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NEXUS / 2024 / GS1
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UPSC 2024: Nexus 71—80

Constitutional Architecture, Defence Operations, and Institutional Geography. [Set A]

Question 71

Electoral Framework

How many Delimitation Commissions have been constituted by the Government of India till December 2023?

  • (a) One
  • (b) Two
  • (c) Three
  • (d) Four

Official Verdict: (d) Four

The Core Concept: Under Article 82 of the Constitution, Parliament enacts a Delimitation Act after every census to redraw the boundaries of parliamentary and assembly constituencies. Historically, Delimitation Commissions have been constituted exactly four times: in 1952, 1963, 1973, and 2002. Following the 84th Amendment Act (2001), the total number of Lok Sabha seats was frozen until the first census after 2026, meaning no new nationwide commission has been formed since 2002.

Tethered to: REALM 131: Elections & Delimitation

1952 1963 1973 2002 Total: 4 Commissions
EIGHTH SCHEDULE 1. Konkani ✅ 2. Manipuri ✅ 3. Nepali ✅ 4. Maithili ❌ (92nd CAA) 71st Amendment Act (1992)

Question 72

Official Languages

The Constitution (71st Amendment) Act, 1992 amends the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution to include which of the following languages?

  1. Konkani
  2. Manipuri
  3. Nepali
  4. Maithili

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Official Verdict: (a) 1, 2 and 3

The Core Concept: The Eighth Schedule originally contained 14 languages. Sindhi was added by the 21st Amendment (1967). The 71st Amendment Act (1992) added exactly three languages: Konkani, Manipuri, and Nepali. A subsequent amendment—the 92nd Amendment Act (2003)—added four more: Bodo, Dogri, Maithili, and Santhali. Therefore, Maithili (4) was not part of the 1992 amendment.

Tethered to: REALM 30: Constitutional Amendments & Schedules

Question 73

Post-Independence Political History

Consider the following pairs: Party : Its Leader

  • 1. Bharatiya Jana Sangh: Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee
  • 2. Socialist Party: C. Rajagopalachari
  • 3. Congress for Democracy: Jagjivan Ram
  • 4. Swatantra Party: Acharya Narendra Dev

How many of the above are correctly matched?

Official Verdict: (b) Only two

The Core Concept: This is a cross-matching trap. Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee famously founded the Bharatiya Jana Sangh in 1951 (Pair 1 is true). Jagjivan Ram launched the Congress for Democracy (CFD) in 1977 after resigning from Indira Gandhi's cabinet during the Emergency (Pair 3 is true). However, Pairs 2 and 4 are swapped: C. Rajagopalachari was the visionary founder of the classical liberal Swatantra Party, while Acharya Narendra Dev was the towering patriarch of the Socialist Party (Congress Socialist Party). Exactly two pairs match.

Tethered to: REALM 35: Post-Independence Consolidation

PARTY FOUNDERS Jana Sangh S.P. Mukherjee ✅ Congress for Dem. Jagjivan Ram ✅ Socialist Party C. Rajagopalachari ❌ Swatantra Party Acharya N. Dev ❌ (Leaders for 2 & 4 are swapped)
CONSTITUTION PARTS Part IX A Municipalities ✅ Part XVIII Emergency ✅ Part XX Amendment ✅

Question 74

Constitutional Architecture

Which of the following statements are correct about the Constitution of India?

  1. Powers of the Municipalities are given in Part IX A of the Constitution.
  2. Emergency provisions are given in Part XVIII of the Constitution.
  3. Provisions related to the amendment of the Constitution are given in Part XX of the Constitution.

Select the answer using the code given below:

Official Verdict: (d) 1, 2 and 3

The Core Concept: All three statements map perfectly to the structural organization of the Indian Constitution. The 74th Amendment Act added Part IX A, which comprehensively deals with Municipalities (Articles 243P to 243ZG) (1 is true). Part XVIII contains the Emergency Provisions encompassing National, State, and Financial emergencies (Articles 352 to 360) (2 is true). Part XX contains a single article (Article 368) which dictates the power and procedure for Constitutional Amendments (3 is true).

Tethered to: REALM 30: Parts & Schedules of Constitution

Question 75

Federal Division of Powers

Which one of the following statements is correct as per the Constitution of India?

  • (a) Inter-State trade and commerce is a State subject under the State List.
  • (b) Inter-State migration is a State subject under the State List.
  • (c) Inter-State quarantine is a Union subject under the Union List.
  • (d) Corporation tax is a State subject under the State List.

Official Verdict: (c) Inter-State quarantine is a Union subject under the Union List.

The Core Concept: The Seventh Schedule strictly divides legislative powers. Any subject involving "Inter-State" (across state borders) operations inherently falls under the central government's purview to ensure national uniformity. Inter-State trade and commerce (Entry 42), Inter-State migration (Entry 81), and Inter-State quarantine (Entry 81) are all expressly listed in the Union List (List I). Corporation tax (Entry 85) is also an exclusive Union List subject, making options (a), (b), and (d) factually false.

