Ans: C

Exp:

Statement 1 is correct: National Human Rights Commission is in conformity with the Paris Principles, adopted at the first international workshop on national institutions for the promotion and protection of Human Rights held in Paris in October 1991, and endorsed by the General Assembly of the United Nations by its Regulations 48/134 of 20 December, 1993.

Statement 2 is correct: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) of India was established on 12 October, 1993. The statute under which it is established is the Protection of Human Rights Act (PHRA), 1993. Section 2(1)(d) of the Protection of Human Rights Act (PHRA), 1993 defines Human Rights as the Rights relating to life, liberty, equality and dignity of the individual guaranteed by the Constitution or embodied in the International Covenants and enforceable by courts in India. 

Ans: B

Exp:

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) of India was established on 12 October, 1993. The statute under which it is established is the Protection of Human Rights Act (PHRA), 1993.

The chairman and members are appointed by the President on the recommendations of a six-member committee consisting of:

• Prime Minister as its head, 

• Speaker of the Lok Sabha, 

1. 1. Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, 

• Leader of the Opposition in both the Houses of Parliament, and 

1. Union Home Minister.

Ans: D

Exp:

Statement I is incorrect: Niti Ayog works to foster cooperative federalism through structured support initiatives and mechanisms with the States on a continuous basis, recognizing that strong States make a strong Nation. However, it doesn’t work as a civil court to take strict measures against improper imposition of President’s Rule (Article 356). 

Statement II is correct: Planning Commission was replaced by a new institution – NITI Aayog on January 1, 2015 with emphasis on ‘Bottom–Up’ approach to envisage the vision of Maximum Governance, Minimum Government, echoing the spirit of ‘Cooperative Federalism’.

Ans: A

Exp:

Statement 1 is correct: The National Development Council (NDC) is a crucial institution in India’s policy-making framework. It was established in 1952 as a platform for cooperation and coordination between the Central and State governments. The NDC is a forum for the exchange of ideas and for building consensus on key development issues. It plays a crucial role in India’s economic and social development. 

Statement 2 is incorrect: National Development Council is neither a Statutory nor a Constitutional entity. Despite the fact that the NDC is a non-statutory advisory body that offers recommendations to the Central and State governments, the Council’s status ensures that these recommendations have the prestige of mandates, which are routinely followed and obeyed. 

Ans: B

Exp: 

Statement 1 is correct: The idea of creation of Zonal Councils was mooted by the first Prime Minister of India, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru in 1956 when during the course of debate on the report of the States Reorganisation Commission, he suggested that the States proposed to be reorganized may be grouped into four or five zones having an Advisory Council ‘to develop the habit of cooperative working’ among these States.  

Statement 2 is incorrect: The Eastern Zonal Council, comprising the States of Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa, Sikkim and West Bengal. However The North-Eastern States i.e. (i) Assam (ii) Arunachal Pradesh (iii) Manipur (iv) Tripura (v) Mizoram (vi) Meghalaya and (vii) Nagaland are not included in the Zonal Councils and their special problems are looked after by the North Eastern Council, set up under the North Eastern Council Act, 1972. 

Statement 3 is correct: The Union Home Minister is the Chairman of each of these Councils. The Chief Ministers of the States included in each zone act as Vice-Chairman of the Zonal Council by rotation, each holding office for a period of one year at a time. Members of the council include the Chief Minister and two other Ministers as nominated by the Governor from each of the States and two members from Union Territories included in the zone.