General knowledge questions and answers for competitive exams (Part: 2)

The Constituent Assembly held its first meeting on December 9, 1946. The Muslim League boycotted the meeting and insisted on a separate state of Pakistan.

The Gopalaswami Ayyangar Committee suggested that a Minister and a Secretary should be designated solely to pursue and promote the subject of administrative reform. (2) In 1970, the Department of Personnel was constituted on the recommendation of the Administrative Reforms Commission, 1966 and placed under the charge of the Prime Minister.

The State shall not deny to any person equality before the law or the equal protection of the laws within the territory of India. The said article is clearly bifurcated – while it commands the State not to deny to any person 'equality before the law', it also commands the State not to deny to any person the equal protection of the laws. Equality before the law prohibits discrimination. It is a negative concept. The concept of 'equal protection of laws' requires the State to accord special treatment to persons in different situations in order to establish equality among all. It is positive in character.

In the case of the first session after each general election to Lok Sabha, the President addresses both Houses of Parliament assembled together after the members have made and subscribed the oath or affirmation and the Speaker has been elected. The President's Address is a solemn and formal act under the Constitution.

Statement 1 is correct. In India, the allegiance of citizens is only to the Union. There is no separate state citizenship. Also, when an Indian citizen voluntarily acquires citizenship of another country, his Indian citizenship automatically ceases. Only one domicile is permitted in India.

Constitutional government is a government which runs according to the constitution of the country. It refers to a government which is limited by the constitution which may be written or unwritten. The rules and policies of the government are limited by a constitution which describes the basic law of the land.

On 26 January 1950, India was granted the constitutional status of a 'sovereign, democratic, republic'.

The Supreme Court has recently held that the right of a citizen to own private property is a human right. Right to property is a legal right available to any person. Article 300-A provides that no person shall be deprived of his property except by authority of law.

According to Article 39 (c) of the Directive Principles of the Indian Constitution, the operation of the economic system shall not result in concentration of wealth and means of production to the general detriment. Hence, concentration of wealth violates the Directive Principles of State Policy.