UPSC Required: Daily Subject-Wise Quiz | Politics and Governance MCQs (Week 89) on POSH Act, Simultaneous Elections & More | UPSC Current Affairs News

1. The POSH Act requires only public workplaces and not private workplaces to constitute an Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) to hear complaints of sexual harassment.

2. The definition of “workplace” is not defined in the POSH Act.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

explanation

– The Supreme Court heard a PIL seeking the application of the Sexual Harassment of Women at the Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 (POSH Act) to political parties.

– The court directed the petitioner, advocate Yogamaya MG, to first approach the Election Commission of India (ECI) as the competent authority to “enforce recognized political parties for the creation of an internal mechanism to address complaints of sexual harassment.” As per the provisions of the POSH Act.

– The POSH Act mandates Both public and private workplaces Establishing an Internal Allegation Committee (ICC) to hear allegations of sexual harassment. The petition states that when it comes to political parties, “the presence of Internal Complaints Committees (ICCs) to address sexual harassment is inconsistent”. Therefore, statement 1 is not correct.

– According to Section 3(1) of POS Act, “No woman shall be sexually harassed in the workplace”. It immediately states how the POSH Act will apply: in the workplace, and only if the victim is a woman.

– The meaning of “workplace” in the POSH Act is wide. It includes public sector organizations, institutions, and similar private sector organizations, hospitals, nursing homes “established, owned, controlled, or wholly or substantially financed by funds provided directly or indirectly by the appropriate government”. , sports venues, homes, and even places visited by an employee “in the course of employment.” Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

Question 2

With reference to the Railways (Amendment) Bill, 2024, consider the following statements:

1. The Bill seeks to repeal the Indian Railway Board Act, 1905.

2. The Bill proposes to create a separate new Board instead of the Railway Board.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

explanation

– On Wednesday (December 13), the Lok Sabha passed the Railways (Amendment) Bill, 2024, despite heated debate between the government and the opposition in Parliament.

– The Bill seeks to repeal the Indian Railway Board Act, 1905 and integrate its provisions into the Railways Act, 1989. Although the wording of the new law drew little criticism, many lawmakers expressed concern that the bill did not address broader railway issues such as safety. vacancies, and decentralization of control at regional and divisional levels.

– While the Act of 1890 was repealed with the passing of the Railway Act in 1989, the Railway Board Act of 1905 remained in effect, and the Chairman and members of the Board were appointed under this statute.

– The government claims that the new bill has simplified the law by incorporating the Railway Board (1905 Act) into the Railway Act. They claimed that this would eliminate the need to mention in two Acts. The Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha on August 9, 2024. Therefore, statement 1 is correct.

– The Bill amends Section 2 of the Railways Act, 1989 and adds a new Chapter IA relating to Railway Boards. It confers special powers on the Railway Board “as may be prescribed by the Central Government”.

– It states that the Center may delegate to the Railway Board all or any of the powers or functions of the Central Government under this Act in relation to all or any railways, either unconditionally or subject to restrictions.

– In addition, the chairman and members of the board of directors appointed under the 1905 Act shall be deemed to have been appointed under this Act. The Railway Board currently exists, and the Bill does not propose to constitute a new board or body. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

Question 3

Currently, which of the following legislative assembly elections are held along with the Lok Sabha elections?

1. Tamil Nadu

2. Meghalaya

3. Odisha

4. Manipur

5. Sikkim

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

(a) 1 and 4 only

(b) 3 and 5 only

(c) 1, 3 and 4 only

(d) 2, 3, 4 and 5

explanation

– The Union Cabinet approved the introduction of two Bills, one to make the terms of the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies concurrent, and the other to make similar amendments for the Assemblies of Delhi and other Union Territories.

– Until about 1967, Lok Sabha and Assembly elections were held simultaneously; After that, the electoral cycle began to vary as many legislatures were dissolved before the end of their terms.

– At present, elections to the assemblies of Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Odisha, and Sikkim occur simultaneously with the Lok Sabha elections.

– “The main issue highlighted by them is that the simultaneous conduct of elections requires the purchase of large quantities of Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines. To conduct simultaneous elections, the Commission has allocated a total of Rs 9,284.15 for the purchase of EVMs and VVPATs.” It is expected that crores of rupees will be required. The machines will also need to be replaced every 15 years. Moreover, storing these machines will increase the cost. ” said the committee’s report.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

Question 4

The State shall provide free and compulsory education to all children between the ages of 6 and 14 years as determined by the State Law.

Which article does the above statement refer to?

(a) Section 21

(b) Article 21(A)

(c) Section 45

(d) Article 16(4)

explanation

– Article 21A The Constitution of India provides for the right to education.

– The State shall provide free and compulsory education to all children between the ages of six and fourteen as determined by law.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

(source: Constitution of India)

Question 5

Consider the following statements:

1. Article 341(1) of the Constitution empowers the President to “designate the castes, castes or tribes or groups within castes, castes or tribes to be considered Scheduled Castes for the purposes of this Constitution”. .

2. Section 3 of the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950 (Scheduled Castes Order) states that “No person professing a religion other than Hinduism, Sikhism or Buddhism shall be deemed to be a member of a Scheduled Caste.”.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

explanation

– The Supreme Court on Monday (December 9) verbally said that “there can be no reservation on the basis of religion”. Justices BR Gavai and KV Viswanathan were hearing an appeal against the Calcutta High Court judgment in May to overturn the reservation given to 77 sections of the predominantly Muslim community under the Other Backward Classes Quota (OBC).

— On November 26, the Supreme Court refused to accept a woman’s Scheduled Caste (SC) classification, citing her and her family’s conversion to Christianity.

– These events have brought the relationship between religion and reservation into prominence. Since the promulgation of the Indian Constitution in 1950, both the Center and the Supreme Court have tried to clarify the extent to which religion can be used to provide the benefits of reservation.

– The President has the power under Article 341(1) of this Constitution to “specify castes, castes or tribes or sections or groups within castes, castes or tribes to be regarded as Scheduled Castes for the purposes of this Constitution”. Constitution. Shortly after the Constitution came into force, the President promulgated the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950 (Scheduled Castes Order), which lists the Scheduled Caste communities in each state. Therefore, statement 1 is correct.

– Importantly, Clause 3 of the Order states that “No person professing a religion other than Hinduism, Sikhism or Buddhism shall be deemed to be a member of a Scheduled Caste”. The order was initially limited to Hindus, but was later expanded to include SC Hindus who converted to Sikhism (in 1956) and Buddhism (in 1990). Hence, statement 2 is correct.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

Previous Daily Topic-Topic-Quiz

Daily Topic-Wise Quiz – History, Culture, and Social Issues (Week 89)

Daily Topical Quiz – Politics and Governance (Week 88)

Daily Thematic Quiz – Science and Technology (Week 88)

Daily Thematic Quiz — Environment and Geography (Week 88)

Daily Topical Quiz — Economics (Week 88)

Daily Topic Quiz – International Relations (Week 88)

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