Day-554 | Daily MCQs | UPSC Prelims | POLITY

Answer: C
Explanation:
Statement 1 is correct: The Annual Accounts of the Union Government provide a comprehensive overview of the government’s financial transactions for a given fiscal year. These audit of these accounts are presented to the Parliament by the President of India while the report is prepared by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India, typically within six months of the conclusion of the fiscal year. The Annual Accounts serve as a crucial tool for ensuring transparency and accountability in the government’s financial management.
Components of the Annual Accounts: It consists of two main components:
1. Finance Accounts: The Finance Accounts provide a detailed record of all receipts and payments made by the government during the fiscal year. These accounts include information on revenue collection, expenditure incurred; from the Consolidated Fund of India, Contingency Fund and Public Account; and the overall financial position of the government.(Hence Option C is correct)
2. Appropriation Accounts: The Appropriation Accounts compare the actual expenditure incurred by the government with the amounts authorized by the Parliament through the annual budget. These accounts highlight any variances between the budgeted and actual expenditure and provide explanations for these variations.

Answer: C
Explanation:
Option 1 is correct: The rule of law implies that everyone, regardless of their status or position, is subject to the law and must abide by it. This means that no one is above the law and that everyone is treated equally under the law.The principle of equality before the law is essential for ensuring fairness and justice in society. It prevents discrimination and ensures that everyone has equal access to the legal system. When the law is applied equally, it creates a sense of trust and legitimacy among the people, fostering a more stable and harmonious society.
Option 2 is correct: The rule of law requires that the law be clear, transparent, and predictable. This means that the law should be written in a way that is easy to understand and that it should be applied consistently and impartially.When the law is clear and predictable, it reduces uncertainty and promotes compliance. It also allows individuals to hold the government accountable for its actions and to challenge decisions that they believe violate their rights.
Option 3 is incorrect: Civic duties are the responsibilities that citizens have to their communities and their country. These duties are often enshrined in law, but they can also be based on tradition, custom, or moral values. In India, there are a number of civic duties that are considered to be important for all citizens. These duties include:
● Obeying the law: This is the most basic civic duty, and it is essential for maintaining order and stability in society. Citizens should obey all laws, even those they disagree with, and they should report any violations to the authorities.
● Voting: Voting is another fundamental civic duty. It allows citizens to participate in the democratic process and to choose their representatives. Citizens should register to vote and participate in all elections.
● Paying taxes: Taxes are an important source of revenue for the government, and they are used to fund a variety of public services, such as education, healthcare, and infrastructure. Citizens should pay their taxes on time and in full.
● Protecting the environment: The environment is a vital resource that we must protect for future generations. Citizens should take steps to conserve resources, reduce pollution, and recycle.
In addition to these general civic duties, there are also a number of specific civic duties that are enshrined in the Indian Constitution. These duties include:
● Abide by the Constitution and respect its ideals and institutions, the National Flag and the National Anthem: This duty requires citizens to uphold the values and principles of the Constitution and to respect the symbols of national unity.
● Cherish and follow the noble ideals which inspired our national struggle for freedom: This duty requires citizens to appreciate the sacrifices made by those who fought for India’s independence and to strive to live up to their ideals.
● Uphold and protect the sovereignty, unity, and integrity of India: This duty requires citizens to defend India’s borders, to promote unity among its people, and to protect its national interests.
Option 4 is correct: The rule of law requires that the judiciary be independent of the executive and legislative branches of government. This means that the judiciary should be able to make decisions without fear of political interference or intimidation.An independent judiciary is essential for upholding the rule of law and protecting individual rights. When the judiciary is free from political influence, it can ensure that the law is applied fairly and impartially. It can also protect individuals from arbitrary or unjust actions by the government.
Additional Information:
Rule of Law vs. Due Process of Law
While the rule of law and due process of law are related concepts, they are not the same. The rule of law is a broader principle that encompasses the entire legal system, including the laws themselves, the institutions that enforce them, and the values that underpin them.
Due process of law, on the other hand, is a specific legal concept that refers to the procedures that must be followed when the government takes action against an individual.
In essence, the rule of law is the foundation upon which due process of law is built. The rule of law ensures that the legal system is fair, just, and impartial, while due process of law ensures that individuals are treated fairly and have their rights protected when the government takes action against them.

Answer: B
Explanation:
Statement 1 is correct:The Constitution of India does not explicitly mandate the mayoral system, but it allows states to adopt it through their own legislation. Several Indian states have implemented the mayoral system, including Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana.The mayor is merely a ceremonial authority, and executive decisions are carried out by the municipal commissioner appointed by the state government.
Statement 2 is incorrect:The Mayor in the Municipal Corporation is usually chosen through indirect election by the councilors from among themselves. However, few states including Uttarakhand, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu – have mayors who are elected directly. This inconsistency is because of the lack of clarity about the Mayoral system in the Constitution of India. Also the 74th amendment did not prescribe the manner of election, tenure, or powers of the Mayors/Chairpersons of Urban Local Bodies.
Statement 3 is correct: The mayoral system aims to decentralize power from the state government to the municipal level, empowering local bodies to make decisions that directly impact their citizens.The mayoral system seeks to bring governance closer to the people, giving them a direct say in matters that affect their daily lives. This decentralization of power enhances local accountability and encourages greater citizen participation in the decision-making process.

Roles, Functions, and Powers of the Mayor
The specific roles, functions, and powers of the mayor vary from state to state. However, in general, the mayor is responsible for:
● Providing leadership and direction to the municipal administration
● Presiding over the meetings of the municipal corporation
● Overseeing the implementation of municipal policies and programs
● Representing the municipality in official engagements
● Ensuring the financial well-being of the municipality
● Promoting the interests of the city and its citizens
The exact extent of the mayor’s powers depends on the specific provisions of the state legislation governing the mayoral system.

Answer: C
Explanation: The correct answer is MM Punchhi Commission. Among other recommendations, the recommendations with respect to the appointment and removal of the Governor of the State include:
● There should be a say of the state’s Chief Minister while making the Governor’s appointment.
● A committee should be formed that is entrusted with the task of appointment of governors. This committee may comprise the Prime Minister, the Home Minister, the Lok Sabha’s speaker and the concerned Chief Minister of the State.
● The term of appointment should be five years.
● Governor could only be removed via a resolution by the State Legislature.
Rajamannar Committee (1971) stressed that the Governor of the state should not consider himself as an agent of the centre but play his role as the constitutional head of the State.
Sarkaria Commission:
● The Constitution itself should lay down the process for consulting the chief minister when appointing a state governor.
● As long as the council of ministers has a majority in the assembly, the governor cannot dismiss it.
● Unless there are some exceptionally compelling circumstances, a governor’s five-year governorship should not be disrupted.

Answer: D
Explanation:
Government of India Act, 1919 provided for the appointment of the statutory commission to inquire into and report on its working after ten years of coming into force.
The Government of India Act 1919 was the codified version of the Montague-Chelmsford reforms – named after Edwin Charles Montague and Lord Chelmsford, who held positions of the Secretary of State and Viceroy of British India respectively. The Act was sold to the Indians as ‘a step in the progressive realisation of responsible government in India as an integral part of the empire’.
The persistent demand for further reforms led the British government to appoint Simon Commission in 1927 and report on the working of the Indian Constitution as established under Government of India Act, 1919.