CBSE Class 9 Social Science Working of Institutions MCQs Set 01

Answer: (b) 250

Explanation:
1. The Rajya Sabha has a maximum strength of 250 members, of whom 238 are elected by state legislatures and 12 are nominated by the President.

Teacher's Note:
1. Remember 250 = 238 + 12.
2. Nominated members are persons with special knowledge in art, literature, science or social service.

Answer: (a) The Prime Minister

Explanation:
1. The President is the nominal head of the state, while the Prime Minister, as head of the government, exercises all governmental powers.

Teacher's Note:
1. Distinguish the nominal executive from the real executive.
2. The President acts on the advice of the Council of Ministers.

Answer: (d) 12

Explanation:
1. The President nominates 12 members to the Rajya Sabha.

Teacher's Note:
1. Nominated members are experts in various fields.
2. They do not represent a state.

Answer: (c) 6 months

Explanation:
1. The Constitution requires that not more than six months should pass between the last sitting of one session and the first sitting of the next.

Teacher's Note:
1. Parliament must meet at least twice a year.
2. This keeps the executive accountable.

Answer: (b) The President

Explanation:
1. The President dissolves the Lok Sabha, acting on the advice of the Council of Ministers.

Teacher's Note:
1. The Rajya Sabha is a permanent house and cannot be dissolved.
2. The Lok Sabha has a normal term of five years.

Answer: (a) 6 years

Explanation:
1. A member of the Rajya Sabha is elected for six years, and one-third of members retire every two years.

Teacher's Note:
1. The Lok Sabha has a five-year term.
2. The Rajya Sabha is a continuing House.

Answer: (d) Lok Sabha

Explanation:
1. A money bill can be introduced only in the Lok Sabha.

Teacher's Note:
1. The Rajya Sabha can only delay it by 14 days or suggest changes.
2. The Lok Sabha may or may not accept them.

Answer: (c) The Speaker

Explanation:
1. The Speaker of the Lok Sabha decides whether a bill is a money bill, and the decision is final.

Teacher's Note:
1. The Speaker presides over the Lok Sabha.
2. The Speaker's decision cannot be questioned in a court.

Answer: (b) The President

Explanation:
1. The President appoints the leader of the majority party or coalition in the Lok Sabha as Prime Minister.

Teacher's Note:
1. There is no direct election of the Prime Minister.
2. If no party has a majority, the President uses discretion.

Answer: (a) legislature, executive and judiciary

Explanation:
1. The legislature makes laws, the executive implements them and the judiciary settles disputes.

Teacher's Note:
1. Learn the three organs as a set.
2. They check each other's powers.

Answer: (d) 27 per cent of vacancies in civil posts and services under the Government of India were reserved for the Socially and Educationally Backward Classes

Explanation:
1. The order created a new category, SEBC, with a 27 per cent quota in addition to the benefit already given to SCs and STs.

Teacher's Note:
1. The order followed the recommendations of the Mandal Commission.
2. It became a source of controversy for several years.

Answer: (c) Mandal Commission

Explanation:
1. It was headed by B.P. Mandal and was asked to determine criteria to identify the socially and educationally backward classes.

Teacher's Note:
1. The Union Cabinet decided to implement its recommendations on 6 August 1990.
2. Prime Minister V.P. Singh informed Parliament of the decision.

Answer: (b) declared the government's order valid but asked it to exclude well-to-do persons among the backward classes

Explanation:
1. Eleven judges heard the case; the majority held the order valid and said the well-off among backward classes should not get the benefit.

Teacher's Note:
1. A fresh Office Memorandum was issued on 8 September 1993.
2. The courts settle disputes arising from government decisions.

Answer: (a) make it difficult to rush through a bad decision and allow wider consultation

Explanation:
1. Rules, meetings and committees cause delay, but they also allow a wider set of people to be consulted and prevent hasty bad decisions.

Teacher's Note:
1. Delays in institutions can be frustrating, but they have a purpose.
2. This is the spirit of democracy.

Answer: (d) the President and the two Houses, Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha

Explanation:
1. Parliament includes the President together with the Rajya Sabha (Council of States) and the Lok Sabha (House of the People).

Teacher's Note:
1. The President is part of Parliament because a bill needs her assent.
2. At the state level the legislature is called the Legislative Assembly.

Answer: (c) public money can be spent only when Parliament sanctions it

Explanation:
1. In most countries, including India, the government can spend public money only with the approval of Parliament.

Teacher's Note:
1. This is one way Parliament controls the executive.
2. The Lok Sabha has the final say on money matters.

Answer: (b) only delay it by 14 days or suggest changes

Explanation:
1. The Rajya Sabha cannot reject a money bill; the Lok Sabha may or may not accept its suggestions.

Teacher's Note:
1. This shows that the Lok Sabha is more powerful.
2. In ordinary laws a joint session settles differences.

Answer: (a) all ministers including the Prime Minister have to quit

Explanation:
1. The Lok Sabha controls the Council of Ministers, and the Rajya Sabha does not have this power.

Teacher's Note:
1. The government depends on the support of the Lok Sabha.
2. This is a feature of the parliamentary system.

Answer: (d) the political executive is elected for a fixed period, while civil servants are appointed on a long-term basis and stay in office when the ruling party changes

Explanation:
1. Ministers are elected and answerable to the people, whereas civil servants assist them in day-to-day administration.

Teacher's Note:
1. The minister decides the overall framework.
2. The experts can tell the route, the minister decides the destination.

Answer: (c) get elected to one of the Houses of Parliament within six months

Explanation:
1. Such a person has to become an MP within six months of the appointment as minister.

Teacher's Note:
1. Usually ministers are chosen from members of Parliament.
2. The Prime Minister is free to choose his ministers.