The Supreme Court seven-judge Constitution Bench on Wednesday expressed its surprise over the statement made by the Centre’s top law officer, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who said he does not support the 1981 amendment by Parliament to confer minority status on Aligarh Muslim University (AMU).

On the fifth day of the hearing on the batch of petitions to examine the validity of the 1968 verdict by a five-judge bench that took away the minority status of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, said, “The Allahabad High Court had struck down the 1981 amendment on various grounds and the High Court’s view appeared to be correct.”

At this, Justice Sanjiv Khanna, who was part of the seven-judge bench, again questioned SG Mehta, “Mr Solicitor, are you saying that you do not accept the amendment?”

Source – https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/

Passage 2

France’s Constitutional Council on January 25 rejected several measures in a divisive new immigration law that critics call inhumane, in a new blow to President Emmanuel Macron and his government.
The council said in a statement that it threw out all or part of 32 of the law’s 86 articles, saying they were contrary to the constitution. Mr. Macron and lawmakers had sought the body’s assessment of the law, passed last year after a torturous debate.
Among measures rejected were those making it harder for immigrants to bring their families to France, and limiting their access to social welfare. The Bill also strengthens France’s ability to deport foreigners considered undesirable.

Source- https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/

26th JAN 2024

First Name

Passage 1

1. As per which Article of the Constitution all religious and linguistic minorities with a fundamental right to establish and administer educational institutions of their choice?

A. 29

B. 29(2)

C. 30

D. 30(1)

2. Which of the following is incorrect?

A. Constitution ensures that the State maintains ‘equality of treatment’ in granting aid to all educational institutions, irrespective of their minority status. This includes educational institutions at all levels, from primary schools to professional education.

B. These institutions enjoy exemptions from the implementation of SC, ST, and OBC reservations in both admissions and employment.

C. They can reserve up to 66% of seats for students from their community and exercise greater control over employees compared to other institutions.

D. None of these

3. In which of this famous case, the SC clarified that a ‘minority’ is to be determined by the concerned State’s demography, not the national population?

A. TMA Pai Foundation case

B. Ahemdabad St. Xaviers College case

C. Bijoe Emmanuel case

D. Indra Sawhney case

4. In 2006, the Allahabad High Court struck down the amendment from which year and declared that AMU was not entitled to claim the rights of a minority institution under Article 30 of the Constitution?

A. 1981

B. 1984

C. 1988

D. 1992

5. National Commission for Minorities (NcM) is an autonomous body established by the Indian government in?

A. 1991

B. 1992

C. 1994

D. 1995

Passage 2

6. Which of the following party currently rules in France?

A. The Republicans

B. Renaissances

C. National Rally

D. Socialist Party

7. In view of immigration issue in Europe, PM of which country recently resigned after the government coalition he led failed to come to an agreement on how to stem the flow of refugees into his country?

A. UK

B. Netherland

C. Germany

D. Spain

8. Which of this is incorrect?

A. The bill, presented as a compromise between Macron’s party and the conservative opposition, passed the lower house without the need for support from the far-right.

B. The far-right National Rally (RN), led by Marine Le Pen, endorsed the strengthened bill.

C. The bill, which initially aimed to simplify residency permit processes for migrants in labor sectors facing shortages, ended up introducing tighter measures.

D. The legislation delays access to housing benefits for unemployed non-European Union migrants by at least 20 years. It suggests that dual nationals convicted of serious crimes against the police could be exiled.

9. International Migrants Day is observed on?

A. Dec 18

B. Dec 19

C. Dec 23

D. Dec 26

10. Which of this is incorrect with respect to France’s Constitutional Council?

A. The Constitutional Council was established by the Constitution of the Fifth Republic adopted on 4 October 1958.

B. It is a court vested with various powers, including in particular the review of the constitutionality of legislation.

C. The Constitutional Council is comprised of Eleven members who are appointed for six-year terms.

D. The members are appointed by the President of the Republic and the presidents of each of the Houses of Parliament (National Assembly and Senate).

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