The Parliament had passed the Forest Rights Act in 2006. This law gave back to traditional forest dwellers their rights to access, manage and govern forest lands and resources within village boundaries, which had been controlled by the forest department since colonial times.

In other words, the Forest Rights Act 2006 recognizes the rights of forest-dwelling Scheduled Tribes (STs) and other traditional forest-dwellers.

The law made the gram sabha the statutory body for managing forestlands, and protecting them. It provides that no activity should be carried out in these forests until individual and community claims over them have been settled.

73^rd Amendment Act

• This act added a new Part-IX to the Constitution of India. It is entitled as ‘The Panchayats’ and consists of provisions from Articles 243 to 243 O. In addition, the act has also added a new Eleventh Schedule to the Constitution.
• The act has given a practical shape to Article 40 of the Constitution which says that, “The State shall take steps to organise village panchayats and endow them with such powers and authority as may be necessary to enable them to function as units of self-government.” This article forms a part of the Directive Principles of State Policy.
• The act gives a constitutional status to the panchayati raj institutions. It has brought them under the purview of the justiciable part of the Constitution.
• In other words, the state governments are under constitutional obligation to adopt the new panchayati raj system in accordance with the provisions of the act.
• Consequently, neither the formation of panchayats nor the holding of elections at regular intervals depend on the will of the state government any more.

According to the 73^rd Amendment Act – the state governments are under constitutional obligation to adopt the new panchayati raj system. Neither the formation of panchayats nor the holding of elections at regular intervals depend on the will of the state government any more.

All the members of panchayats at the village, intermediate and district levels shall be elected directly by the people. Further, the chairperson of panchayats at the intermediate and district levels shall be elected indirectly—by and from amongst the elected members thereof. However, the chairperson of a panchayat at the village level shall be elected in such manner as the state legislature determines.

73rd Constitutional Amendment Act (1992) provided compulsory (obligatory or mandatory) and voluntary (discretionary or optional) provisions.

Compulsory provisions include –

1. Organisation of Gram Sabha in a village or group of villages.
2. Establishment of panchayats at the village, intermediate and district levels.
3. Direct elections to all seats in panchayats at the village, intermediate and district levels.
4. Indirect elections to the post of chairperson of panchayats at the intermediate and district levels.
5. 21 years to be the minimum age for contesting elections to panchayats.
6. Reservation of seats (both members and chairpersons) for SCs and STs in panchayats at all the three levels.
7. Reservation of one-third seats (both members and chairpersons) for women in panchayats at all the three levels.
8. Fixing tenure of five years for panchayats at all levels and holding fresh elections within six months in the event of supersession of any panchayat.
9. Establishment of a State Election Commission for conducting elections to the panchayats.
10. Constitution of a State Finance Commission after every five years to review the financial position of the panchayats.

The Governor constitutes a state finance commission after every five years to review the financial position of the panachayats.

The state legislature provides for the composition of the state finance commission, the required qualifications of its members and the manner of their selection.

The governor place the recommendations of the commission along with the action taken report before the state legislature.

The state legislature makes provisions with respect to the maintenance of accounts by the panchayats and the auditing of such accounts. Hence, statement (2) is wrong.

The objectives of the PESA Act are as follows:

1. To extend the provisions of Part IX of the Constitution relating to the panchayats to the scheduled areas with certain modifications (not Part XI)
2. To provide self-rule for the bulk of the tribal population
3. To have village governance with participatory democracy and to make the gram sabha a nucleus of all activities
4. To evolve a suitable administrative framework consistent with traditional practices
5. To safeguard and to preserve the traditions and customs of tribal communities
6. To empower panchayats at the appropriate levels with specific powers conducive to tribal requirements
7. To prevent panchayats at the higher level from assuming the powers and authority of panchayats at the lower level of the gram sabha

The subject of ‘Local Government’ is mentioned in the State List under the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution.

Viceroy, Lord Ripon, is known as ‘Magna Carta’ or ‘Father’ of Local Self Government in India.

Lord Ripon is known to have granted the Indians first taste of freedom by introducing the Local Self Government in 1882. His scheme of local self government developed the Municipal institutions which had been growing up in the country ever since India was occupied by the British Crown.

Both the given statements are correct, however question asks for not correct statements. Hence, (d) none is the correct answer.

