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Article 243ZD mandates constitution of District Planning Committee to consolidate plans from Panchayats and Municipalities and prepare draft development plan for district.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Article 243ZD: District Planning Committee (DPC) in every district: (a) 4/5 members elected by Panchayat/Municipality members from amongst themselves, (b) Chairperson as State law determines. Consolidates rural and urban plans, prepares draft district development plan. Promotes integrated spatial and sectoral planning at district level.
Under Article 243-I, the State Finance Commission is constituted every ______ years to review financial position of Panchayats and recommend grants.
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 10
Answer: 5
Article 243-I: Governor constitutes State Finance Commission every 5 years to: (a) review financial position of Panchayats, (b) recommend principles for tax/grant distribution between State and Panchayats, (c) suggest measures to improve Panchayat finances. Mirrors Union Finance Commission's role for local bodies, ensuring fiscal decentralization.
Which statement best describes India's federal structure?
- Purely federal like USA
- Purely unitary like UK
- Federal with unitary bias, flexible to meet national needs
- Confederal with sovereign States
Answer: Federal with unitary bias, flexible to meet national needs
Indian federalism is unique: (a) Federal in normal times (division of powers, independent judiciary, bicameralism), (b) Unitary in emergencies (Centre assumes State powers), (c) Flexible (Parliament can reorganize States, amend Constitution). Designed by Constituent Assembly to balance regional autonomy with national unity in diverse, post-partition India. Evolves through judicial interpretation and political practice.
A Proclamation of National Emergency under Article 352 must be approved by both Houses of Parliament within ______ month(s) of its issue.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 6
Answer: 1
Article 352(4): Emergency proclamation must be laid before each House and approved within one month by special majority (majority of total membership + 2/3 present and voting). If Lok Sabha is dissolved, Rajya Sabha approves, but Lok Sabha must approve within 30 days of reconstitution. 44th Amendment (1978) tightened approval requirements to prevent misuse.
The Indian Constitution is described as 'federal with a strong unitary bias' because it contains more unitary features than federal features.
- True
- False
Answer: False
India has both federal (written Constitution, division of powers, independent judiciary, bicameralism) and unitary features (single citizenship, strong Centre, All India Services, emergency provisions, Governor's role, integrated judiciary, Parliament's power to reorganize States). 'Unitary bias' means Centre has overriding powers in crises, not that unitary features outnumber federal ones. Balance tilts to Centre for national unity.
Which Constitutional Amendment introduced the provision that amendments affecting federal structure require ratification by half of State Legislatures?
- Original Constitution
- 24th Amendment
- 42nd Amendment
- 73rd Amendment
Answer: Original Constitution
Article 368(2) proviso (in original Constitution): Amendments affecting: (a) election of President, (b) extent of executive power of Union/States, (c) Supreme Court/High Courts, (d) distribution of legislative powers, (e) representation of States in Parliament, (f) Article 368 itself, require ratification by legislatures of not less than half States. Protects federal features from unilateral Union amendment.
During Financial Emergency under Article 360, the President can issue directions to States to observe canons of financial ______.
- austerity
- propriety
- transparency
- accountability
Answer: propriety
Article 360(3): During Financial Emergency, President may issue directions to States: (a) observe canons of financial propriety, (b) reduce salaries of government servants including HC Judges, (c) reserve Money Bills for Presidential consideration. Never invoked in India. Designed to protect national financial stability.
Zonal Councils, which promote inter-State cooperation, were established by which legal instrument?
- Constitutional Amendment
- Parliamentary Act
- Presidential Order
- Supreme Court Direction
Answer: Parliamentary Act
States Reorganisation Act, 1956 (not Constitution) established five Zonal Councils: Northern, Central, Eastern, Western, Southern. Each comprises CMs of member States + 2 other Ministers per State + Union Home Minister (Chairman). Advisory bodies promoting economic/social planning, border disputes resolution, inter-State transport coordination.
The imposition of President's Rule under Article 356 suspends the State Legislature but not the State Constitution.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Article 356: President's Rule suspends State Council of Ministers and Legislative Assembly; Governor administers State on behalf of President. However, State Constitution (as part of Indian Constitution) remains operative. Parliament legislates on State List for that State. SR Bommai case (1994) made imposition subject to judicial review.
During a National Emergency under Article 352, the Union can give executive directions to States on any matter, effectively converting federal structure into unitary.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Article 353(b): During National Emergency, Union executive power extends to giving directions to any State on 'manner of exercise' of its executive power. Article 256-257 already allow Union directions; Emergency expands this. Combined with Parliament's power to legislate on State List (Article 250), federal structure temporarily becomes unitary. Restored post-Emergency.
