Medium Level – GK Questions

Answer: True

GST Council (Article 279A): Chaired by Union Finance Minister; members include Union Minister of State for Finance + State Finance Ministers. Decisions by 3/4 majority: Centre has 1/3 vote weight, States collectively 2/3. Enables consensus-based decisions on GST rates, exemptions, thresholds. Exemplifies cooperative federalism: shared sovereignty in fiscal policy for 'One Nation, One Tax'.

Answer: False

NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India): Established by executive resolution (2015), NOT constitutional body. Governing Council comprises PM + all CMs + UT Lt. Governors. Promotes cooperative federalism through policy dialogue, best practices sharing, competitive federalism rankings. Unlike Planning Commission's top-down approach, emphasizes 'Team India' with States as partners.

Answer: President

Article 3 procedure: (a) Bill introduced in Parliament only on President's recommendation, (b) President refers bill to affected State Legislature(s) for views within specified period, (c) Parliament not bound by State views. Ensures federal consultation while preserving Union's power to reorganize States for administrative efficiency, linguistic considerations, or developmental needs.

Answer: Hindi

Article 345: State Legislature may adopt: (a) any language in use in State, OR (b) Hindi, as official language(s). Subject to Article 346 (language for communication between States/with Union) and Article 347 (President's direction for recognition of language). Balances State linguistic autonomy with national integration needs.

Answer: Home Minister

States Reorganisation Act, 1956 (not Constitution): Established five Zonal Councils (Northern, Central, Eastern, Western, Southern). Each comprises: CMs of member States + 2 Ministers per State + Union Home Minister (Chairman). Advisory bodies promoting: economic/social planning, border disputes resolution, inter-State transport coordination. Complements constitutional federal mechanisms.

Answer: corporation tax

Article 270: Taxes levied/collected by Union and distributed: (a) Income tax (excluding agricultural income), (b) Corporation tax. Distribution per Finance Commission recommendations (15th FC: 41% to States). Distinct from Article 268 (Union duties collected/appropriated by States) and Article 269 (Union taxes assigned to States). Complex fiscal federalism architecture.

Answer: cooperative

Article 263: President may establish Inter-State Council to: (a) inquire into and advise on disputes between States, (b) investigate subjects of common interest, (c) make policy recommendations. Established 1990; chaired by PM; members include CMs, UT Lt. Governors, Union Ministers. Institutionalizes dialogue and consensus-building in Centre-State relations.

Answer: True

Article 312: All India Services (IAS, IPS, IFoS) created by Parliament; recruited/trained by Union (UPSC); serve in State cadres under State control for day-to-day administration. Disciplinary control shared: State initiates proceedings, but major penalties require Union consultation. Balances national standards with State administrative autonomy; key feature of Indian federalism.

Answer: Both Articles 256 and 257

Article 256: States must exercise executive power to ensure compliance with Parliament laws and existing laws; Union may give directions. Article 257: Extends to Union directions on matters like construction/maintenance of means of communication of national/military importance, protection of railways, etc. Ensures national policy implementation while respecting State executive domain.

Answer: Union law prevails unless State law has Presidential assent

Article 254(1): In repugnancy between Union and State law on Concurrent List, Union law prevails. Exception under Article 254(2): If State law reserved for President's consideration and receives assent, it prevails in that State (but Parliament can still override by subsequent law). Balances Union supremacy with State flexibility.

Answer: laches

Doctrine of laches: Equitable principle that courts may refuse relief if petitioner delays unreasonably in filing petition, causing prejudice to respondent or public interest. Not a rigid rule; courts balance: (a) Nature of right violated, (b) Reason for delay, (c) Prejudice to parties, (d) Public interest. Ensures timely enforcement while accommodating genuine hardships.

Answer: Fundamental

Key distinction: Article 32 is itself a Fundamental Right (Part III), making access to SC for FR enforcement a guaranteed right. Article 226 is a constitutional power (Part V) of High Courts, not a fundamental right. Thus, Parliament cannot curtail Article 32 by ordinary law, while Article 226 jurisdiction can be regulated by law (subject to basic structure).

Answer: locus standi

PIL evolution: S.P. Gupta v. Union of India (1981): SC relaxed locus standi (personal injury requirement), allowing any citizen/public-spirited organization to file petition for enforcement of rights of persons unable to approach court due to poverty, ignorance, or social disadvantage. Transformed judicial role from dispute resolution to social justice delivery.

Answer: legal

Article 226(1): HC can issue writs for: (a) enforcement of Fundamental Rights (like SC), OR (b) 'for any other purpose' i.e., enforcement of legal rights (statutory/common law rights). Thus, HC's writ jurisdiction is substantively wider. However, SC's jurisdiction is nationwide while HC's is territorial. Complementary roles in rights protection.

Answer: True

Traditional view: Writs only against 'State' under Article 12. Expanded view (Pradeep Kumar Biswas case, 2002): Writs can issue against private bodies if: (a) Function is public in nature, (b) Body is financially/functionally controlled by State, (c) Instrumentality/agency of State. Ensures FR protection against privatized public functions.

Answer: Throughout the territory of India

Article 32(2): Supreme Court's writ jurisdiction extends throughout India. High Court's jurisdiction under Article 226 is limited to: (a) territories within its State, OR (b) cause of action arising within its territories even if respondent resides outside. SC's nationwide jurisdiction ensures uniform FR protection across country.

Answer: public

Quo Warranto: Issued to restrain a person from acting in a public office to which they are not entitled. Conditions: (a) Office must be public and created by Constitution/statute, (b) Person must be asserting claim to office, (c) Claim must be without legal authority. Protects public from usurpers of official positions.

Answer: Public official failing to perform statutory duty

Mandamus: Issued by higher court to lower court/tribunal/public authority to perform public duty imposed by law. Cannot be issued against: (a) private individuals/bodies, (b) President/Governors (constitutional heads), (c) Legislature (law-making), (d) discretionary duties. Ensures executive accountability for statutory obligations.

Answer: False

Article 226: High Courts can issue writs for: (a) enforcement of Fundamental Rights (like SC under Article 32), AND (b) 'for any other purpose' (enforcement of legal rights). Thus, HC's writ jurisdiction is wider substantively (FRs + legal rights) though territorially limited to State. SC's writ jurisdiction is nationwide but limited to FRs.

Answer: Minister

Article 368(1): Constitutional Amendment Bill can be introduced in either House only by a Minister (government bill), not by private member. Requires prior recommendation of President only for amendments affecting federal provisions (Article 368 proviso). Ensures executive responsibility for constitutional changes while allowing either House to initiate.