalists interpreted ancient Indian texts to restore self-confidence, not Naoroji.

❌ Statement 3 – Incorrect: Naoroji focused on political and economic reforms and demanded Indian representation in governance; social reform was not his primary emphasis.

Detailed Explanation:

✅ Statement 1 – Correct: The Lahore Session (1929), presided over by Jawaharlal Nehru, passed the historic Purna Swaraj resolution declaring complete independence as the goal, and 26th January 1930 was fixed as Independence Day.

❌ Statement 2 – Incorrect: The rift between Extremists and Moderates was resolved at the Lucknow Session (1916), not at Lahore (1929). The split had occurred at Surat (1907).

❌ Statement 3 – Incorrect: The two-nation theory was not discussed at the 1929 Lahore Session; it was formally articulated in the Muslim League's Lahore Resolution (1940).

Detailed Explanation:

✅ Statement 1 – Correct: Article 112 mandates placing the Annual Financial Statement (Budget) before Parliament, enabling financial scrutiny and control.

✅ Statement 2 – Correct: Article 114 requires Appropriation Bill passage before any withdrawal from the Consolidated Fund of India, ensuring Parliamentary authorization.

✅ Statement 3 – Correct: Supplementary grants (Article 115) and vote-on-account (Article 116) provide mechanisms for Parliament to control additional or interim expenditure.

❌ Statement 4 – Incorrect: India does not have a Parliamentary Budget Office for mid-year macroeconomic reviews; such institutional mechanisms are absent.

✅ Statement 5 – Correct: Finance Bill (Article 110) introduction in Parliament is mandatory for taxation proposals, enabling control over revenue measures.

Detailed Explanation:

❌ Statement 1 – Incorrect: Article 80 provides that Union Territories are represented in Rajya Sabha. Currently, Delhi, Puducherry, and Jammu & Kashmir send representatives to Rajya Sabha.

❌ Statement 2 – Incorrect: Election disputes are adjudicated by High Courts under the Representation of the People Act, 1951, not by the Chief Election Commissioner. The Election Commission conducts elections but does not have judicial powers.

❌ Statement 3 – Incorrect: Article 79 states that Parliament consists of the President, Lok Sabha, and Rajya Sabha. The President is an integral part of Parliament as no bill becomes law without Presidential assent.

Detailed Explanation:

✅ Statement 1 – Correct: The National Green Tribunal Act, 2010 was enacted to provide effective and expeditious disposal of cases relating to environmental protection and conservation of forests, which is in consonance with Article 21 (Right to Life). The Supreme Court has interpreted the Right to a healthy environment as an integral part of Article 21 in landmark cases like M.C. Mehta v. Union of India.

❌ Statement 2 – Incorrect: Article 275(1) deals with grants-in-aid from the Union to states, particularly for Scheduled Areas and Scheduled Tribes welfare. The NGT Act has no connection with tribal welfare administration or grants under this provision.

❌ Statement 3 – Incorrect: Article 243(A) defines the Gram Sabha and its composition in the context of Panchayati Raj institutions. The NGT Act is a specialized environmental adjudicatory body and has no relation to Gram Sabha powers or local self-governance functions.

Detailed Explanation:

✅ Statement 1 – Correct: The Thirteenth Finance Commission (2010-2015) recommended a detailed roadmap for GST implementation including design features and a compensation mechanism for states transitioning to the new tax regime.

❌ Statement 2 – Incorrect: Job creation falls outside the mandate of Finance Commissions, which are constitutionally tasked with recommending tax devolution and grants-in-aid, not employment generation policies.

✅ Statement 3 – Correct: The Commission recommended grants to local bodies (Panchayats and Municipalities) as a specified share of central taxes, amounting to ₹87,519 crore for the 2010-15 period.

Detailed Explanation:

✅ Statement 1 – Correct: Section 4(m)(iii) of the PESA Act, 1996 empowers the Gram Sabha or Panchayat at appropriate level to prevent alienation of land in Scheduled Areas and restore unlawfully alienated land of Scheduled Tribes.

✅ Statement 2 – Correct: Section 4(m)(ii) of the PESA Act grants ownership of minor forest produce to the Gram Sabha or Panchayats at the appropriate level.