Election commission is not concerned with the elections to panchayats and muncipalities in the states. For this, the Constitution of India provides for a separate State Election Commission.

The superintendence, direction and control of the preparation of electoral rolls and the conduct of all elections to the municipalities shall be vested in the state election commission. The state legislature may make provision with respect to all matters relating to elections to the municipalities.

The President can remove the chairman or any other member of UPSC from the office under the following circumstances: (without referring the matter to the Supreme Court)

• If he is adjudged an insolvent (that is, has gone bankrupt);
• If he engages, during his term of office, in any paid employment outside the duties of his office; or
• If he is, in the opinion of the president, unfit to continue in office by reason of infirmity of mind or body.

In addition to these, the president can also remove the chairman or any other member of UPSC for misbehaviour. However, in this case, the president has to refer the matter to the Supreme Court for an enquiry.

Constitution states that the chairman or any other member of the UPSC is deemed to be guilty of misbehaviour if he

• is concerned or interested in any contract or agreement made by the Government of India or the government of a state, or
• participates in any way in the profit of such contract or agreement or in any benefit therefrom otherwise than as a member and in common with other members of an incorporated company.

CAG

• Is appointed by President by warrant under his hand and seal
• Holds the office for 6 years or upto the age of 65 years whichever is earlier.
• Can resign anytime from his office addressing letter to President.
• Can be removed by President on same grounds and in same manner as a judge of S.C. i.e., on the basis of the resolution passed by both the houses with special majority, either on the grounds of proved misbehavior or incapacity.

Only adult villagers who have the right to vote can be member of Gram Sabha. Persons below 18 years of age can’t become members.

Gram Sabha plays a supervisory and monitoring role over Gram Panchayat by approving it plan of work.

Gram Sabha form committees like construction, animal husbandry, etc to carry out some specific tasks.

The Gram Panchayat has a Secretary who is also the Secretary of the Gram Sabha. This person is not an elected person but is appointed by the government. The Secretary is responsible for calling the meeting of the Gram Sabha and Gram Panchayat and keeping a record of the proceedings.

The system of urban government was constitutionalised through the 74th Constitutional Amendment Act of 1992. At the Central level, the subject of ‘urban local government’ is dealt with by the following three ministries:

• Ministry of Urban Development, created as a separate ministry in 1985
• Ministry of Defence in the case of cantonment boards
• Ministry of Home Affairs in the case of Union Territories

The all-India services are common to the entire territory of India and officers chosen for these services serve in the administration of the States. Thus, an IAS officer who becomes the collector or an IPS officer who serves as the Commissioner of Police, are under the control of the central government.

Hence, States cannot take disciplinary action nor can they remove these officers from service.

The commission presents an annual report to the President (not Parliament) upon their working.

The functions of the National Commission for SCs are:

1. To investigate and monitor all matters relating to the constitutional and other legal safeguards for the SCs and to evaluate their working;
2. To inquire into specific complaints with respect to the deprivation of rights and safeguards of the SCs;
3. To participate and advise on the planning process of socio-economic development of the SCs and to evaluate the progress of their development under the Union or a state; and so on.

The Central government and the state governments are required to consult the Commission on all major policy matters affecting the SCs.

The Commission is also required to discharge similar functions with regard to the other backward classes (OBCs) and the Anglo-Indian Community as it does with respect to the SCs. In other words, the Commission has to investigate all matters relating to the constitutional and other legal safeguards for the OBCs and the Anglo-Indian Community and report to the President upon their working.

Only in the case of Finance Commission, Constitution of India has authorised the Parliament to determine the qualifications for the commission’s membership.

Accordingly, the Parliament has specified the qualifications of the chairman and members of the commission. The chairman should be a person having experience in public affairs and the four other members should be selected from amongst the following:

1. A judge of high court or one qualified to be appointed as one.
2. A person who has specialised knowledge of finance and accounts of the government.
3. A person who has wide experience in financial matters and in administration.
4. A person who has special knowledge of economics.

A cantonment board is established for municipal administration for civilian population in the cantonment area.

It is set up under the provisions of the Cantonments Act of 2006—a legislation enacted by the Central government. It works under the administrative control of the defence ministry of the Central government.

