Page 1 of 47 SFG 2021 - Level 3 | Test 1 – Solutions | ForumIAS Q.1) With reference to the Secular character of the Constitution of India, which one of the following statements is incorrect? a) All citizens are equally entitled to liberty of belief, faith and worship. b) All minorities have the right to establish and administer educational institutions of their choice. c) All people are equally required to pay taxes for the promotion of their religion. d) The State shall not deny any person equality before the law or equal protection of the laws. Ans) c Exp) Option c is correct. The Constitution of India stands for a secular state. Hence, it does not uphold any particular religion as the official religion of the Indian State. The following provisions of the Constitution reveal the secular character of the Indian State: 1) The term ‘secular’ was added to the Preamble of the Indian Constitution by the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act of 1976. 2) The Preamble secures to all citizens of India liberty of belief, faith and worship. Hence, option a is correct. 3) The State shall not deny to any person equality before the law or equal protection of the laws (Article 14). Hence, option d is correct. 4) The State shall not discriminate against any citizen on the ground of religion (Article 15). 5) Equality of opportunity for all citizens in matters of public employment (Article 16). 6) All persons are equally entitled to freedom of conscience and the right to freely profess, practice and propagate any religion (Article 25). 7) Every religious denomination or any of its section shall have the right to manage its religious affairs (Article 26). 8) No person shall be compelled to pay any taxes for the promotion of a particular religion (Article 27). Hence, option c is incorrect. 9) No religious instruction shall be provided in any educational institution maintained by the State (Article 28). 10) Any section of the citizens shall have the right to conserve its distinct language, script or culture (Article 29). 11) All minorities shall have the right to establish and administer educational institutions of their choice (Article 30). Hence, option b is correct. Source: Laxmikant Making of Constitution ForumIAS Offline 2nd Floor, IAPL House, 19, Pusa Road, Karol Bagh, New Delhi – 110005 | [email protected] Page 2 of 47 SFG 2021 - Level 3 | Test 1 – Solutions | ForumIAS Q.2) With reference to the Government of India Act of 1935, consider the following statements: 1. The Act established India as a federation of the British provinces and princely states. 2. The Act introduced bicameralism in the British provinces. 3. The Act designated the Governor-General of India as a nominal head of the State. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? a) 1 and 2 only b) 2 only c) 1 and 3 only d) 1, 2 and 3 Ans) b Exp) Option b is correct. Statement 1 is incorrect. The Government of India Act of 1935 provided for the establishment of an All-India Federation consisting of provinces and princely states as units. The Act divided the powers between the Centre and units in terms of three lists. Residuary powers were given to the Viceroy. However, the federation never came into being as the princely states did not join it. Statement 2 is correct. The Act introduced bicameralism in six out of eleven provinces. Thus, the legislatures of Bengal, Bombay, Madras, Bihar, Assam and the United Provinces were made bicameral. Statement 3 is incorrect. The Indian Independence Act of 1947 (and not the GoI Act, 1935) designated the Governor-General of India and the provincial governors as constitutional (nominal) heads of the states. They were made to act on the advice of the respective council of ministers in all matters. Knowledge Base: Major Provisions of Government of India Act of 1935: 1) It provided for the establishment of an All-India Federation. 2) It abolished dyarchy in the provinces and introduced ‘provincial autonomy’ in its place. 3) It provided for the adoption of dyarchy at the Centre. 4) It introduced bicameralism in six out of eleven provinces. 5) It extended franchise. About 10 per cent of the total population got the voting right. 6) It provided for the establishment of a Reserve Bank of India. 