❌ Statement 3 – Incorrect: Section 4(k) of the Act mandates recommendation of Gram Sabha or Panchayats only for granting prospecting licence or mining lease for minor minerals, not for all minerals in Scheduled Areas.

Detailed Explanation:

❌ Statement 1 – Incorrect: CAG does not exercise exchequer control during national/financial emergency; it performs audit functions independently under Article 148-151, not executive control over funds.

✅ Statement 2 – Correct: CAG reports on execution of projects/programmes are examined by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), which scrutinizes government expenditure based on these audit findings.

✅ Statement 3 – Correct: Information from CAG audit reports can be used by investigating agencies (CBI, ED) as evidence to initiate action against those who misused public funds or violated financial laws.

❌ Statement 4 – Incorrect: CAG has no judicial powers to prosecute; it is an audit body that reports irregularities but cannot conduct prosecutions or impose penalties.

Detailed Explanation:

Adjournment Motion is an extraordinary parliamentary device used in the Lok Sabha only (not in Rajya Sabha) to discuss a definite matter of urgent public importance. It interrupts the normal business of the House and is considered a tool of censure against the government, requiring support of at least 50 members for admission.

❌ Option 2 – Incorrect: Question Hour and other devices are used for collecting information from ministers, not adjournment motion.

❌ Option 3 – Incorrect: This describes Cut Motion, which is used to reduce specific amounts in demand for grants during Budget discussion.

❌ Option 4 – Incorrect: This describes Adjournment of the House, a power exercised by the Presiding Officer to suspend sitting due to disorder or lack of quorum, not a motion moved by members.

Detailed Explanation:

✅ Statement 1 – Correct: Article 108 provides for a joint sitting to resolve deadlocks on Ordinary Bills if a bill is rejected by the other House, amendments are not agreed upon, or more than six months elapse without passage.

❌ Statement 2 – Incorrect: Money Bills (Article 110) cannot have a joint sitting. The Lok Sabha has overriding powers; the Rajya Sabha can only recommend within 14 days, after which the bill is deemed passed.

❌ Statement 3 – Incorrect: Constitution Amendment Bills (Article 368) require passage by special majority in each House separately. No provision exists for a joint sitting in case of disagreement.

Detailed Explanation:

✅ Statement 1 – Correct: Directive Principles of State Policy directly address education through Article 21A (Right to Education), Article 41 (education in certain cases), and Article 45 (Early Childhood Care and Education for children below 6 years).

✅ Statement 2 – Correct: Eleventh Schedule (Panchayats) and Twelfth Schedule (Municipalities) empower Rural and Urban Local Bodies to manage primary education, secondary education, and technical training institutions.

✅ Statement 3 – Correct: Fifth Schedule (Para 4) mandates promotion of educational and economic interests of Scheduled Tribes in Scheduled Areas through State Governors' reports.

✅ Statement 4 – Correct: Sixth Schedule (Para 3) grants Autonomous District Councils powers to establish, construct, and manage primary schools, dispensaries, and markets in tribal areas of Northeast India.

✅ Statement 5 – Correct: Seventh Schedule - Concurrent List (Entry 25) places education under joint jurisdiction of Parliament and State Legislatures, enabling both to legislate on educational matters.

All five provisions have constitutional bearing on education.

Detailed Explanation:

✅ Statement 1 – Correct: Article 281 mandates the President to lay the Finance Commission's recommendations before Parliament along with an explanatory memorandum.

❌ Statement 2 – Incorrect: The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) is a Parliamentary Committee that examines CAG reports and presents its own report to Parliament; the President does not lay PAC reports.

✅ Statement 3 – Correct: Article 151 requires the President to cause the CAG's reports relating to Union accounts to be laid before each House of Parliament.

✅ Statement 4 – Correct: Article 338(5) requires the President to lay the annual report of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes before Parliament with an action taken memorandum.

Detailed Explanation:

✅ Statement 1 – Correct: Article 51A(f) mandates preserving the rich heritage of our composite culture as a Fundamental Duty.

❌ Statement 2 – Incorrect: Protecting weaker sections from social injustice is a Directive Principle under Article 46, not a Fundamental Duty.

✅ Statement 3 – Correct: Article 51A(h) requires developing scientific temper, humanism and spirit of inquiry and reform.

✅ Statement 4 – Correct: Article 51A(j) mandates striving towards excellence in all spheres of individual and collective activity.