Thus, unlike the other four types of urban local bodies (i.e., Municipal Corporation, Municipality, Notified Area Committee and Town Area Committee) which are created and administered by the state government, a cantonment board is created as well as administered by the Central government.

The functions of the UPSC can be extended by Parliament.

Attorney General is appointed by the President. He should be qualified to be a Judge of Supreme Court i.e. must be citizen of India and

• Should have been Judge of some High court for atleast 5 years
• Or should have been an advocate of some High court for atleast 10 years
• Or eminent jurist in the eyes of the President

Under article 76, impeachment procedure of Attorney-General is not provided. He shall hold office during the pleasure of the President. He must not be a member of either House of Parliament.

The executive officer of the cantonment board is appointed by the president of India. He implements all the resolutions and decisions of the board and its committees. He belongs to the central cadre established for the purpose.

Advocate General

• The advocate general is appointed by the governor.
• The Constitution does not contain the procedure and grounds for his removal.
• He holds office during the pleasure of the governor. This means that he may be removed by the governor at any time.
• The remuneration of the advocate general is not fixed by the Constitution. He receives such remuneration as the governor may determine.
• He enjoys all the privileges and immunities that are available to a member of the state legislature.

The Press Freedom Index is an annual ranking of countries compiled and published by Reporters Without Borders.

India-Bangladesh border in Dhubri District of Assam.

No country has used ASAT yet in a military conflict.

It is basically a ballistic missile.

D-SIB means that the bank is too big to fail. Banks whose assets exceed 2% of GDP are considered part of this group. Some banks become systemically important due to their size, cross-jurisdictional activities, complexity and lack of substitute and interconnection

India’s first real estate investment trust (REIT) has become a reality. The first REIT initial public offering (IPO) by Embassy Office Parks, a Bangalore-based real estate developer backed by Blackstone Group LP, a global private equity firm, was open for investment between March 18 and 20, 2019.

REITs are securities linked to real estate that can be traded on stock exchanges once they get listed. The structure of REITs is similar to that of a mutual fund. Just like mutual funds, there are sponsors, trustees, fund managers and unit holders in REITs. However, unlike mutual funds, where the underlying asset is bonds, stocks and gold, REITs invest in physical real estate. The money collected is deployed in income-generating real estate. This income gets distributed among the unit holders. Besides regular income from rents and leases, gains from capital appreciation of real estate also form an income for the unit holders.

In the latest amendment on 1 March 2019, Sebi reduced the minimum investment limit in REIT to ₹50,000 from ₹2 lakh. However, since Embassy Office Parks REIT IPO was filed much before the amendment, the minimum amount is above ₹2 lakh.

Marayur jiggery – Kerala

Sirsi Supari – Karnataka

Thirubhuvanam Silk – Tamil Nadu

Under the 2013 Act, the Lokpal should consist of a chairperson and such number of members, not exceeding eight, of whom 50% should be judicial members.

The Act states that not less than 50% of the members of the Lokpal should be from among persons belonging to the SCs, the STs, OBCs, minorities and women. The same rules apply members of the search committee. Salaries, allowances and service conditions of the Lokpal chairperson will be the same as those for the Chief Justice of India; those for other members will be the same as those for a judge of the Supreme Court.

If a complaint is filed against the Prime Minister, the Act says, “Lokpal shall inquire or cause an inquiry to be conducted into any matter involved in, or arising from, or connected with, any allegation of corruption made in a complaint”. However, certain conditions will apply.

OSA in short, it has its roots in the British colonial era. The original version was The Indian Official Secrets Act (Act XIV), 1889. This was brought in with the main objective of muzzling the voice of a large number of newspapers that had come up in several languages, and were opposing the Raj’s policies, building political consciousness and facing police crackdowns and prison terms. It was amended and made more stringent in the form of The Indian Official Secrets Act, 1904, during Lord Curzon’s tenure as Viceroy of India. In 1923, a newer version was notified (Lord Reading (1921-1926). The Indian Official Secrets Act (Act No XIX of 1923) was extended to all matters of secrecy and confidentiality in governance in the country.

National Common Mobility Card

It is the Indigenous Automatic Fare Collection System based on One Nation One Card Model i.e. National Common Mobility Card (NCMC).

FASER is an experiment designed to look for light and weakly interacting particles at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC).