Answer: C

Explanation:

A new Article 43B titled "Encouragement of Co-operative Societies" was inserted in Part 4 of the Constitution by the 97th Amendment (2011). Under this article, the State is directed to take steps to promote co-operative societies and regulate their activities. Hence, option (c) is correct.

Answer: C

Explanation:

The Public Accounts Committee was established in 1921 under the Government of India Act, 1919 and is still in existence. At present, it consists of 22 members (15 from Lok Sabha and 7 from Rajya Sabha). Parliament selects them every year from among its members through transferable vote on the basis of single transferability principle. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

In this way, all parties are represented in it and the tenure of the members is one year. No minister can be elected as its member. The chairman of the committee is elected by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha from among its members. Till 1966-67, the chairman of the committee was from the ruling party, however from 1967, the tradition started that the chairman of the committee should be elected from the opposition party. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

The function of the committee is to examine the annual report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), which the President places before Parliament. The Comptroller and Auditor General submits three audit reports to the President, namely, Audit Report on Appropriation Accounts, Audit Report on Finance Accounts and Audit Report on Government Undertakings. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

Answer: A

Explanation:

The origin of the Estimates Committee can be seen from the formation of the Standing Financial Committee in 1921. After independence, the first such committee was constituted in 1950 on the recommendation of the then Finance Minister John Mathai. Originally it had 25 members but in 1956 its number was increased to 30. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

All its 30 members are from Lok Sabha. Rajya Sabha has no representation in this committee. The members of the committee are elected every year from among the members of the Lok Sabha. For this also, transferable vote is used on the basis of single transferable principle. Thus, all political parties get representation in it. The tenure of members is one year. No minister can be elected a member of the committee. 56 The Chairman of the Committee is elected by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha from among its members and the Chairman is from the ruling party. Hence, statement 2 is incorrect.

Answer: A

Explanation:

According to Article 76 (1) of the Constitution of India, the President appoints the Attorney General in his discretion. The President can appoint any person as Attorney General, whether he is a member of Parliament or not. The Attorney General must be a citizen of India and must be qualified to be a judge in a High Court. The tenure of the Attorney General is during the pleasure of the President. The Attorney General can also resign voluntarily. The powers of the Attorney General include advising the Government of India on legal matters, conducting prosecutions of the Government of India, representing the Government of India in the Supreme Court and High Courts and advising the President on legal issues. Hence, pair 1 is not correctly matched.

Article 53 is an important article of the Constitution of India which deals with the executive power of the Union. This article confers executive power on the President and specifies the manner in which this power is to be exercised. Hence, pair 2 is not correctly matched.

Under Article 72 of the Indian Constitution, the President has the power to grant pardon, commutation of sentence or cancellation of sentence. The President can grant pardon at will, without any consultation. The decision to grant pardon is discretionary and not subject to judicial review. The President can grant pardon for any offence, no matter how serious. The power to grant pardon cannot be used to interfere with the judicial process. Hence, pair 3 is correctly matched.

Answer: B

Explanation:

According to Article 267 of the Indian Constitution, Contingency Fund is a fund created by the Government of India to meet unexpected and unplanned expenditure. According to Article 267(1), money can be withdrawn from this fund only through an Appropriation Act passed by the Parliament. According to Article 267(2), the President can, with his consent, authorize Parliament to withdraw money from the Contingency Fund. The Prime Minister and the Finance Minister do not have the power to withdraw money from the Contingency Fund. Hence, option (b) is correct.