Specimen Paper 1

An ordinance is called a temporary law. Which of the following statements correctly describes the same?

1. Only the Cabinet can prepare an ordinance.
2. It is issued when the Parliament is not functioning.
3. If the Parliament does not approve it within six weeks it becomes inoperative.
4. Only the President can promulgate an ordinance.

Answer

If the Parliament does not approve it within six weeks it becomes inoperative.

Given below are details of a few Indian citizens.

Select the person who fulfils the eligibility criteria to become a member of the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the Indian Parliament.

1. W
2. X
3. Y
4. Z

Answer

Y

The opposition feels that the ruling government does not have the majority in the Lok Sabha and wants to bring down the Government. Which of these motions will the Leader of the Opposition move?

1. Adjournment Motion
2. No-confidence Motion
3. Motion of Thanks
4. Censure Motion

Answer

No-confidence Motion

When the Supreme Court reviews any judgement made by it to remove an error, it falls under ............... jurisdiction.

1. Advisory
2. Revisory
3. Original
4. Appellate

Answer

Revisory

Identify the officials who form the electoral college for the Presidential elections in India.

P: elected members of Parliament

Q: nominated members of Parliament

R: elected members of State Legislative Assemblies

S: nominated members of State Legislative Councils

1. P and Q
2. R and S
3. P and R
4. Q and S

Answer

P and R

Court of District Judge : Civil Cases : : Sessions Court: ............... Cases

1. Advisory
2. Criminal
3. Constitutional
4. Appellate

Answer

Criminal

Read the two statements given below about the Civil Disobedience Movement and select the option that shows the correct relationship between (A) and (B).

(A) Gandhi's Civil Disobedience was based on engaging in dialogue and negotiation with the British.

(B) Gandhi believed that violence and aggression are counterproductive to achieve any goal.

1. (B) contradicts (A).
2. (B) is the reason for (A).
3. (A) is true but (B) is false.
4. (A) and (B) are independent of each other.

Answer

(B) is the reason for (A)

The central government of a country named X has decided to enforce a law similar to the Vernacular Press Act, which was enacted by the British in India in 1878 to control and regulate the vernacular press. Based on this information, who among the following is most likely to benefit from the enforcement of the law in X?

1. its citizens
2. the media industry
3. the opposition party
4. the ruling political party

Answer

the ruling political party

In 1856, the British East India Company justified the annexation of Awadh, a princely state in northern India, on what grounds?

1. acquire more land for British colonies
2. stop the rebellion against the British
3. punish the Nawab of Awadh for opposing British rule
4. due to alleged mis-governance by the Nawab of Awadh

Answer

due to alleged misgovernance by the Nawab of Awadh

Which of the following is an immediate impact of the below incident?

Source: Daily Express, 29th June, Monday 1914.

1. It led to the supremacy of America
2. It led to the First World War
3. Austria and Hungary became two independent nations.
4. Democracy replaced monarchy in many countries.

Answer

It led to the First World War

Identify the odd one out of the following objectives:

1. To promote among Muslims of India, support for the British government
2. To remove any misconceptions regarding the intention of the government
3. To protect and advance the political rights and interests of the Muslims
4. To abolish the zamindari system.

Answer

To abolish the zamindari system.

A college student named Roshni is doing a project on 4 prominent Indian leader whose core work revolved around Dalit rights. Who is Roshni MOST LIKELY writing about?

1. Surendranath Banerjee
2. Pherozeshah Mehta
3. Dadabhai Naoroji
4. Jyotiba Phule

Answer

Jyotiba Phule

............... was the cause for the renewal of the Civil Disobedience Movement.

1. Failure of the Second Round Table Conference
2. Rowlatt Act
3. Mountbatten Plan
4. Failure of the Cripps Mission

Answer

Failure of the Second Round Table Conference

The non-permanent members of the Security Council have a term of ............... years.

1. 2
2. 3
3. 5
4. 10

Answer

2

Which of the following policies of a dictator ruling over Country X is MOST aligned with the ideologies of Mussolini during his time in power?

1. prioritising military expansion
2. promoting environmental sustainability
3. creating a healthcare program for all citizens equally
4. offering financial aid to support the education of students from poor backgrounds

Answer

Prioritising military expansion

Which of the following scenarios describes the Non-Alignment Policy (NAM)?

1. A country forms a military alliance only with the United States.
2. A country maintains relations with both factions during the Cold War and does not take sides.
3. A country is part of a religious movement advocating non-violence.
4. A country aligns with Soviet Union and receives military aid.

Answer

A country maintains relations with both factions during the Cold War and does not take sides.

Read the given news carefully.

Headline: Mysuru Lok Adalat settles 53-year-old civil case involving Kannada poets’ kin. This case went on for a total of 53 years in various courts and involved 10 advocates and 40 witnesses. (Source: news18.com published on March 14, 2022)

State any two advantages of Lok Adalats that can be deduced from the above news headline.

Answer

Lok Adalats are an important part of the Indian legal system and offer following two advantages:

1. Speedy Resolution — Lok Adalats are known for their ability to provide speedy resolution of disputes. The procedural flexibility contributes to the quick resolution of cases at Lok Adalats.
2. Cost-Effectiveness — Another significant advantage of Lok Adalats is their cost-effectiveness. There is no court fee payable when a matter is filed in a Lok Adalat.

Imagine you were part of the German military in the year 1919, mention any two terms of the Treaty of Versailles which would impact you.

Answer

As a member of the German military in 1919, two terms of the Treaty of Versailles that would significantly impact me are:

1. Military Limitations — The treaty imposed severe restrictions on Germany’s military. The German army was restricted to 100,000 officers and men, and conscription was forbidden. This would mean a significant reduction in force size and potentially job losses within the military.
2. Demilitarization of the Rhineland — All of Germany west of the Rhine and up to 30 miles east of it was to be a demilitarized zone. This would limit the military’s operational scope and strategic positioning.

Mention any two contributions of Subhas Chandra Bose.

Answer

Two contributions of Subhas Chandra Bose to India's freedom struggle were:

1. He led the freedom struggle outside India as the Supreme Commander of the INA. He set up the Provisional Government of Free India in Singapore.
2. The INA gave a tough fight to the British forces in the Assam hills and succeeded in capturing Ukhral and Kohima. They raised the Tricolour Flag for the first time on the liberated Indian soil on March 19, 1944.

Give two reasons for the acceptance of the Mountbatten Plan by the Congress.

Answer

The Mountbatten Plan was accepted by the Congress because of following two key reasons:

1. Large-Scale Communal Riots — The large-scale communal riots that engulfed the whole country convinced the Congress leaders that the only solution to the communal problem lay in the Partition of India.
2. Avoidance of Civil War — The leaders felt that any further delay in the transfer of power could lead to a civil war in India. They believed that it was better to have a smaller India with a strong central authority than a larger state with a weak center.

Mention any two methods of the Assertive Nationalists.

Answer

The two methods adopted by the Assertive Nationalists in the freedom struggle were:

1. Swadeshi and Boycott — Economic boycott of British goods and use of Swadeshi was designed to encourage Indian industries and provide the people with more opportunities for employment.
2. National Education — The national leaders advocated national universities that were free from government control. A large number of national schools were established in East Bengal.

Mention any two objectives of the League of Nations.

Answer

Two objectives of the League of Nations ere:

1. All States were to refer their mutual disputes, if any, to the League of Nations for a peaceful settlement.
2. The member-States were to take necessary action as directed by the League against any state which tried to disturb world peace and order.

Name the two alliances formed in Europe before the beginning of the First World War.

Answer

Before the beginning of the First World War, two major alliances formed in Europe were:

1. Triple Alliance which included Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy.
2. Triple Entente which included France, Russia, and the United Kingdom.

The Union Legislature of India is not only the lawmaking body, but the center of all democratic political process. With reference to the Parliament, answer the following questions:

(i) Mention any three circumstances under which the Lok Sabha can make laws on a subject in the State list.

(ii) Mention any three financial powers of the Union Parliament.

(iii) The Speaker plays a key role in maintaining order and ensuring the smooth functioning of the Lok Sabha. Mention any four functions of the Speaker to support this statement.

Answer

(i) The Lok Sabha can make laws on a subject in the State list under the following three circumstances:

1. When Rajya Sabha passes a resolution — The Rajya Sabha may, by resolution adopted by two-thirds majority, empower the Parliament to make laws with respect to a matter in the State List.
2. During a National Emergency — If a National Emergency is in operation, or any state is placed under President’s Rule (Article 356), the Parliament can enact laws on items in the State List.
3. When two or more states pass a resolution — If two or more states pass a resolution requesting Parliament to legislate on subjects under the State List, the Parliament can make laws on those subjects.

(ii) The Union Parliament has following three financial powers:

1. Passing the Union Budget — The Parliament has the power to pass the annual Union Budget.
2. Making Supplementary Grants — If the amount authorized by the budget is insufficient, the Parliament can make supplementary grants.
3. Vote on Account — If the Budget is not passed before April, then there would be no money for the executive to spend. To provide money to the executive for day-to-day expenditure till the passage of the budget, a “Vote on Account” is passed.

(iii) The Speaker of the Lok Sabha plays a crucial role in maintaining order and ensuring the smooth functioning of the Lok Sabha. Here are four functions of the Speaker:

1. The Speaker presides over the meetings of the house and conducts the business in the house.
2. The Speaker decides whether a bill is a money bill or not.
3. The Speaker maintains discipline and decorum in the house. He interprets the rules of procedure of house.
4. The Speaker puts issues to vote and announces result.

The President is the nominal head of the executive, the first citizen of the country, as well as the commander-in-chief of the Indian Armed Forces. With reference to this, answer the following questions:

(i) Mention any three qualifications required for a person to be nominated to the post of the President.

(ii) Mention any three discretionary powers of the President.

(iii) Describe the procedure of impeachment of the President.

Answer

(i) The qualifications required for a person to be nominated to the post of the President of India are as follows:

1. The candidate must be a citizen of India.
2. The candidate must have completed the age of thirty-five years.
3. The candidate must be qualified for election as a member of the Loksabha.

(ii) Three discretionary powers of the President are:

1. When the ruling party who has lost majority support in the Lok Sabha or when a vote of no-confidence may have been passed against it, recommends to the President to dissolve the Lok Sabha, then it is at the discretion of the President to either dissolve the House or ask another party to prove its majority on the floor of the House.
2. The President can dismiss Ministers in case the Council of Ministers loses the confidence of the House but refuses to resign.
3. Appointment of a Prime minister in case of sudden death of working Prime minister where the ruling legislature party is unable to meet immediately to elect a leader.

(iii) The procedure for impeachment of the President of India is as follows:

1. Initiation — The impeachment process can be initiated in either House of Parliament. The proposal to prefer such charge is contained in a resolution which has been moved after at least fourteen days notice in writing signed by not less than one-fourth of the total number of members of the House.
2. Investigation — When a charge has been so preferred by either House of Parliament, the other House shall investigate the charge.
3. Resolution — If as a result of the investigation a resolution is passed by a majority of not less than two-thirds of the total membership of the House by which the charge was investigated or caused to be investigated, declaring that the charge preferred against the President has been sustained, such resolution shall have the effect of removing the President from his office as from the date on which the resolution is so passed.

The Supreme Court of India is the supreme judicial authority and the highest court of the Republic India. It is the final court of appeal for all civil and criminal cases. With reference to the Supreme Court answer the following questions:

(i) Who appoints the judges of the Supreme Court? Mention any two qualifications required for a person to be appointed as a judge of the Supreme Court.

(ii) Explain the term Original Jurisdiction of the Supreme Court with any two examples.

(iii) Name any four writs issued by the Supreme Court.

Answer

(i) The judges of the Supreme Court are appointed by the President of India. Two qualifications required for a person to be appointed as a judge of the Supreme Court are:

1. The person must be a citizen of India.
2. The person should either have been a judge of a High Court for at least five years or have been an advocate of a High Court for at least ten years

(ii) The term “Original Jurisdiction” refers to the authority of a court to hear a case for the first time. Following are two examples:

1. Any dispute between the Government of India and one or more States.
2. Any dispute between two or more States.

(iii) The Supreme Court of India has the power to issue following four writs:

1. Habeas Corpus — This writ is used to enforce the fundamental right of individual liberty against unlawful detention.
2. Mandamus — This writ is used by the court to order the public official who has failed to perform his duty or refused to do his duty, to resume his work.
3. Certiorari — This writ is issued by a higher court to a lower court or tribunal either to transfer a case pending with the latter to itself or squash the order of the latter in a case.
4. Prohibition — This writ is issued by a higher court to a lower court or tribunal to prevent the latter from exceeding its jurisdiction or usurping a jurisdiction that it does not possess.

The Indian Rebellion of 1857 was a major uprising against the rule of the British East India Company, which functioned as a sovereign power on behalf of the British Crown. With reference to this, answer the following questions:

(i) Mention any three administrative changes made in India as a consequence of the Revolt.

(ii) How did the failure of this Revolt impact the Mughals and the Peshwas?

