2 May : Daily Current Affairs Quiz

Correct Answer:

(b) Only two (Statements 1 and 3 are correct)

Explanation:

✅ Statement 1: Correct

• The 52nd Constitutional Amendment Act of 1985 introduced the Anti-Defection Law.

• It added the Tenth Schedule to the Constitution.

• This law disqualifies Members of Parliament (MPs) and Members of State Legislative Assemblies (MLAs) who defect from their political parties, aiming to curb political instability caused by frequent defections.

❌ Statement 2: Incorrect

• The National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) was formed under the 99th Constitutional Amendment in 2014, not the 52nd.

• It was intended to make judicial appointments more transparent by involving both the judiciary and the government.

• However, it was later declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in 2015.

✅ Statement 3: Correct

• The Tenth Schedule, which outlines the grounds for disqualifying MPs and MLAs for defection, was indeed added by the 52nd Constitutional Amendment.

• This helped address the problem of legislative instability due to party switching.

Correct Answer:

(b) Only two (Statements 1 and 2 only)

Explanation of Each Statement:

1. ✅ Correct:

   • Zero Hour starts just after Question Hour and allows members to raise issues of urgent public importance.

   • It’s informal and does not require prior notice or approval from the Speaker or Chairman.

2. ✅ Correct:

   • Question Hour is the first hour of a parliamentary session.

   • Members can ask questions to ministers, who are obligated to respond, often regarding ministry or national issues.

3. ❌ Incorrect:

   • During Zero Hour, members do not need the Chairman’s or Speaker’s permission to raise questions.

   • It is open and spontaneous, unlike Question Hour which is more structured and controlled.

4. ❌ Incorrect:

   • Zero Hour issues do not need pre-approval.

   • Members can bring up any matter they feel is urgent and important, without needing formal clearance in advance.

Correct Answer: (c) Singapore

Explanation:

• Singapore was the first nation to fully adopt the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) agreement, which was signed in 1992.

• The main goal of AFTA was to reduce trade barriers and enhance economic integration among ASEAN countries.

• Due to its strong trade-driven economy, Singapore led the way in putting the agreement into effect.

Correct Answer: (a) Only one (Statement 2 only)

Explanation:

• Statement 1 – Correct:
  The Rajya Sabha Chairman has the right to cast a deciding vote (casting vote) if there is a tie during a division vote. This is the only situation where the Chairman can vote; they do not vote during normal proceedings.

• Statement 2 – Incorrect:
  Although the Chairman can break a tie during a division vote, they are not allowed to vote in other situations, as specified in procedural rules. The casting vote is exclusively for resolving ties.

• Statement 3 – Correct:
  The Chairman has the power to suspend members who behave in a disruptive or disorderly manner in the House. This authority helps ensure order during the sessions.

Correct Answer: (c) 1 and 3 only

Explanation:

• Statement 1: ✅ Correct
  PMBs can be introduced only by MPs who are not part of the Council of Ministers. Ministers, as government representatives, are not permitted to bring PMBs, since their focus is on official government legislation.

• Statement 2: ❌ Incorrect
  PMBs are usually scheduled for discussion on Fridays, not Thursdays. While Friday is generally allocated for PMBs, there’s no strict rule mandating this—it can vary in practice.

• Statement 3: ✅ Correct
  The last PMB that successfully cleared both Houses and received the President’s assent was in 1970. No such bill has been enacted since then.