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Answer : D

Explanation :
The Zonal Councils are the statutory bodies and not Constitutional. They are established by an Act of the Parliament, that is, States Reorganisation Act of 1956. The act divided the country into Five zones (Northern, Central, Eastern, Western and Southern) and provided a zonal council for each zone.

The Home minister of Central government is the common Chairman of the five zonal councils. Each Chief minister acts as a Vice-chairman of the council by rotation, holding office for a period of one year at a time. Hence, Statement 2 is not correct.

North-Eastern Council in addition to the above Zonal Councils. a North-Eastern Council was created by a separate Act of Parliament The North-Eastern Council Act of 1971. Its members include Assam, Manipur, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Tripura And Sikkim. Hence, Statement 3 is also not correct.

Therefore Answer is D.

Answer : A

Explanation :
The 24th Amendment Act, 1971, made it obligatory for the President to give assent to a Constitutional Amendment Bill. This amendment added a clause to Article 368, stating that the President shall give assent to a Constitutional Amendment Bill presented to them.

Prior to this amendment, the President had the discretion to give or withhold assent. However, the 24th Amendment removed this discretion, making Presidential assent mandatory.

Hence, Option A is the correct answer.

Answer : A

Explanation :
The pardoning power of the President includes the following:

1. Pardon
   It removes both the sentence and the conviction and completely absolves the convict from all sentences, punishments and Disqualifications.

2. Commutation
   It denotes the substitution of one form of punishment for a lighter form. For example, a death sentence may be commuted to rigorous Imprisonment, which in turn may be commuted to a simple imprisonment.

3. Remission
   It implies reducing the period of sentence without changing its character. For example, a sentence of rigorous imprisonment for two Years may be remitted to rigorous imprisonment for one year.

4. Respite
   It denotes awarding a lesser sentence in place of one originally awarded due to some special fact, such as the physical disability of a Convict or the pregnancy of a woman offender.

5. Reprieve
   It implies a stay of the execution of a sentence (especially that of death) for a temporary period. Its purpose is to enable the convict to have time to seek pardon or commutation from the President.

Hence, only the statement regarding pardon is correct. Therefore, option A is the correct answer.

Answer : C

Explanation :

1. All executive actions of the government of a state are formally taken in his name. Hence, Statement 1 is correct.

2. He can make rules specifying the manner in which the orders an other instruments made and executed in his name shall be authenticated.

3. He can make rules for more convenient transaction of the business of a state government and for the allocation among the ministers of the said business.

4. He appoints the state election commissioner and determines his conditions of service and tenure of office. However, the state Election commissioner can be removed only in like manner and on he like grounds as a judge of a high court.

5. He appoints the chairman and members of the state public service Commission. However, they can be removed only by the President And not by a Governor. Hence, Statement 2 is not correct.

6. He can recommend the imposition of constitutional emergency in a State to the president. During the period of President’s rule in a State, the Governor enjoys extensive executive powers as an agent Of the President. Hence, Statement 3 is correct.

Answer : C

Explanation :
Contempt of court has not been defined under the Constitution. It is empowered through contempt of court act, 1971. Hence, Statement 1 is not correct.

The consent of Attorney General is mandatory when a private citizen wants to initiate a case of contempt of court against a person. The objective behind AG’s consent is to save the judicial time of the court as it will be wasted if a frivolous petition occurs. Hence, Statement 3 Is also not correct.

The Supreme Court has ruled that it has power to punish for contempt not only of itself but also of high courts, subordinate courts and tribunals functioning in the entire country. Contempt of court may be civil or criminal. Civil contempt means wilful disobedience to any judgement, order, writ or other process of a court or wilful breach of an undertaking given to a court. Criminal contempt means the publication of any matter or doing an act which—(i) scandalises or lowers the authority of a court; or (ii) prejudices or interferes with the due course of a judicial proceeding; or (iii) interferes or obstructs the administration of justice in any other manner. Hence, Statement 2 is correct.