Indian Constitution, Bharat Ratna - GS questions based on daily current affairs

1)   Which of the following is/are true regarding Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act?

1) Offences like garlanding with chappals and tonsuring of head and moustache of people belonging to SC and ST category are not considered offences.
2) The cases under the act are tried under normal courts and no special courts are available.


a. Only 1
b. Only 2
c. Both 1 and 2
d. Neither 1 nor 2
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: Both 1 and 2

Explanation:
The Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Act, 2015 to ensure more stringent provisions for prevention of Atrocities against Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes will be enforced with effect from January 26, 2016.

The key features of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Act, 2015, are:


  • New offences of atrocities like tonsuring of head, moustache, or similar acts which are derogatory to the dignity of members of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, garlanding with chappals, denying access to irrigation facilities or forest rights , dispose or carry human or animal carcasses, or to dig graves, using or permitting manual scavenging, dedicating a Scheduled Caste or a Scheduled Tribe women as devadasi, abusing in caste name, perpetrating witchcraft atrocities, imposing social or economic boycott, preventing Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes candidates from filing of nomination to contest elections, hurting a Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes woman by removing her garments, forcing a member of Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe to leave house , village or residence, defiling objects sacred to members of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribe, touching or using words, acts or gestures of a sexual nature against members of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribe.

  • Addition of certain IPC offences like hurt, grievous hurt, intimidation, kidnapping etc., attracting less than ten years of imprisonment, committed against members of Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe, as offences punishable under the PoA Act. Presently, only those offences listed in IPC as attracting punishment of 10 years or more and committed on members of Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe are accepted as offences falling under the PoA Act.

  • Establishment of Exclusive Special Courts and specification of Exclusive Special Public Prosecutors also, to exclusively try the offences under the PoA Act to enable speedy and expeditious disposal of cases.

  • Power of Special Courts and Exclusive Special Courts, to take direct cognizance of offence and as far as possible, completion of trial of the case within two months, from the date of filing of the charge sheet.

  • Addition of chapter on the ‘Rights of Victims and Witnesses’.

  • Defining clearly the term ‘wilful negligence’ of public servants at all levels, starting from the registration of complaint, and covering aspects of dereliction of duty under this Act.

  • Addition of presumption to the offences –If the accused was acquainted with the victim or his family, the court will presume that the accused was aware of the caste or tribal identity of the victim unless proved otherwise.


2)   Which of the following statements are correct?

1. Bharat ratna award was originally limited to the arts, literature, science and public services but the government had broadened the criteria to encompass any field of human endeavor.
2. No monetary grant associated with the award.
3. Bharat Ratna recipients rank seventh in the Indian order of precedence.


a. 1,2
b. 2,3
c. 1,3
d. All
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: All

Explanation:
No explanation is available for this question!


3)   Consider the following statements about C. Rajagopalachari

1. He was the last Governor-General of India.
2. He led Vedaranyam March during civil disobedience movement.
3. He was the second recipients of the Bharat Ratna.

Which of the above statements are true?


a. 1,2
b. 2,3
c. 1,3
d. All
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: 1,2

Explanation:
The first recipients of the Bharat Ratna were politician C. Rajagopalachari, scientist C. V. Raman and philosopher Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, who were honoured in 1954. The Vedaranyam March or Vedaranyam Satyagraha was organized to protest the salt tax imposed by the British Raj in India. The march took place in April 1930 and was the second of its kind following the Dandi March organised by Mahatma Gandhi, both in the framework of the Civil Disobedience Movement. The Vedaranayam March was led by a group of 100 volunteers from the Indian National Congress (INC) under the leadership of C. Rajagopalachari. It began at Trichinopoly (now Tiruchirappalli) and ended in Vedaranyam, a small coastal town in Tanjore District.


4)   Consider the following statements

1. JP Narayan was posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna in 1979.
2. He was first to get the award posthumously.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?


a. Only 1
b. Only 2
c. Both
d. None
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: None

Explanation:
JP Narayan was posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna in 1999. In 1966, former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri became the first individual to be honored posthumously.


5)   Who among the following are the recipients of the Bharat Ratna Award?

1. M. G. Ramachandran
2. V. V. Giri
3. Zakir Hussain
4. Mahtma Gandhi
5. Dhyan Chand
6. Homi Bhbha
7. Subhash Chandra Bose


a. 2,4,5,6,7
b. 1,2,3
c. 1,2,3,4
d. All
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: 1,2,3

Explanation:
No explanation is available for this question!


6)   Consider the following statements

1. Bharat Ratna is awarded to Indian citizens only or a naturalized Indian citizen.
2. The award was originally limited to achievements in the arts, literature, science and public services but the government expanded the criteria to include any field of human endeavors in December 2011.
3. The recommendations for Bharat Ratna are made the President to which cabinet needs to approve.
4. The number of annual awards is restricted to a maximum of five in a particular year.

Which of the above statements are not correct?


a. 2,3,4
b. 1,2,4
c. 1,3,4
d. 1,2,3
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: 1,3,4

Explanation:
Bharat Ratna can be awarded to foreigners also. Nelson Mandela was awarded with Bharat ratna. The recommendations for Bharat Ratna are made by the Prime Minister himself to the President. The number of annual awards is restricted to a maximum of three in a particular year.


7)   Name the freedom fighter who was conferred with the highest civilian award of the country Bharat Ratna posthumously on 30th Mar’15?


a. Shaheed Bhagat Singh
b. Atal Bihari Vajpayee
c. Madan Mohan Malviya
d. Subash Chandra Bose
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: Madan Mohan Malviya

Explanation:
His family members received the award from President Pranab Mukherjee. Madan Mohan Malviya is fondly remembered for his initiative for establishing institutions that reinforced the cultural identity of the country. He was a moving force behind the establishment of Banaras Hindu University. The credit for popularising the slogan of Satyameva Jayate also goes to him.