UPSC Prelims PYQ 2024: Constitutional Parts — Local bodies, Emergencies, Amendments

Which of the following statements are correct about the constitution of India?

1. Powers of the Municipalities are given in Part IX A of the Constitution.
2. Emergency provisions are given in Part XVIII of the Constitution.
3. Provisions related to the amendment of the constitution are given in Part XX of the Constitution.

Select the answer using the code given below:

1. 1 and 2 only
2. 2 and 3 only
3. 1 and 3 only
4. 1, 2 and 3

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct

• Originally, the Indian Constitution established a dual polity comprising the Centre and the states, with provisions detailing their organisation and powers. The 73^rd and 74^th Amendments (1992) introduced a third tier, local government. The 73^rd Amendment added Part IX and the 11^th Schedule for panchayats, while the 74^th Amendment added Part IX-A and the 12^th Schedule for municipalities.

Statement 2 is correct

• The Emergency provisions are contained in Part XVIII of the Constitution, from Articles 352 to 360.
• The Constitution of India outlines three categories of emergencies:
  • National Emergency (Article 352)
  • President’s rule or State Emergency (Article 356)
  • Financial Emergency (Article 360)

Statement 3 is correct

• Article 368, located in Part XX of the Constitution, outlines the Parliament’s power and procedure to amend the Constitution. It allows Parliament to add, vary, or repeal any constitutional provision through the prescribed procedure, exercising its constituent power. However, the Supreme Court, in the Kesavananda Bharati case (1973), ruled that amendments cannot alter the Constitution’s ‘basic structure’

Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3; Difficulty Level: Easy