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The Supreme Court has original jurisdiction under Article 131 to adjudicate disputes between the Union and States or between States, except those arising from pre-Constitution ______.
- laws
- treaties
- agreements
- customs
Answer: treaties
Article 131 proviso: SC's original jurisdiction in federal disputes excludes matters arising from treaties, agreements, covenants, engagements, sanads entered into before Constitution commencement and continuing thereafter. Such disputes resolved per terms of instrument. Preserves historical arrangements while enabling judicial resolution of new federal conflicts through apex court's authoritative interpretation.
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 in diverse post-Partition India.
Under Article 301, freedom of trade, commerce and intercourse throughout India is subject to parliamentary power to impose restrictions in public interest under Article 302, but neither Parliament nor State Legislatures can give preference to one State over another under which Article?
- Article 303
- Article 304
- Article 305
- Article 306
Answer: Article 303
Article 301: Freedom of trade/commerce/intercourse throughout India. Article 302: Parliament may impose restrictions in public interest. Article 303(1): Neither Parliament nor State Legislature can make law giving preference to one State over another or discriminating between States by virtue of any entry in Lists. Exception: Article 303(2) allows preference to address scarcity of goods. Balances economic unity with regulatory needs.
During Financial Emergency under Article 360, the President can issue directions to States to observe canons of financial ______, and to reduce salaries of government servants including High Court Judges.
- 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 while respecting judicial independence through other safeguards.
NITI Aayog, which replaced the Planning Commission in 2015, is a constitutional body established under Article 263.
- True
- False
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.
Residuary powers (subjects not mentioned in any List) are vested with which level of government in India?
- State Governments
- Union Government
- Local Governments
- Shared equally
Answer: Union Government
Article 248: Residuary powers vested with Parliament (Union). Includes power to make laws on any matter not enumerated in Concurrent or State List, including power to impose taxes not mentioned in either List. Gives Indian federalism strong unitary bias, unlike USA where residuary powers rest with States. Reflects Constituent Assembly's priority for national unity post-Partition.
Under Article 3, Parliament can form new States or alter boundaries of existing States, but must first refer the proposal to the affected State Legislature(s) for expressing views within a period specified by the ______.
- Supreme Court
- President
- Prime Minister
- Speaker
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.
The Supreme Court in SR Bommai case (1994) held that the imposition of President's Rule under Article 356 is subject to judicial review and the State Legislative Assembly can be revived if the proclamation is struck down.
- True
- False
Answer: True
SR Bommai v. Union of India (1994): Landmark 9-judge bench judgment: (a) Presidential satisfaction under Article 356 subject to judicial review, (b) Proclamation can be struck down if mala fide or based on irrelevant grounds, (c) Floor test is primary method to test majority, (d) Assembly dissolution not automatic; can be revived if proclamation invalidated. Curbed arbitrary use of Article 356.
Under Article 345, a State Legislature may adopt any language(s) in use in the State or ______ as the official language(s) of that State.
- English
- Hindi
- Sanskrit
- any language included in Eighth Schedule
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.
Zonal Councils, which promote inter-State cooperation, were established by the States Reorganisation Act, 1956, and are chaired by the ______.
- Prime Minister
- Home Minister
- Chief Justice
- Finance Minister
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.
During a National Emergency under Article 352, the federal structure of the Constitution automatically converts into a unitary one without any formal amendment.
- 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 250: Parliament can legislate on State List. Combined effect: State autonomy temporarily suspended; Centre assumes unitary control. Restored post-Emergency. Designed for crisis management, not permanent centralization.
Under Article 262, Parliament has enacted the Inter-State Water Disputes Act, 1956, which establishes tribunals whose awards have the same force as an order of the ______.
- High Court
- Supreme Court
- President
- Finance Commission
Answer: Supreme Court
Article 262(2): Parliament may exclude jurisdiction of Supreme Court/other courts over inter-State water disputes. Inter-State Water Disputes Act, 1956: Tribunals' awards have same force as Supreme Court orders; binding on parties. 2019 amendment makes awards final and binding, with implementation monitoring mechanism. Balances judicial finality with specialized expertise.
Under Article 270, taxes levied and collected by the Union but distributed between Union and States include income tax (excluding agricultural income tax) and ______.
- customs duty
- corporation tax
- excise duty on tobacco
- GST
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.
The Governor acts solely as the constitutional head of the State and has no role as an agent of the Union Government.
- True
- False
Answer: False
Governor has dual role: (a) Constitutional head of State executive (Article 153-167), (b) Agent of Union for reporting State affairs to President (Article 356). This duality can create tension: Sarkaria Commission recommended Governors act impartially, not as Union agents; appointed after consulting State CM; not removed arbitrarily. Balances federal autonomy with Union oversight.
Under Article 279A, decisions of the GST Council are taken by a majority of not less than 3/4th of weighted votes, where the Union has ______ of total votes and States collectively have ______.
- 1/2, 1/2
- 1/3, 2/3
- 1/4, 3/4
- 2/3, 1/3
Answer: 1/3, 2/3
Article 279A(9): GST Council decisions by 3/4th majority of weighted votes: (a) Union Government: 1/3 vote weight, (b) All State Governments collectively: 2/3 vote weight. Ensures neither Union nor States can dominate; requires consensus on GST rates, exemptions, thresholds. Exemplifies cooperative fiscal federalism in practice.
The Inter-State Council, established under Article 263, is chaired by the Prime Minister and includes Chief Ministers of all States and Union Territories with legislatures, promoting ______ federalism.
- competitive
- cooperative
- fiscal
- administrative
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.
Officers of All India Services like IAS and IPS are recruited by the Union but serve under the control of State Governments in State cadres.
- True
- False
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.
Under Article 256, States are obligated to exercise executive power to ensure compliance with laws made by Parliament. The Union can give directions to States for this purpose under which Article?
- Article 256 only
- Article 257 only
- Both Articles 256 and 257
- Article 258
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.
Under Article 252, if two or more State Legislatures pass resolutions requesting Parliament to legislate on a State List subject, Parliament can make law applicable to those States, and other States may adopt it later by passing ______.
- Presidential order
- Governor's notification
- State Legislature resolution
- Supreme Court direction
Answer: State Legislature resolution
Article 252: Cooperative federalism mechanism: (a) Two+ States pass resolutions requesting Parliament to legislate on State List subject, (b) Parliament enacts law applicable to consenting States, (c) Other States may adopt law later by passing State Legislature resolution. Enables uniform legislation on subjects like water disputes, environmental protection while respecting State autonomy.
Under Article 249, Rajya Sabha can enable Parliament to legislate on a State List subject by passing a resolution with simple majority.
- True
- False
Answer: False
Article 249: Rajya Sabha can pass resolution by SPECIAL majority (2/3 of members present and voting) declaring it expedient in national interest that Parliament should legislate on State List subject. Resolution valid for 1 year, renewable. Enables Union legislation on State subjects without Emergency, respecting federal flexibility while ensuring national interest.