For aspirants targeting the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2026, consistent revision of static syllabus topics is crucial. The UPSC Essentials initiative offers a daily subject-wise quiz designed to help candidates assess their preparation and reinforce key concepts. Today's focus is on Polity and Governance, covering vital areas like electoral trusts, parliamentary committees, and legislative procedures.
Electoral Trusts: Rules and Recent Trends
A significant portion of today's quiz revolves around electoral trusts, which have regained prominence as a channel for political funding following the Supreme Court's scrapping of the electoral bonds scheme in February 2024. The quiz tests knowledge on the legal framework governing these trusts.
According to the Income Tax Act, 1961, Section 17CA, donations to an electoral trust can be made by any Indian citizen, a company registered in India, a firm, a Hindu Undivided Family (HUF), or an association of persons residing in India. Electoral trusts are mandated to maintain complete transparency by reporting all contributions from individuals and companies, as well as their subsequent donations to political parties, to the Election Commission of India (ECI) annually.
Contrary to a popular misconception, these trusts must apply for renewal every three financial years, not five. Furthermore, they are required to donate at least 95% of the contributions received in a financial year to political parties registered under the Representation of the People Act, 1951, not 25%. The remaining 5% can be used for administrative expenses.
The data underscores their renewed relevance: in 2024-25, contributions to nine reporting electoral trusts surged to Rs 3,811 crore, a sharp increase from Rs 1,218.36 crore received by just five trusts in the previous fiscal year.
Parliamentary Standing Committees: Composition and Function
Another question delves into the specifics of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Rural Development and Panchayati Raj. This committee is one of the departmentally related standing committees established in 1993.
It comprises 31 members in total: 21 members from the Lok Sabha, nominated by the Speaker, and 10 members from the Rajya Sabha, nominated by the Chairman. The members are not nominated by the Prime Minister. A Minister cannot be a member of this committee. The term of office for members is limited and does not exceed one year.
Key Legislative Procedures and Legal Concepts
The quiz also covers other fundamental concepts. An Adjournment Motion is correctly identified as a tool to discuss a specific, urgent matter requiring immediate consideration, serving as a form of emergency censure against the government.
On the legal front, the quiz clarifies provisions regarding disqualification of legislators. As per the Representation of the People Act, 1951, a member is disqualified if convicted and sentenced to imprisonment for two years or more. The only relief in such scenarios is a stay on the conviction, which nullifies the disqualification.
Finally, the concept of assisted dying is addressed. In India, assisted dying, defined as an intention to cause death via a lethal injection, is treated as murder or culpable homicide under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). When a doctor assists, it amounts to abetment of suicide. This stands in contrast to the withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment, which is based on omission and is viewed through the lens of the right to life with dignity under Article 21 of the Constitution.
This daily quiz serves as a micro-revision tool, helping UPSC aspirants consolidate their understanding of complex polity and governance topics, which are indispensable for both the Prelims and Mains stages of the examination.
