Constitutional Bodies

247

Q35. Who heads the Goods and Services Tax Council?

[SSC CHSL Tier I, 16 October 2020 (Shift 1)]

1. SEBI Chairperson
2. Prime Minister
3. RBI Governor
4. Union Finance Minister

Answer: (D) Union Finance Minister

Explanation: The Union Finance Minister chairs the GST Council as provided by Article 279A. Other members include the Union Minister of State for finance or revenue and State ministers responsible for finance or taxation.

Q34. On which date was the Madhya Pradesh State Election Commission set up?

[MPPSC General Studies Official Paper 2020]

1. 1 February 1994
2. 1 March 1994
3. 1 April 1994
4. 1 May 1994

Answer: (A) 1 February 1994

Explanation: The Madhya Pradesh State Election Commission was constituted on 1 February 1994 to administer elections to local government institutions. It began operations on 15 February, and the office has constitutional protection.

Q33. CAG statements:
I. audits receipts payable into Consolidated Fund;
II. has authority to audit accounts of stores and stock in Union/State offices.

Which correct?

[MPPSC General Studies Official Paper 2020]

1. Neither
2. Both
3. Only II
4. Only I

Answer: (B) Both

Explanation: The CAG audits government receipts to verify assessment and collection and may audit stores and stock accounts kept by Union or State departments. These powers derive from constitutional and statutory audit provisions.

Q32. Girish Chandra Murmu became which numbered CAG of India?

[CGPSC Civil Services Preliminary 2020]

1. 12th
2. 13th
3. 14th
4. 15th

Answer: (C) 14th

Explanation: Girish Chandra Murmu became the fourteenth Comptroller and Auditor General in August 2020, succeeding Rajiv Mehrishi. The CAG is constitutionally established under Article 148 and heads the public audit system.

Q31. Which stated fact about the Fifteenth Finance Commission was incorrect for this examination?

[UPPSC Block Education Officer, 16 August 2020]

1. Constituted in November 2017
2. N. K. Singh chaired it
3. Recommendations cover 2021–26
4. Final report was due 30 August 2020

Answer: (D) Final report was due 30 August 2020

Explanation: The Fifteenth Finance Commission was appointed in November 2017 under N. K. Singh and was asked to report on the 2021–26 period. The listed August submission date was not correct.

Q30. Which constitutional Article provides for the Special Officer for Linguistic Minorities?

[Delhi Police Constable, 14 December 2020 (Shift 3)]

1. Article 351
2. Article 350B
3. Article 350A
4. Article 352

Answer: (B) Article 350B

Explanation: Article 350B, inserted by the Seventh Amendment, provides for a Special Officer appointed by the President. This officer investigates matters concerning constitutional safeguards for linguistic minorities and reports to the President about the operation of those protections.

Q29. Which Article prescribes the CAG’s duties and powers?

[MPPSC General Studies Official Paper 2019]

1. Article 146
2. Article 147
3. Article 148
4. Article 149

Answer: (D) Article 149

Explanation: Article 149 authorizes Parliament to prescribe the duties and powers of the Comptroller and Auditor General. Article 148 establishes the office, while Article 151 covers presentation of audit reports.

Q28. Who was NOT a Madhya Pradesh State Election Commissioner among these?

[MPPSC General Studies Official Paper 2019]

1. Gopal Sharan Shukla
2. R. Parshuram
3. Ajit Raizada
4. Avni Vaishya

Answer: (D) Avni Vaishya

Explanation: Gopal Sharan Shukla, Ajit Raizada and R. Parshuram served as State Election Commissioners in Madhya Pradesh. Avni Vaishya served as a senior administrative officer but did not hold that Election Commissioner post.

Q27. Which statement concerning the Advocate General is false?

[SSC Selection Post Graduate Level, 17 January 2019 (Shift 3)]

1. Appointed by the President of India
2. Each State has an Advocate General
3. Appointed by the State Governor
4. Performs a role comparable to Union Attorney General

Answer: (A) Appointed by the President of India

Explanation: Article 165 says the Governor appoints a State Advocate General. The President instead appoints the Attorney General of India under Article 76. Both posts provide legal advice at their respective levels.

Q26. Which Article governs State Election Commission supervision of rural local-body elections?

[MPPSC General Studies Official Paper 2019]

1. Article 243K
2. Article 243L
3. Article 243M
4. Article 243N

Answer: (A) Article 243K

Explanation: Article 243K vests Panchayat electoral supervision in a State Election Commission. The officeholder is appointed by the Governor, while constitutional safeguards protect removal conditions to promote electoral independence.