UPSC Prelims 2007 · General Studies
Question 50: Polity and Governance
Consider the following statements in respect of Financial Emergency under Article 360 of the Constitution of India:
- 1.A proclamation of Financial Emergency issued shall cease to operate at the expiration of two months unless before the expiration of that period it has been approved by resolutions of both Houses of Parliament.
- 2.If any proclamation of Financial Emergency is in operation, it is competent for the President of India to issue directions for the reduction of salaries and allowances of all or any class of persons serving in connection with the affairs of the Union, but excluding the judges of the Supreme Court and the High Courts.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
AnswerThe answer is (a).
Under Article 360(2), a Proclamation of Financial Emergency lapses after two months unless both Houses approve it by resolution, so statement 1 is right. Statement 2 is wrong: the President's directions under Article 360(4) can cut the salaries of Union servants, including judges of the Supreme Court and the High Courts, not excluding them.
- 1. It lapses after two months unless both Houses approve.
- 2. Judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts are included, not excluded.
How you could have got this
- If you were sure statement 2 is not correct, (b) and (c) go: each of them includes 2.
What you needed to know: Judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts are included, not excluded.
The red flag in statement 2 is “all”. In UPSC’s papers, statements with “all” were true 41% of the time (76 statements). A hint, not a rule.
- Then, if you were sure statement 1 is correct, (d) goes: it leaves 1 out.
What you needed to know: It lapses after two months unless both Houses approve.
Only (a) 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) Correct: only statement 1 holds.
- (b) Statement 2 is wrong since judges are included.
- (c) Statement 2 is wrong, so both cannot hold.
- (d) Statement 1 is right, so this is wrong.
Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2007, General Studies. UPSC's own paper isn't online; the words are from a published compilation. The paper on upsc.gov.in.