Q 1. With reference to Article 176 of the Constitution of India, consider the following statements:
- The Governor is mandated to address the Legislative Assembly at the commencement of every session of the State Legislature.
- The Governor shall address the Legislative Assembly at the commencement of the first session after each general election.
- The Constitution explicitly empowers the Governor to edit the text of the address if it violates the fundamental principles of the Constitution.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
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Answer: (b)
Statement 1 is incorrect: Article 176 mandates a Special Address only at the commencement of the first session of each year and the first session after each general election, not every session.
Statement 2 is correct: Article 176(1) explicitly mandates the address at the commencement of the first session after each general election.
Statement 3 is incorrect: The Constitution does not explicitly give the Governor the power to edit the text. Constitutional practice and Supreme Court observations suggest the Governor is generally bound by the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers and reads the text approved by the State Cabinet.
Q 2 With reference to the ‘Index of Eight Core Industries’ (ICI), consider the following statements:
- These eight industries comprise approximately 40% of the weight of items included in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP).
- Among the eight core industries, ‘Electricity’ carries the highest weightage, followed by ‘Refinery Products’.
- The Index is compiled and released monthly by the Office of the Economic Adviser, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT).
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 3 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
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Answer: (b)
Statement 3 is Correct: Unlike the IIP which is released by the NSO (MoSPI), the Index of Eight Core Industries is released by the Office of the Economic Adviser (OEA), under the DPIIT (Ministry of Commerce & Industry).
Statement 1 is Correct: The Eight Core Industries (Coal, Crude Oil, Natural Gas, Refinery Products, Fertilizers, Steel, Cement, and Electricity) together have a combined weight of 40.27% in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP). This makes the ICI a key lead indicator for the broader industrial performance.
Statement 2 is Incorrect: The weightage of the industries is not equal. Refinery Products has the highest weightage, not Electricity.
Correct Order of Weightage (Descending): Refinery Products (28.04%) > Electricity (19.85%) > Steel (17.92%) > Coal > Crude Oil > Natural Gas > Cement > Fertilizers (Lowest).
Q 3. The proposed ‘Draft Seeds Bill‘ aims to replace which of the following existing legislations in India?
- The Seeds Act, 1966
- The Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Act, 2001
- The Seeds (Control) Order, 1983
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 3 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
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Answer: (b) Explanation: The Draft Seeds Bill is designed to replace the Seeds Act, 1966 and the Seeds (Control) Order, 1983. It does not repeal the PPV&FR Act, 2001.
Q 4. Consider the following statements regarding the ‘Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act, 2025′:
- It guarantees 150 days of wage employment to every rural household in a financial year.
- It introduces a mandatory ‘no-work period’ to ensure labor availability for agricultural activities.
- The Gram Panchayat is mandated to implement at least half of the works in terms of cost.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
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Answer: (b) Explanation: Statement 1 is incorrect; the Act guarantees 125 days (not 150). Statement 2 is correct (60-day pause). Statement 3 is correct regarding the role of Gram Panchayats.
Q 5. With reference to the financial architecture of the VB-G RAM G Act, 2025, consider the following:
- The funding pattern for standard states follows a 60:40 ratio between the Centre and the State.
- The liability for payment of unemployment allowance rests solely with the Central Government.
- The administrative expenditure ceiling has been increased to 9% to support professional staffing.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 3 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 3 only
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Answer: (b)
Explanation: Statement 1 is correct (60:40 split). Statement 2 is incorrect; unemployment allowance liability rests with the States. Statement 3 is correct (increased from 6% to 9%).