Under Article 301, freedom of trade, commerce and intercourse throughout India is subject to parliamentary power to impose restrictions in public interest under which Article?
- Article 302
- Article 303
- Article 304
- Article 305
Answer: Article 302
Article 301: Freedom of trade/commerce/intercourse throughout India. Article 302: Parliament may impose restrictions in public interest. Article 303: Neither Parliament nor State Legislature can discriminate between States or give preference, except to address scarcity. Article 304: States may impose reasonable restrictions with Presidential assent. Balances economic unity with regulatory needs.
Which Article mandates that net proceeds of taxes levied and collected by Union but assigned to States shall not form part of Consolidated Fund of India?
- Article 268
- Article 269
- Article 270
- Article 271
Answer: Article 269
Article 269: Taxes levied/collected by Union but assigned to States (e.g., estate duty on non-agricultural property, terminal taxes on goods/passengers) do not form part of Consolidated Fund of India. Article 270 covers taxes levied/collected by Union and distributed between Union and States (e.g., income tax). Article 268 covers duties levied by Union but collected/appropriated by States (e.g., stamp duties).
Under Article 262, Parliament can by law provide for adjudication of disputes relating to waters of inter-State rivers, and such law can exclude jurisdiction of ______.
- Parliament
- President
- Supreme Court
- High Courts
Answer: Supreme Court
Article 262(2): Parliament may by law exclude jurisdiction of Supreme Court or any other court over inter-State water disputes. Inter-State Water Disputes Act, 1956 establishes tribunals whose awards have same force as Supreme Court orders. Recent amendment (2019) makes tribunal awards final and binding.
Under which Article can the President refer a question of law or fact of public importance to the Supreme Court for its advisory opinion?
- Article 131
- Article 136
- Article 143
- Article 145
Answer: Article 143
Article 143 empowers the President to refer any question of law or fact of public importance to the Supreme Court for its advisory opinion. The Supreme Court may hear such references and submit its report to the President. While advisory, such opinions carry significant weight (e.g., Ayodhya reference, 1993).
The Supreme Court can review its own judgments under Article 137.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Article 137 empowers the Supreme Court to review any judgment pronounced or order made by it, subject to provisions of any law made by Parliament or rules made under Article 145. This review jurisdiction is exercised by a bench of the same or larger strength, typically to correct patent errors or address new evidence.
During a National Emergency, which Fundamental Rights cannot be suspended even by a Presidential order?
- Articles 14 and 19
- Articles 20 and 21
- Articles 25 and 26
- Articles 32 and 226
Answer: Articles 20 and 21
After the 44th Amendment Act, 1978, Articles 20 (protection in respect of conviction for offences) and 21 (protection of life and personal liberty) cannot be suspended even during a National Emergency. Earlier, during the 1975 Emergency, even Article 21 was suspended, leading to this safeguard.
The Parliament can make laws on a subject in the State List if the Rajya Sabha passes a resolution by a two-thirds majority declaring it expedient in the national interest.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Under Article 249, if Rajya Sabha passes a resolution by a two-thirds majority of members present and voting that it is expedient in the national interest for Parliament to legislate on a State List subject, Parliament can make laws on that subject. Such a resolution remains in force for one year but can be renewed. This provision balances federalism with national needs.
Which type of emergency has never been proclaimed in India so far?
- National Emergency (Article 352)
- State Emergency/President's Rule (Article 356)
- Financial Emergency (Article 360)
- All have been proclaimed
Answer: Financial Emergency (Article 360)
Financial Emergency under Article 360 has never been proclaimed in India. National Emergency has been proclaimed three times (1962, 1971, 1975), and President's Rule under Article 356 has been imposed over 120 times in various States. The non-use of Article 360 reflects India's relatively stable financial management.
During a Financial Emergency under Article 360, the President can direct reduction of salaries of all government officials including Judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Article 360 empowers the President to proclaim a Financial Emergency if satisfied that India's financial stability or credit is threatened. During such emergency, the President can issue directions for reduction of salaries of all government officials, including Supreme Court and High Court Judges. However, a Financial Emergency has never been proclaimed in India.
In case of a conflict between a law made by Parliament and a law made by a State Legislature on a subject in the Concurrent List, which law prevails?
- State law always prevails
- Central law always prevails
- The law which received Presidential assent first prevails
- The matter is decided by the Supreme Court
Answer: Central law always prevails
Under Article 254, if there is a repugnancy between a Central law and a State law on a Concurrent List subject, the Central law prevails. However, if the State law has been reserved for the President's consideration and has received his assent, then the State law prevails in that State (subject to Parliament's power to override later).