PSC Chronicles Team

Rajya Sabha cannot reject or amend a Money Bill. It can only make recommendations which the Lok Sabha may or may not accept. The Money Bill must be returned within 14 days. Options A, B, and D are powers granted to Rajya Sabha under Articles 249, 252, and 312 respectively.

The 14th Finance Commission considered constitutional provisions, fiscal concerns of both Centre and States, and clarity on functional responsibilities. Differential aspirations of state populations was not a primary factor in determining vertical devolution of resources.

When the composition shifts from grants (which are often tied/conditional) to tax devolution (which is unconditional), it increases the share of unconditional transfers to States, giving them more fiscal autonomy.

Studies have shown a negative relationship between redistributive transfers and economic outcomes in India, suggesting that higher transfers don’t necessarily lead to better economic performance in recipient states.

Under the rationalization of CSS, ‘core of the core’ schemes are those related to social protection and social inclusion, which are considered essential for welfare and cannot be reduced.

Competitive sub-federalism refers to states competing against each other to achieve better developmental outcomes, attract investments, and implement better governance practices.

Universal Basic Income (UBI) has been proposed as a radical solution to overcome targeting errors and leakages in welfare schemes by providing a fixed income to all citizens regardless of their status.

The Inter State Council was established in 1990 based on the recommendations of the Sarkaria Commission (1983-88) which examined Centre-State relations.

The Sarkaria Commission (1983-88) first recommended the concept of ‘Cooperative Federalism’ in its report on Centre-State relations.

The M.M. Punchhi Commission recommended introducing a provision for impeachment of the Governor by the State Legislature to ensure accountability.

APFAMGS is based on participatory groundwater management where rules are set by the farmers (users) themselves, not imposed by outsiders, following Elinor Ostrom’s principles of common pool resource management.

The Constituent Assembly of India was formed based on the recommendations of the Cabinet Mission Plan of 1946.

Not allowing loudspeakers in a religious procession may violate Article 25 (Freedom of Religion) if done unreasonably. Banning books can be justified under reasonable restrictions, minimum wages are statutory rights, and prohibiting secession is constitutional.

VVPAT (Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail) was first used on an experimental basis in the Noksen Assembly by-election in Nagaland in September 2013.

Pocket veto refers to the President’s power to keep a bill pending indefinitely without giving assent or returning it. Unlike the US, the Indian Constitution doesn’t prescribe a time limit for the President to act on a bill.

e-Kranti (Electronic Delivery of Services) is the Government of India’s mission for electronic delivery of all government services, launched as part of Digital India programme.

GeM (Government e-Marketplace) is the one-stop online marketplace for procurement of goods and services by government organizations and PSUs.

According to the National Judicial Data Grid data from April 2017, approximately 65% of cases in Indian courts were pending for more than two years.

In 2016, the Supreme Court invoked Article 142 in the case regarding ban on liquor shops near State and National Highways, issuing directions to prohibit sale of liquor within 500 meters of highways.

Under the Citizenship Act 1955, citizenship can be acquired by birth, descent, registration, naturalization, or incorporation of territory. Ethnic identity is not a criterion for citizenship.