Pakistan Studies/Affairs MCQs
Topic Notes: Pakistan Studies/Affairs
MCQs and preparation resources for competitive exams, covering important concepts, past papers, and detailed explanations.
Plato
- Biography: Ancient Greek philosopher (427–347 BCE), student of Socrates and teacher of Aristotle, founder of the Academy in Athens.
- Important Ideas:
- Theory of Forms
- Philosopher-King
- Ideal State
41
What is the weightage given to 'Revenue Collection and Generation' in the 7th NFC Award?
Answer:
5.0%
A 5% weightage is given to revenue collection and generation. This recognizes the contribution of provinces that generate more taxes for the national divisible pool, primarily benefiting Sindh (due to Karachi) and Punjab.
42
Which province benefits the most from the 'Inverse Population Density' criterion in the NFC formula?
Answer:
Balochistan
Inverse Population Density (weighted at 2.7%) favors provinces with large land areas but low population densities. Since Balochistan covers nearly 44% of Pakistan's land but has a small population, it receives a larger share under this criterion to cover the higher cost of infrastructure delivery.
43
Under the 7th NFC Award, what percentage is allocated for the 'Poverty and Backwardness' criterion?
Answer:
10.3%
To help less developed regions, 10.3% of the provincial share is distributed based on 'Poverty and Backwardness.' This criterion primarily benefits provinces like Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which have higher poverty levels compared to urban centers in Punjab or Sindh.
44
What is the weightage of 'Population' in the horizontal distribution formula of the current 7th NFC Award?
Answer:
82%
In the 7th NFC Award, the weightage of population was reduced from 100% to 82% for the first time. The remaining 18% was distributed among other factors like poverty, revenue collection, and inverse population density to ensure a fairer distribution.
45
Which constitutional amendment added Article 160(3A), ensuring that the share of provinces in a new NFC Award cannot be less than the previous one?
Answer:
18th Amendment
The 18th Amendment (2010) inserted Clause 3A into Article 160. It provides a constitutional guarantee that the share of the provinces in any future NFC Award shall not be less than the share given to the provinces in the previous Award (which currently stands at 57.5%).
46
The 7th NFC Award (2010) is considered 'historic' primarily because it shifted from a single-criterion formula to a multi-criteria formula. What was the only criterion before 2010?
Answer:
Population
Prior to the 7th NFC Award in 2010, the horizontal distribution of resources among the provinces was based solely on population. This was often criticized by smaller provinces as it favored Punjab, the most populous province, and ignored issues like poverty or area-related costs.
47
What is the primary difference between 'Vertical' and 'Horizontal' distribution in an NFC Award?
Answer:
Vertical is the share between Center and Provinces; Horizontal is the share among the four provinces
Vertical distribution determines the percentage of the divisible pool kept by the federal government versus the total given to the four provinces. Horizontal distribution determines how that total provincial share is divided among Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Balochistan.
48
In the context of the NFC, what does the 'Divisible Pool' refer to?
Answer:
The set of taxes collected by the Center to be shared with Provinces
The Divisible Pool consists of specific taxes collected by the federal government, such as income tax, sales tax, and customs duties. These net proceeds are shared between the federal and provincial governments based on the formula agreed upon in the NFC Award.
49
Who is the ex-officio Chairman of the National Finance Commission (NFC)?
Answer:
The Federal Minister of Finance
The NFC is chaired by the Federal Finance Minister. Its members include the Finance Ministers of the four provinces and other members appointed by the President in consultation with the provincial governors to ensure all federating units have a voice in resource distribution.
50
Which article of the 1973 Constitution of Pakistan mandates the setting up of the National Finance Commission (NFC)?
Answer:
Article 160
Article 160 of the Constitution requires the President to constitute a National Finance Commission at intervals not exceeding five years. This body is responsible for recommending the distribution of revenues between the federal government and the provinces, ensuring a balanced fiscal federation.