70. In which month of 2023 did the Union Cabinet approve the National Green Hydrogen Mission?
[SSC GD Constable, 26 February 2024, Shift 3]
(A) June
(B) July
(C) January
(D) March
Answer: (C) January
Explanation: The Union Cabinet approved the National Green Hydrogen Mission in January 2023. Cabinet decisions set major government policy directions and expenditure priorities. The mission supports cleaner hydrogen production, industrial decarbonisation and domestic capabilities for emerging energy technologies.
69. Evaluate:
(1) Vice-President is ex-officio Chairman of Rajya Sabha;
(2) members of both Houses of Parliament elect the Vice-President.
[CGPSC State Services Prelims, 11 February 2024]
(A) Statement 1 only
(B) Statement 2 only
(C) Both statements
(D) Neither statement
Answer: (C) Both statements
Explanation: Both statements are constitutionally correct. Article 64 makes the Vice-President Chairman of Rajya Sabha. Article 66 provides for election by an electoral college comprising members of both parliamentary Houses, using proportional representation by the single transferable vote.
68. Under which Article did Parliament enact the Representation of the People Act, 1951?
[RPSC Assistant Professor Political Science Paper II, 11 September 2024]
(A) Article 324
(B) Article 325
(C) Article 327
(D) Article 326
Answer: (C) Article 327
Explanation: Article 327 empowers Parliament to legislate on elections to Parliament and state legislatures, subject to the Constitution. The Representation of the People Act, 1951 governs election conduct, qualifications, disqualifications and related procedures. Article 324 concerns Election Commission supervision.
67. Which is correct about parliamentary committees?
A: Ministers cannot join PAC;
B: Speaker nominates Estimates members;
C: Ministers may join Estimates if nominated;
D: Public Undertakings Committee members serve two years.
[SSC CGL Tier-I, 21 July 2023, Shift 3]
(A) A only
(B) A, B and C only
(C) A, B, C and D
(D) B, C and D only
Answer: (A) A only
Explanation: Only statement A is correct. Public Accounts Committee membership excludes ministers. Estimates Committee members are elected by Lok Sabha rather than nominated by the Speaker, ministers cannot join it, and the Committee on Public Undertakings has an annual term.
66. In which year was the post-Independence Estimates Committee first constituted?
[SSC CGL 2022 Tier-II, held 2 March 2023]
(A) 1948
(B) 1950
(C) 1947
(D) 1949
Answer: (B) 1950
Explanation: The first Estimates Committee after Independence was constituted in 1950 following Finance Minister John Mathai’s recommendation. It scrutinises proposed expenditure and considers ways to achieve economies and improve administration. Its thirty members are drawn entirely from Lok Sabha.
65. How are Public Accounts Committee seats distributed between Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha?
[Delhi Police Constable, 22 November 2023, Shift 1]
(A) 15 and 7
(B) 12 and 10
(C) 13 and 9
(D) 14 and 8
Answer: (A) 15 and 7
Explanation: The Public Accounts Committee has twenty-two members: fifteen from Lok Sabha and seven from Rajya Sabha. It scrutinises public accounts and audit observations, supported by the Comptroller and Auditor General. Ministers are not eligible to sit on it.
64. Which statement about Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee is incorrect?
[KVS Junior Secretariat Assistant, 4 March 2023, Shift 2]
(A) The CAG assists its work
(B) Every member belongs to Lok Sabha
(C) Members belong to both Houses
(D) The CAG is not a committee member
Answer: (B) Every member belongs to Lok Sabha
Explanation: The claim that all members belong to Lok Sabha is false. PAC includes fifteen Lok Sabha members and seven Rajya Sabha members. It examines government accounts and CAG reports, but the CAG assists as an expert rather than serving as a committee member.
63. Match committee with strength: Estimates, PAC, Lok Sabha Rules Committee, Department-related Standing Committee.
[Haryana Civil Services Prelims, 2023]
(A) 30, 22, 15, 31
(B) 15, 31, 30, 22
(C) 31, 30, 22, 15
(D) 30, 22, 31, 15
Answer: (A) 30, 22, 15, 31
Explanation: Estimates has thirty members, PAC twenty-two, the Lok Sabha Rules Committee fifteen, and a typical Department-related Standing Committee thirty-one. Different committee sizes reflect their roles and House representation; memorising the respective membership structures aids constitutional governance questions.
62. Which Bill has never been taken up at a joint sitting of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha?
[DDA Patwari, 19 August 2023, Shift 1]
(A) Banking Service Commission (Repeal) Bill
(B) Armed Forces (Special Powers) Bill, 1958
(C) Dowry Prohibition Bill
(D) Prevention of Terrorism Bill
Answer: (B) Armed Forces (Special Powers) Bill, 1958
Explanation: Joint sittings have addressed the Dowry Prohibition, Banking Service Commission (Repeal) and Prevention of Terrorism Bills. The Armed Forces (Special Powers) legislation was not passed through this mechanism. Article 108 provides a way to resolve certain bicameral legislative deadlocks.
61. Which Article establishes the Prime Minister as head of the Council of Ministers?
[SSC CHSL 2022 Tier-I, held 15 March 2023, Shift 2]
(A) Article 52
(B) Article 377
(C) Article 60
(D) Article 74
Answer: (D) Article 74
Explanation: Article 74 specifically places the Prime Minister at the head of the Council of Ministers that aids and advises the President. Article 75 complements it by covering appointments and ministerial responsibility to Lok Sabha, rather than defining the Council’s advisory function.