(iii) Mention any four changes made in the army after the Revolt.

Answer

(i) The three administrative changes made in India as a consequence of the Revolt were:

1. Transfer of Power — The Government of India Act of 1858 transferred the control of India from the East India Company to the British Crown. The power to govern India was vested in the Crown through the Secretary of State who was responsible to the British Parliament.
2. Establishment of the Viceroy's Executive Council — In India, the Act of 1858 established an Executive Council, whose members would serve as heads of various departments and as official advisers to the Governor-General. The members of the Council occupied a position similar to that of Cabinet ministers.
3. Foreign Policy — India's foreign policy was dictated by the interest of the British government.

(ii) The failure of the Revolt of 1857 had significant impacts on both the Mughals and the Peshwas:

• Mughals — The Mughal dynasty, which had been in decline since the death of Aurangzeb, came to an end with the Revolt of 1857. The last Mughal emperor, Bahadur Shah Zafar II, was deported to Yangon in Myanmar. This marked the end of the Mughal rule in India.
• Peshwas — Nana Saheb, the last Peshwa, fled to Nepal after the failure of the uprising. This marked the end of the Peshwaship.

(iii) Following are four significant changes were made in the Indian army after the Revolt of 1857:

1. Increase in European Troops — The number of British soldiers in the Indian army was increased. This was done to ensure the dominance of the European branch of the army.
2. Restructuring of the Artillery — The artillery, one of the most important branches of the army, was placed entirely in British hands.
3. Change in Recruitment Policy — Discrimination on the basis of caste, region and religion was practised in the recruitment to the army.
4. Isolating Indian army from Society — Newspaper, journals and nationalist publications were prevented from reaching the soldiers to keep the Indian army separated from the life of the rest of the population.

Nationalism refers to the feeling of oneness that emerges when people consider themselves as one nation. With reference to the growth of nationalism, answer the following:

(i) Name the founder of the Indian National Congress. Mention any two of its objectives.

(ii) How did the press contribute to the growth of nationalism?

(iii) Mention any four repressive policies of Lord Lytton.

Answer

(i) Allan Octavian Hume was the founder of the Indian National Congress.

Two objectives of the Indian National Congress were:

1. To develop and consolidate the feelings of national unity irrespective of caste, religion or province.
2. To formulate popular demands and present them before the government.

(ii) Many Newspapers and magazines were brought out in vernacular languages. These played a significant role in developing a strong national sentiment among Indians. The press served as a crucial medium for disseminating information and raising awareness about socio-political issues. It helped spread modern ideas of self-government, democracy, civil rights etc. The press fostered national unity by spreading ideas and information that united people towards the common goal of independence. It popularized the ideas of nationalist organizations and leader.

(iii) Four repressive policies of Lord Lytton were:

1. Vernacular Press Act — This act, enacted in 1878, forbade vernacular papers to publish any material that might incite feelings of dissatisfaction against the British Government. This act was not applicable to English newspapers.
2. Arms Act — The Arms Act of 1878 made it a criminal offence for Indians to carry arms without licence. This act did not apply to British.
3. Famine Policies — Lord Lytton’s handling of the Great Indian Famine of 1876-1878 has been heavily criticized. Despite the famine, he convened a grand durbar to proclaim Queen Victoria as the Empress of India.
4. Removal of import duties — Lord Lytton removed import duties on cotton textiles for the benefit of British cloth industry at the cost of nascent Indian textile industry.

Read the excerpt given below and answer the questions that follow-

The movement had generated worldwide publicity, and British were looking for a way to end it. Gandhiji was released from custody in January 1931, and the two men began negotiating the terms of the pact. For many conservatives in England, the meetings and talks seemed unacceptable. They thought it was inappropriate for the Viceroy, who was the representative of the British Monarch, to receive their arch-enemy. Gandhiji was authorised by the then President of the Congress, Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel, to negotiate with the Viceroy. He advised the nation to wait, watch, pray and hope for a better prospect for India. He was full of admiration for the people, their heroic struggle and hard suffering.

(Source: The Hindu)

(i) Who was the Viceroy who negotiated with Gandhiji? Name any two causes of the movement being discussed above.

(ii) Mention any three impacts of this movement.

(iii) As a consequence of this meeting, a pact was signed. Mention any four conditions that the Congress and the British Government agreed to according to this pact.

