2020 GS Paper I, all questions

UPSC Prelims 2020 · GS Paper I

Question 19: Polity and Governance

Consider the following statements :

  1. 1.According to the Constitution of India, a person who is eligible to vote can be made a minister in a State for six months even if he/she is not a member of the Legislature of that State.
  2. 2.According to the Representation of People Act, 1951, a person convicted of a criminal offence and sentenced to imprisonment for five years is permanently disqualified from contesting an election even after his release from prison.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

a1 only
b2 only
cBoth 1 and 2
dNeither 1 nor 2

AnswerUPSC’s answer is (d).

Article 164(4) lets a person who is not a member of the State Legislature serve as minister for up to six consecutive months, but the person must be qualified to be a member; being a voter is not enough (an Assembly seat needs a minimum age of 25, voting 18). Under Section 8(3) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, a person sentenced to two years or more is disqualified from conviction and for six years after release, not permanently.

  • 1. A non-member minister must be qualified for membership, not merely eligible to vote.
  • 2. Disqualification runs from conviction and for six years after release, not permanently.

How you could have got this

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

    What you needed to know: A non-member minister must be qualified for membership, not merely eligible to vote.

  2. Then, if you were sure statement 2 is not correct, (b) goes: it includes 2.

    What you needed to know: Disqualification runs from conviction and for six years after release, not permanently.

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

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) Wrong: statement 1 is false because mere eligibility to vote is not the test.
  • (b) Wrong: the disqualification is for six years after release, not permanent.
  • (c) Wrong: neither statement is correct.
  • (d) Right: both statements are false.

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

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Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2020, General Studies Paper I, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.