Daily Static Quiz (Polity) March 3, 2025
Daily Static Quiz (Polity)
Which of the following statements regarding the Regulating Act of 1773 is/are correct?
It was the first parliamentary ratification defining the East India Company’s powers in India
It created the office of Governor-General of Bengal
It established the Supreme Court at Calcutta
It was passed partly due to the severe financial crisis of the East India Company
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
a) 1, 2 and 3 only
b) 2, 3 and 4 only
c) 1, 3 and 4 only
d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
Consider the following features of the Indian Constitution that were borrowed from the Government of India Act, 1935:
Federal Scheme
Office of Governor
Emergency Provisions
Dyarchy in States
Which of the above features were NOT adopted in the Indian Constitution?
a) 1 and 2 only
b) 4 only
c) 3 and 4 only
d) 2 and 3 only
The Dual System of Administration introduced by Robert Clive in Bengal after the Battle of Buxar was characterized by:
a) The Company having Diwani rights and the Nawab having Nizamat rights, though both powers were actually vested with the Company
b) The Company and the Nawab sharing both Diwani and Nizamat rights equally
c) The Company having Nizamat rights and the Nawab having Diwani rights
d) The Mughal Emperor controlling administration while the Company collected revenue
Which of the following was NOT a reason for the British Parliament to intervene in the affairs of the East India Company through the Regulating Act of 1773?
a) Allegations of corruption and nepotism against Company officials
b) The terrible famine in Bengal where a huge population perished
c) The Company’s desire to expand its territorial control to South India
d) The East India Company’s severe financial crisis requiring a loan from the British government
With reference to the Constitution of India, consider the following statements:
The Constituent Assembly was formed based on the Cabinet Mission Plan of 1946
The Constitution originally contained 395 Articles divided into 22 Parts
The Constitution was implemented on 26th November 1949
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
a) 1 and 2 only
b) 2 and 3 only
c) 1 and 3 only
d) 1, 2 and 3
Consider the following statements about the Constitution of India:
Originally, it contained a Preamble, 395 Articles and 8 Schedules
Currently, it consists of a Preamble, about 470 Articles and 12 Schedules
The vastness of the Constitution is partly attributed to the influence of the Government of India Act, 1935
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
a) 1 and 2 only
b) 2 and 3 only
c) 1 and 3 only
d) 1, 2 and 3
Which of the following is NOT typically considered a federal feature of the Indian Constitution?
a) Written Constitution
b) Division of powers between the Union and States
c) Single citizenship for all Indians
d) Independent judiciary with the Supreme Court at the apex
Article 129 of the Indian Constitution provides which of the following powers to the Supreme Court of India?
a) Power to review its own judgments
b) Power to transfer cases from High Courts
c) Power to punish for contempt of itself
d) Power to advise the President on constitutional matters
Match List I (Schedule of the Constitution) with List II (Subject Matter):
List I:
A. Seventh Schedule
B. Eighth Schedule
C. Sixth Schedule
D. Fourth Schedule
List II:
Languages recognized by the Constitution
Allocation of seats in the Rajya Sabha
Administration of tribal areas in Northeastern states
Division of powers (Union List, State List, Concurrent List)
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
a) A-4, B-1, C-3, D-2
b) A-1, B-4, C-2, D-3
c) A-4, B-1, C-2, D-3
d) A-1, B-4, C-3, D-2
Which of the following constitutional provisions and their sources is correctly matched?
a) Parliamentary system of government – American Constitution
b) Fundamental Rights – British Constitution
c) Federal structure with a strong center – Canadian Constitution
d) Directive Principles of State Policy – French Constitution
Answers and Explanations
Answer 1: d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
The Regulating Act of 1773 was indeed the first parliamentary act defining the East India Company’s powers regarding Indian possessions. It established the position of Governor-General of Bengal with Warren Hastings as the first Governor-General. The Act also established a Supreme Court at Calcutta. The legislation was passed partly because the East India Company was in severe financial crisis and had requested a loan of 1 million pounds from the British government in 1772, making all four statements correct.