Answer

(i) The Viceroy who negotiated with Gandhiji was Lord Irwin. The movement being discussed in the excerpt is the Civil Disobedience Movement. Two causes of this movement were:

1. The Salt Tax — The British salt tax was a severe burden on the Indian population, particularly the poor.
2. Simon Commission — The commission, sent to India in 1928 to recommend constitutional reforms, was boycotted and widely criticized by Indians for its all-British composition.

(ii) The Civil Disobedience Movement had following three impacts:

1. Popularised Nonviolent Resistance — It made people understand the significance of the principles of non-violence. People could resist violence with tolerance and courage.
2. Widened base of the freedom struggle — A large number of social groups like merchants and shopkeepers, peasants, tribals and workers in different parts of the country were mobilised for the Indian national movement.
3. Participation of Women — It brought women out of their homes to participate in politics and to make them equal partners in the freedom struggle.

(iii) The pact signed as a consequence of this meeting is known as the Gandhi-Irwin Pact. Four conditions that the Congress and the British Government agreed to according to this pact were:

1. Participation in Round Table Conference — The Indian National Congress agreed to take part in the second session of the Round Table Conference.
2. Suspend Civil Disobedience Movement — The Congress agreed to suspend the Civil Disobedience Movement.
3. Withdrawal of Ordinances — The British government agreed to withdraw all ordinances and end prosecution.
4. Removal of Salt Tax — The British government permitted free collection or manufacture of salt by persons near the seacoast.

Look at the picture given and answer the following questions:

(i) Identify the leader in the above picture. Mention any two of his ideologies.

(ii) Mention any three causes for his rise to power.

(iii) What was the immediate cause of the Second World War? Mention any three reasons given by this leader to justify his action.

Answer

(i) The leader in above picture is Hitler. Following are his two ideologies:

1. Hitler believed in the superiority of German race and upheld its supremacy. He hated Jews.
2. He stressed the subordination of the individual to the state and the necessity of strict obedience to leaders.

(ii) Three factors that led to the rise of Hitler were —

1. Humiliating Treaty of Versailles — The conditions imposed on Germany by the Treaty of Versailles made the Germans feel humiliated and helpless. Hitler exploited these sentiments and encouraged the Germans to break the treaty and rebuild the empire of Germany by recapturing lost colonies.
2. Hitler’s Oratorical Skills and Propaganda — Hitler was a powerful speaker and used propaganda effectively to gain support. His messages resonated with many Germans who felt disenfranchised or were dissatisfied with the current government
3. Growing Fear of Communism — After the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia, the Communist influence in Germany increased considerably as they succeeded in capturing a number of seats in Reichstag. Hitler warned the people that Communists of Germany would become the servants of their Russian masters and would follow the dictates of Communists. He persuaded the people that Nazism alone could check the growing influence of Communism.

(iii) The immediate cause of the Second World War was the invasion of Poland by Germany on September 1, 1939.

Adolf Hitler, provided following justifications for the invasion of Poland in 1939:

1. By the Treaty of Versailles, Germany was divided into two parts in order to give a land-route to Poland upto the sea and the Port of Danzing was also given to Poland. Germany wanted to regain her lost territories.
2. The city of Danzing was inhabited mainly by the Germans and by occupying Danzing Corridor, Germany could connect with East Prussia.
3. Germany signed a Non-Aggression Pact with Russia in August 1939, Poland was accused of committing atrocities against Germans living there.

The United Nations Organisation aims to maintain international peace. With reference to its organs and agencies, answer the following:

(i) What is the composition of the International Court of Justice?

(ii) Mention any three functions of the Security Council.

(iii) Give the full form of UNICEF. Mention any three of its functions.

Answer

(i) The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is composed of a panel of 15 judges. These judges are elected by the United Nations General Assembly and the Security Council for nine-year terms. No more than one judge of each nationality may be represented on the court at the same time.

(ii) Three functions of the Security Council are:

1. Maintaining international peace and security in accordance with the principles and purposes of the United Nations.
2. Investigating any dispute or situation which might lead to international friction.
3. Recommending methods of adjusting such disputes or the terms of settlement.

(iii) UNICEF stands for the United Nations Children's Emergency Fund. Three of its functions are:

1. It provides help to children and mothers in emergencies arising from natural calamities, civil strifes and epidemics.
2. It helps governments to plan, develop and extend community based services in the fields of maternal and child health, clean water, nutrition and sanitation.
3. It works to prevent diseases like Tuberculosis, Malaria, skin diseases and eye diseases.