Himachal wants high level committee to assess financial impact; Punjab wants Special Category Status

Consider the following:
1. Demographic performance
2. Forest and ecology
3. Governance reforms
4. Stable government
5. Tax and fiscal efforts

For the horizontal tax devolution, the Fifteenth Finance Commission used how many of the above as criteria other than population area and income distance?

1. A. Only two
2. B. Only three
3. C. Only four
4. D. All five

Which of the following statements with regard to recommendations of the 15th Finance Commission of India are correct?

I. It has recommended grants of ₹4,800 crores from the year 2022–23 to the year 2025–26 for incentivizing States to enhance educational outcomes.
II. 45% of the net proceeds of Union taxes are to be shared with States.
III. ₹45,000 crores are to be kept as performance-based incentive for all States for carrying out agricultural reforms.
IV. It reintroduced tax effort criteria to reward fiscal performance.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

1. A. I, II and III
2. B. I, II and IV
3. C. I, III and IV
4. D. II, III and IV

With Reference to the Fourteenth Finance Commission, which of the following statements is/are correct?
1. It has increased the share of States in the central divisible pool from 32 per cent to 42 per cent
2. It has made recommendations concerning sector-specific grants

1. A. 1 only
2. B. 2 only
3. C. Both 1 and 2
4. D. Neither 1 nor 2

Consider the following subjects under the Constitution of India:

I. List I–Union List, in the Seventh Schedule
II. Extent of the executive power of a State
III. Conditions of the Governor’s office

For a constitutional amendment with respect to which of the above, ratification by the Legislatures of not less than one-half of the States is required before presenting the bill to the President of India for assent?

1. A. I and II only
2. B. II and III only
3. C. I and III only
4. D. I, II and III

Consider the following statements

1. The Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) Review Committee Report has recommended a debt to GDP ratio of 60% for the general (combined) government by 2023, comprising 40% for the Central Government and 20% for the State Governments.
2. The Central Government has domestic liabilities of 21% of GDP as compared to 49% of GDP of the State Governments.
3. As per the Constitution of India, it is mandatory for a State to take the Central Government’s consent for raising any loan if the former owes any outstanding liabilities to the latter.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. A. 1 only
2. B. 2 and 3 only
3. C. 1 and 3 only
4. D. 1, 2 and 3

Which one of the following in Indian polity is an essential feature that indicates that it is federal in character?

1. A. The independence of judiciary is safeguarded.
2. B. The Union Legislature has elected representatives from constituent units.
3. C. The Union Cabinet can have elected representatives from regional parties.
4. D. The Fundamental Rights are enforceable by Courts of Law.

Consider the following statements:

With reference to the Constitution of India, if an area in a State is declared as Scheduled Area under the Fifth Schedule,
I. the State Government loses its executive power in such areas and a local body assumes total administration.
II. the Union Government can take over the total administration of such areas under certain circumstances on the recommendations of the Governor.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. A. I only
2. B. II only
3. C. Both I and II
4. D. Neither I nor II

Who among the following constitute the National Development Council?
1. The Prime Minister
2. The Chairman, Finance Commission
3. Ministers of the Union Cabinet
4. Chief Ministers of the States

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

1. A. 1, 2 and 3 only
2. B. 1, 3 and 4 only
3. C. 2 and 4 only
4. D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Which one of the following is not a feature of Indian federalism?

1. A. There is an independent judiciary in India.
2. B. Powers have been clearly divided between the Centre and the States.
3. C. The federating units have been given unequal representation in the Rajya Sabha.
4. D. It is the result of an agreement among the federating units.

Which of the following statements with respect to the Revamped Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA) is/are correct ?

1. The period of its implementation is 1st April, 2021 to 31st March, 2026.
2. The key objective of the Revamped RGSA is to develop the governance capabilities of the Panchayati Raj Institutions to deliver on the Sustainable Development Goals.
3. The share of the Central funding for the Revamped RGSA is 100% for all States and Union Territories.

Select the answer using the code given below :

1. A. 1 and 2
2. B. 2 only
3. C. 1 and 3
4. D. 2 and 3

The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights has to address the challenges faced by children in the digital era. Examine the existing policies and suggest measures the Commission can initiate to tackle the issue.

"In contemporary development models, decision-making and problem-solving responsibilities are not located close to the source of information and execution defeating the objectives of development." Critically evaluate.

What are environmental pressure groups? Discuss their role in raising awareness, influencing policies and advocating for environmental protection in India.

Examine the evolving pattern of Centre-State financial relations in the context of planned development in India. How far have the recent reforms impacted the fiscal federalism in India?

Discuss the evolution of collegium system in India. Critically examine the advantages and disadvantages of the system of appointment of the Judges of the Supreme Court of India and that of the USA.

Indian Constitution has conferred the amending power on the ordinary legislative institutions with a few procedural hurdles. In view of this statement, examine the procedural and substantive limitations on the amending power of the Parliament to change the Constitution.