7) It provided for the establishment of not only a Federal Public Service Commission but also a Provincial Public Service Commission and Joint Public Service Commission for two or more provinces. Source: Laxmikanth Historical Background ForumIAS Offline 2nd Floor, IAPL House, 19, Pusa Road, Karol Bagh, New Delhi – 110005 | [email protected] Page 3 of 47 SFG 2021 - Level 3 | Test 1 – Solutions | ForumIAS Q.3) With reference to the Geographical Indications (GI) tags, consider the following pairs: Geographical State Indications 1. Telia Rumal Karnataka 2. Arumbavur Wood Kerala Carving 3. Thanjavur Netti Tamil Nadu 4. Sohrai – Khovar Odisha Painting Which of the pairs given above is/ are correctly matched? a) 1 and 2 only b) 2 only c) 3 only d) 2, 3 and 4 only Ans) c Exp) Option c is correct. Pair 1 is incorrectly matched: Telia Rumal: Telangana Telia Rumal involves intricate handmade work with cotton loom displaying a variety of designs and motifs in three particular colours — red, black and white. Puttapaka in Nalgonda is the centre for the Puttapaka Telia Rumal. Uniqueness: It can only be created using the traditional handloom process and not by any other mechanical means as the very quality of the Rumal would be lost. Significance: It is usually offered at the dargah of Ajmer Sharif in Rajasthan. Pair 2 is incorrectly matched: Arumbavur Wood Carving: Tamil Nadu Arumbavur wood carvings are sculptures primarily made out of the wooden logs of Mango, Lingam tree, Indian Ash tree, Rosewood, Neem tree. The wood supply comes from the Pachamalai Hills along the Trichy – Perambalur boundary and the Thanjavur – Kumbakonam zone. Arumbavur is a Town Panchayat at Veppanthattai Taluk in Perambalur district in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. Its work revolves around idols and deities, temple chariots and temple cars, door panels of houses, pooja rooms and temples, decorative figures and pooja mandapam. ForumIAS Offline 2nd Floor, IAPL House, 19, Pusa Road, Karol Bagh, New Delhi – 110005 | [email protected] Page 4 of 47 SFG 2021 - Level 3 | Test 1 – Solutions | ForumIAS Uniqueness: The entire design carved is made out of a single block of wood given that a single error could damage the entire piece. Pair 3 is correctly matched: Thanjavur Netti: Tamil Nadu Thanjavur Netti Works/Thanjavur Pith Work is made from Netti (pith) from a marshy plant called as Aeschynomene Aspera. The pith work models are delicate to handle and are usually preserved inside glass boxes. The notable works include Brihadeeswara Temple, Hindu Idols, door hangings and decorative pieces. The government has also recognised the pith work industry as one of the major handicraft symbols. Pair 4 is incorrectly matched: Sohrai Khovar Painting: Jharkhand It is a traditional and ritualistic mural painting practised by local tribal women in Hazaribagh, Jharkhand. It is mostly practised during local harvest and marriage seasons using local, naturally available soils of different colours available in the region. Traditionally painted on partitions of mud home. The style features a profusion of lines, dots, animal figures and plants, often representing religious iconography. Knowledge Base: A GI tag is a sign used on goods that have a specific Geographical Indications tag origin and possess qualities or a reputation that are specific to that origin. The tag can be awarded for agricultural products, foodstuffs, wine, handicrafts, and industrial products. A GI tag is a part of the intellectual property rights that comes under the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property. Source: https://ipindia.gov.in/writereaddata/Portal/Images/pdf/GI_Application_Register_10-09-2019.pdf https://blog.forumias.com/telia-rumal/ https://blog.forumias.com/gi-tag-for-thanjavur-netti-and-arumbavur-wood-carving/ https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/gi-tag-to-manipur-black-rice-gorakhpur- terracotta/article31475958.ece https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/kashmir-saffron-gets-gi-tag/article31484569.ece Q.4) Match the certain parts of the basic structure of the constitution of India with the Supreme Court cases in which they have been declared as such for the first time. Cases Features that are part of the Basis Structure 1. Minerva Mills vs A. Federalism Union of India, 1980 ForumIAS Offline 2nd Floor, IAPL House, 19, Pusa Road, Karol Bagh, New Delhi – 110005 | [email protected] Page 5 of 47 SFG 2021 - Level 3 | Test 1 – Solutions | ForumIAS 2. Indra Sawhney B. Judicial vs Union of review India, 1992 3. Kihoto Hollohan C. Rule of law vs Zachillhu and Ors,1992 4. S. R. Bommai vs D. Free and fair Union of India, elections 1994 Select the correct answer using the code given below: a) 1-C, 2-B, 3-A, 4-D b) 1-B, 2-C, 3-D, 4-A c) 1-B, 2-C, 3-A, 4-D d) 1-C, 2-D, 3-B, 4-A Ans) b Exp) Option b is correct. Pair 1-B is correctly matched. The Supreme Court in the Minerva Mills case (1980) upheld that judicial review is one of the ‘basic features’ of the Constitution. Pair 2-C is correctly matched. In Indira Sawhney vs. Union of India, 1992, ‘Rule of law’ was added to the basic features. The court said that the criteria for a group to qualify for reservation is “social and educational backwardness”. It reiterated the 50% limit to vertical quotas reasoning that it was needed to ensure “efficiency” in administration.