Answer 2: b) 4 only
The Constitution of India borrowed several features from the Government of India Act, 1935, including the Federal Scheme, Office of Governor, and Emergency Provisions. However, the system of Dyarchy in provinces/states, which had been introduced by the Government of India Act, 1919 and continued in a modified form in the 1935 Act, was not adopted in the Indian Constitution. Therefore, only option 4 is not a feature that was adopted.
Answer 3: a) The Company having Diwani rights and the Nawab having Nizamat rights, though both powers were actually vested with the Company
After the Battle of Buxar in 1764, the East India Company received Diwani rights (revenue collection) from the Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II in 1765. Under the Dual System introduced by Robert Clive, the Nawab retained Nizamat functions (administration, law and order), but in practice, the Company exercised control over both aspects while maintaining a facade of Mughal rule, thereby reducing the Nawab to a mere figurehead.
Answer 4: c) The Company’s desire to expand its territorial control to South India
The British Parliament intervened through the Regulating Act of 1773 primarily due to three main factors: allegations of corruption and oppression by Company officials in India; the terrible Bengal famine of 1770 that killed approximately one-third of Bengal’s population; and the East India Company’s severe financial crisis that required a loan from the British government. The Company’s territorial ambitions in South India were not a direct factor prompting this particular parliamentary intervention.
Answer 5: a) 1 and 2 only
The Constituent Assembly of India was indeed formed based on the Cabinet Mission Plan of 1946, which provided the framework for India’s constitutional discussions. The Constitution as originally adopted contained 395 Articles divided into 22 Parts. However, while the Constitution was adopted on 26th November 1949, it was actually implemented (came into force) on 26th January 1950, making the third statement incorrect.
Answer 6: d) 1, 2 and 3
When originally adopted in 1949, the Constitution contained a Preamble, 395 Articles divided into 22 Parts, and 8 Schedules. Currently, after numerous amendments, it consists of a Preamble, about 470 Articles divided into 25 Parts, and 12 Schedules. The comprehensive and detailed nature of the Indian Constitution is indeed partly attributed to the influence of the Government of India Act, 1935, which was itself a very bulky document. All three statements are therefore correct.
Answer 7: c) Single citizenship for all Indians
A written constitution, division of powers between different levels of government, and an independent judiciary are all considered essential features of a federal system. However, single citizenship is not typically considered a federal feature. In fact, most classical federations like the USA have dual citizenship (national and state). India’s single citizenship is actually considered a unitary feature of the Constitution that promotes national integration.
Answer 8: c) Power to punish for contempt of itself
Article 129 of the Indian Constitution states: “The Supreme Court shall be a court of record and shall have all the powers of such a court including the power to punish for contempt of itself.” This provision gives the Supreme Court the authority to punish those who disobey its orders or show disrespect toward its authority, an essential power for maintaining judicial dignity and ensuring compliance with its judgments.
Answer 9: a) A-4, B-1, C-3, D-2
The Seventh Schedule (A) contains the three lists that divide legislative powers between the Union and States: Union List, State List, and Concurrent List. The Eighth Schedule (B) lists the languages officially recognized by the Constitution (currently 22 languages). The Sixth Schedule (C) contains provisions for the administration of tribal areas in the northeastern states of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram. The Fourth Schedule (D) deals with the allocation of seats in the Rajya Sabha to the states and union territories.
Answer 10: c) Federal structure with a strong center – Canadian Constitution
India’s federal structure with a strong center (often described as “quasi-federal”) was inspired by the Canadian Constitution, which also establishes a federal system with greater powers to the central government. The parliamentary system of government was borrowed from the British Constitution, Fundamental Rights were influenced by the US Constitution, and Directive Principles of State Policy were inspired by the Irish Constitution, not the French Constitution.