2012 GS Paper I, all questions

UPSC Prelims 2012 · GS Paper I

Question 60: Polity and Governance

What is the provision to safeguard the autonomy of the Supreme Court of India?

  1. 1.While appointing the Supreme Court Judges, the President of India has to consult the Chief Justice of India.
  2. 2.The Supreme Court Judges can be removed by the Chief Justice of India only.
  3. 3.The salaries of the Judges are charged on the Consolidated Fund of India to which the legislature does not have to vote.
  4. 4.All appointments of officers and staffs of the Supreme Court of India are made by the Government only after consulting the Chief Justice of India.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

a1 and 3 only
b3 and 4 only
c4 only
d1, 2, 3 and 4

AnswerUPSC’s answer is (a).

A Supreme Court judge is appointed by the President after consultation with the Chief Justice of India, and judges' salaries are charged on the Consolidated Fund of India, so Parliament does not vote on them; both safeguard independence. A judge is removed by the President only after an address by both Houses, not by the Chief Justice, and the Court's officers and staff are appointed by the Chief Justice, not by the government.

  • 1. The President must consult the Chief Justice of India when appointing judges.
  • 2. Judges are removed by the President on an address by both Houses, not by the CJI.
  • 3. Judges' salaries are charged on the Consolidated Fund and are not voted on.
  • 4. Officers and staff are appointed by the Chief Justice.

How you could have got this

  1. If you were sure statement 4 is not correct, (b), (c) and (d) go: each of them includes 4.

    What you needed to know: Officers and staff are appointed by the Chief Justice.

    The red flag in statement 4 is “only”. In UPSC’s papers, statements with “only” were true 27% of the time (82 statements). A hint, not a rule.

Only (a) is left. You didn’t need statements 1, 2 or 3.

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: consultation with the CJI and salaries charged on the Consolidated Fund.
  • (b) Wrong: staff are appointed by the Chief Justice, not the government after consultation.
  • (c) Wrong: appointments of officers and staff rest with the Chief Justice.
  • (d) Wrong: statements 2 and 4 are false.

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.