Ans: B

Exp:

Statement 1 is incorrect: The State government is required to appoint a State Election Commissioner who would be responsible for conducting elections to the Panchayati Raj institutions. Earlier, this task was performed by the State administration, which was under the control of the State government.

Statement 2 is correct: The office of the State Election Commissioner is autonomous, like the Election Commissioner of India. The State Election Commissioner is an independent officer who is neither linked to nor under the control of the Election Commission of India.

Ans: C

Exp:

Local government is government at the village and district level. Local government is about setting up government closest to the common people. Local government is about government that involves the day-to-day lives and problems of ordinary citizens. Local government believes that local knowledge and local interest are essential ingredients for democratic decision making. This process started in British times, and Lord Rippon is known as the father of “local governance”. But after Independence, various committees were formed for local governance. Some of these committees were :

• Balwant rai mehta committee
• Ashok mehta committee
• P.K.Thungon
• Punchhi commission
• G V K Rao committee
• L M Singhvi committee

Ans: D

Exp:

Reservations were provided for the deprived sections of society according to their population, and one extra advantage of panchayati raj institutions is that reservations were provided to women also.

Statement 1 is incorrect: One third of the positions in all panchayat institutions are reserved for women. It is important to note that these reservations apply not merely to ordinary members in Panchayats but also to the positions of chairpersons, or adhyakshas, at all three levels. Further, reservation of one-third of the seats for women is not merely in the general category of seats but also within the seats reserved for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled tribes, and backward castes.

Statement 2 is incorrect: The State government is required to appoint a State Election Commissioner who would be responsible for conducting elections to the Panchayati Raj institutions.  Earlier, this task was performed by the State administration, which was under the control of the State government. Now, the office of the State Election Commissioner is autonomous, like the Election Commissioner of India. However, the State Election Commissioner is an independent officer who is neither linked to nor under the control of the Election Commission of India.

Ans: B

Exp:

Statement 1 is incorrect: The “Basic Structure” doctrine refers to a legal principle established by the Supreme Court of India that certain core elements or principles of the Constitution cannot be altered or amended by the Parliament, even if the amendment process provided by the Constitution is followed. This doctrine acts as a safeguard against arbitrary changes that could undermine the fundamental principles and values enshrined in the Constitution. The concept of the basic structure was first introduced in the landmark judgement of Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala (1973). 

This ruling has contributed to the evolution of the Constitution in the following ways: 

• It has set specific limits on Parliament’s power to amend the Constitution. It says that no amendment can violate the basic structure of the Constitution.

• It allows Parliament to amend any and all parts of the Constitution (within this limitation). Hence, Statement 2 is correct 

It places the Judiciary as the final authority in deciding if an amendment violates basic structure and what constitutes the basic structure. Hence, Statement 3 is correct.

Ans: D

Exp:

The Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, was framed in 1989 in response to demands made by Dalits and others that the government must take seriously the ill treatment and humiliation Dalits and tribal groups face in an everyday sense. The Act distinguishes several levels of crimes. Some of them are:

• Force a member of a Scheduled Caste or a Scheduled Tribe to drink or eat any inedible or obnoxious substance. Hence, Statement 1 is correct.
• Forcibly removes clothes from the person of a member of a Scheduled Caste or a Scheduled Tribe or parades him or her naked or with painted face or body or commits any similar act which is derogatory to human dignity. Hence, Statement 2 is correct.
• Wrongfully occupies or cultivates any land owned by, or allotted to, … a member of a Scheduled Caste or a Scheduled Tribe or gets the land allotted to him transferred. Hence, Statement 3 is correct.
• Assaults or uses force on any woman belonging to a Scheduled Caste or a Scheduled Tribe with intent to dishonour her. Hence, Statement 4 is correct.