2003 General Studies, all questions

UPSC Prelims 2003 · General Studies

Question 18: Polity and Governance

Consider the following statements:

  1. 1.While members of the Rajya Sabha are associated with Committees on Public Accounts and Public Undertakings, Members of Committee on Estimates are drawn entirely from Lok Sabha.
  2. 2.The Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs works under the overall direction of the Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs.
  3. 3.The Minister of Parliamentary Affairs nominates members of Parliament on Committees, Councils, Boards and Commissions set up by the Government of India in the various ministries.

Which of these statements are correct?

a1 and 2
b2 and 3
c1 and 3
d1, 2 and 3

AnswerThe answer is (d).

All three statements are accurate. The Public Accounts Committee and the Committee on Public Undertakings include Rajya Sabha members, while the Estimates Committee consists only of Lok Sabha members. The Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs functions under the Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs, and it nominates MPs to committees, councils and boards set up by the government. Remember: Estimates is the Lok Sabha-only financial committee.

  • 1. PAC and COPU include Rajya Sabha members; the Estimates Committee is drawn entirely from the Lok Sabha.
  • 2. The Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs works under the Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs.
  • 3. The Ministry nominates MPs to bodies set up by the government in various ministries.

How you could have got this

  1. If you were sure statement 1 is correct, (b) goes: it leaves 1 out.

    What you needed to know: PAC and COPU include Rajya Sabha members; the Estimates Committee is drawn entirely from the Lok Sabha.

  2. Then, if you were sure statement 2 is correct, (c) goes: it leaves 2 out.

    What you needed to know: The Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs works under the Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs.

  3. Then, if you were sure statement 3 is correct, (a) goes: it leaves 3 out.

    What you needed to know: The Ministry nominates MPs to bodies set up by the government in various ministries.

Only (d) is left. This one needs every statement.

This follows an unofficial answer: UPSC has not published its key for this year, and if that answer is wrong, so is this path.

Which options go is worked out from UPSC’s key and the options, not by a model.

Why each option is right or wrong
  • (a) Statement 3 is also correct, so 1 and 2 alone is incomplete.
  • (b) Statement 1 is also correct, so 2 and 3 alone is incomplete.
  • (c) Statement 2 is also correct, so 1 and 3 alone is incomplete.
  • (d) Correct: all three statements hold.

Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.

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Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2003, General Studies. UPSC's own paper isn't online; the words are from a published compilation. The paper on upsc.gov.in.