2019 GS Paper I, all questions

UPSC Prelims 2019 · GS Paper I

Question 46: Polity and Governance

Consider the following statements :

  1. 1.The motion to impeach a Judge of the Supreme Court of India cannot be rejected by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha as per the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968.
  2. 2.The Constitution of India defines and gives details of what constitutes ‘incapacity and proved misbehaviour’ of the Judges of the Supreme Court of India.
  3. 3.The details of the process of impeachment of the Judges of the Supreme Court of India are given in the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968.
  4. 4.If the motion for the impeachment of a Judge is taken up for voting, the law requires the motion to be backed by each House of the Parliament and supported by a majority of total membership of that House and by not less than two-thirds of total members of that House present and voting.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

a1 and 2
b3 only
c3 and 4 only
d1, 3 and 4

AnswerUPSC’s answer is (c).

Statements 3 and 4 are correct. Removal of a Supreme Court judge is under Article 124(4), and the detailed procedure is in the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968. The motion needs a special majority in each House: a majority of the total membership of the House and at least two-thirds of those present and voting. The Speaker or Chairman may admit or refuse the motion, so statement 1 is false. The Constitution does not define incapacity or proved misbehaviour, so statement 2 is false.

  • 1. The Speaker may admit or refuse to admit the motion.
  • 2. The Constitution does not define incapacity or proved misbehaviour.
  • 3. The Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968 lays down the procedure.
  • 4. A special majority is needed in each House.

How you could have got this

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

    What you needed to know: The Speaker may admit or refuse to admit the motion.

  2. Then, if you were sure statement 4 is correct, (b) goes: it leaves 4 out.

    What you needed to know: A special majority is needed in each House.

Only (c) is left. You didn’t need statements 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) Statements 1 and 2 are both false.
  • (b) Statement 4 is also correct.
  • (c) Correct: statements 3 and 4 hold.
  • (d) Statement 1 is false: the Speaker can refuse to admit the motion.

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

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Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2019, General Studies Paper I, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.