Tethered to: REALM 57: Seventh Schedule (Lists)

UNION LIST (List I) Entry 42: Inter-State Trade (Not State) Entry 85: Corporation Tax (Not State) Entry 81: Inter-State Quarantine ✅
ARTICLE 21 (Life & Liberty) RIGHT TO PRIVACY Puttaswamy Judgement (2017)

Question 76

Fundamental Rights

Under which of the following Articles of the Constitution of India, has the Supreme Court placed the Right to Privacy?

  • (a) Article 15
  • (b) Article 16
  • (c) Article 19
  • (d) Article 21

Official Verdict: (d) Article 21

The Core Concept: In the landmark unanimous decision by a nine-judge Supreme Court bench in Justice K.S. Puttaswamy v. Union of India (2017), the Right to Privacy was formally declared a Fundamental Right. The Court explicitly ruled that privacy is an intrinsic, inseparable part of the Right to Life and Personal Liberty guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution.

Tethered to: REALM 37: Article 21 & Supreme Court Rulings

Question 77

Higher Defence Organization

What are the duties of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) as Head of the Department of Military Affairs?

  1. Permanent Chairman of Chiefs of Staff Committee
  2. Exercise military command over the three Service Chiefs
  3. Principal Military Advisor to Defence Minister on all tri-service matters

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Official Verdict: (d) 1 and 3 only

The Core Concept: The CDS was created to achieve jointness and synergy among the armed forces. The CDS serves as the Permanent Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee (1 is true) and acts as the Principal Military Advisor to the Defence Minister on all tri-service matters (3 is true). Crucially, to maintain the operational autonomy of the branches, the CDS is strictly "first among equals" and does not exercise any direct military command over the three Service Chiefs (Army, Navy, Air Force), who continue to command their respective forces (2 is false).

Tethered to: REALM 149: National Security Architecture

Defence Minister CDS Advisor (3) ✅ Chairman (1) ✅ Army Navy Air Force No Military Command (2) ❌
OP SADBHAVANA Army Civic Action (J&K / Ladakh)

Question 78

Internal Security Initiatives

Operations undertaken by the Army towards upliftment of the local population in remote areas to include addressing of their basic needs is called:

  • (a) Operation Sankalp
  • (b) Operation Maitri
  • (c) Operation Sadbhavana
  • (d) Operation Madad

Official Verdict: (c) Operation Sadbhavana

The Core Concept: Operation Sadbhavana (Goodwill) is a unique, long-running humane initiative launched by the Indian Army in Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. Its goal is to "win hearts and minds" by addressing the aspirations of the local civilian population affected by terrorism through massive civic action programs—building schools, medical camps, women empowerment centers, and local infrastructure. (Operation Maitri was the 2015 Nepal earthquake rescue; Operation Madad was the 2018 Kerala floods rescue).

Tethered to: REALM 159: Military Humanitarian Operations

Question 79

Global Geography

The longest border between any two countries in the world is between:

  • (a) Canada and the United States of America
  • (b) Chile and Argentina
  • (c) China and India
  • (d) Kazakhstan and Russian Federation

Official Verdict: (a) Canada and the United States of America

The Core Concept: The international border between Canada and the United States of America is the longest contiguous and non-contiguous terrestrial border in the world. It spans a massive 8,891 kilometers (5,525 miles) across two distinct sections: the primary southern border traversing the North American continent, and the western border separating the Canadian Yukon from the US state of Alaska.

Tethered to: REALM 61: Global Landform & Boundaries Atlas

CANADA USA 8,891 km (Longest) ✅
ETHICS CMTE Ad-hoc (2000) → Permanent (2015) ✅ Active Court Case Cannot take up ✅ Any Person (if routed via MP) "Only an MP" is False ❌

Question 80

Parliamentary Committees

Which of the following statements about the Ethics Committee in the Lok Sabha are correct?

  1. Initially it was an ad-hoc Committee.
  2. Only a Member of the Lok Sabha can make a complaint relating to unethical conduct of a member of the Lok Sabha.
  3. This Committee cannot take up any matter which is sub-judice.

Select the answer using the code given below:

Official Verdict: (c) 1 and 3 only

The Core Concept: The Ethics Committee was first constituted in 2000 as an ad-hoc body and only became a permanent standing committee in 2015 (1 is true). It adheres to strict parliamentary norms, meaning it cannot investigate matters currently pending before the courts (sub-judice) (3 is true). Statement 2 is a technical trap: the rules explicitly state that any person can make a complaint against an MP's unethical conduct, provided that the complaint is forwarded/sponsored by another Member of the Lok Sabha. It is not restricted "only" to MPs initiating the complaint.

Tethered to: REALM 137: Parliamentary Committees