2012 GS Paper I, all questions

UPSC Prelims 2012 · GS Paper I

Question 56: Polity and Governance

According to the Constitution of India, it is the duty of the President of India to cause to be laid before the Parliament which of the following?

  1. 1.The Recommendations of the Union Finance Commission
  2. 2.The Report of the Public Accounts Committee
  3. 3.The Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General
  4. 4.The Report of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes

Select the correct answer using the codes given below :

a1 only
b2 and 4 only
c1, 3 and 4 only
d1, 2, 3 and 4

AnswerUPSC’s answer is (c).

The President causes to be laid before Parliament the recommendations of the Union Finance Commission with a memorandum on action taken (Article 281), the reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General (Article 151) and the report of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (Article 338). Public Accounts Committee reports are presented by the committee itself, not by the President.

  • 1. Finance Commission recommendations are laid with an action-taken memorandum (Article 281).
  • 2. The Public Accounts Committee presents its own report to the House.
  • 3. CAG reports are laid before Parliament by the President (Article 151).
  • 4. The National Commission for Scheduled Castes reports to the President, who lays it (Article 338).

How you could have got this

  1. If you were sure statement 2 is not correct, (b) and (d) go: each of them includes 2.

    What you needed to know: The Public Accounts Committee presents its own report to the House.

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

    What you needed to know: CAG reports are laid before Parliament by the President (Article 151).

Only (c) is left. You didn’t need statements 1 or 4.

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) Incomplete: CAG and National Commission for Scheduled Castes reports are also laid by the President.
  • (b) Wrong: the Public Accounts Committee's report is presented by the committee, and it leaves out the Finance Commission and CAG.
  • (c) Correct: Finance Commission, CAG and National Commission for Scheduled Castes reports.
  • (d) Wrong: the PAC's report is not laid by the President.

Answer: UPSC’s key. Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.

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Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2012, General Studies Paper I, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.