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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.
Article 343 declares Hindi in Devanagari script as the official language of Union, but English continues for official purposes for a period of ______ years from commencement of Constitution.
- 10
- 15
- 20
- 25
Answer: 15
Article 343(2): English to continue for 15 years (till 1965) for official Union purposes. Official Languages Act, 1963 extended English indefinitely alongside Hindi. Article 345 allows States to adopt official language(s). Article 346 provides for language for communication between States and with Union. Balances national integration with linguistic diversity.
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.
The Inter-State Council, established under Article 263, is chaired by the ______.
- Vice President
- Prime Minister
- Chief Justice of India
- Home Minister
Answer: Prime Minister
Article 263: President may establish Inter-State Council to inquire into and advise on: (a) disputes between States, (b) subjects of common interest, (c) policy recommendations. Established in 1990; chaired by PM; members include CMs of States, UTs, and Union Ministers. Promotes inter-governmental cooperation.
The GST Council, which makes recommendations on GST issues, is chaired by the ______ and includes Union Finance Minister and State Finance Ministers.
- Prime Minister
- President
- Union Finance Minister
- Chief Justice
Answer: Union Finance Minister
Article 279A (inserted by 101st Amendment, 2016): GST Council 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. Exemplifies cooperative federalism in fiscal matters.
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.
Under Article 275, Parliament can make grants-in-aid to States which are in need of assistance, charged on the ______ Fund of India.
- Contingency
- Public Account
- Consolidated
- Relief
Answer: Consolidated
Article 275: Parliament may make statutory grants-in-aid to States in need, charged on Consolidated Fund of India (not subject to annual vote). Includes specific grants for welfare of STs, improvement of administration in Assam, etc. Distinct from Article 282 grants (for public purpose, discretionary).
The Finance Commission is a constitutional body constituted every 5 years to recommend distribution of tax revenues between Centre and States.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Article 280: President constitutes Finance Commission every 5 years (or earlier) comprising Chairman + 4 members. Recommendations cover: (a) tax devolution between Centre-States, (b) grants-in-aid to States, (c) augmenting State Panchayat/Municipality funds. 15th FC (2020-25) recommended 41% vertical devolution to States.
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.
All India Services like IAS and IPS are controlled exclusively by the Union Government.
- True
- False
Answer: False
Article 312: All India Services (IAS, IPS, IFoS) are created by Parliament but serve under both Union and States. Officers are recruited/trained by Union (UPSC) but serve in State cadres under State control. Disciplinary control is shared: State initiates, but major penalties require Union consultation. Balances federal needs with national standards.
Under Article 256, States are obligated to exercise executive power to ensure compliance with ______.
- State Legislature laws only
- Parliament laws and existing laws
- Supreme Court directions only
- Governor's orders only
Answer: Parliament laws and existing laws
Article 256: State executive power must be exercised to ensure compliance with Parliament laws and existing laws applicable in State. Union can give directions to States for this purpose. Article 257 extends this to Union directions on matters like railways, communications. Ensures national policy uniformity.
If a State law on Concurrent List conflicts with a Union law, the ______ law shall prevail, unless the State law has received Presidential assent.
- State
- Union
- older
- newer
Answer: Union
Article 254(1): In case of 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).
Residuary powers (subjects not mentioned in any List) are vested with the States in the Indian Constitution.
- True
- False
Answer: False
Article 248: Residuary powers are vested with Parliament (Union), not States. This 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. This gives Indian federalism a strong unitary bias, unlike USA where residuary powers rest with States.
The Seventh Schedule of the Indian Constitution contains how many Lists for distribution of legislative powers?
- Two
- Three
- Four
- Five
Answer: Three
Seventh Schedule contains three Lists: Union List (List I - 97 subjects), State List (List II - 61 subjects), Concurrent List (List III - 52 subjects). Parliament has exclusive power on Union List, State Legislatures on State List, and both on Concurrent List (Union law prevails in conflict).
The Preamble of the Indian Constitution declares India to be a Sovereign, Socialist, Secular, Democratic ______.
- Monarchy
- Republic
- Federation
- Confederation
Answer: Republic
The Preamble declares India to be a 'Sovereign Socialist Secular Democratic Republic'. The term 'Republic' signifies that the head of State (President) is elected, not hereditary, and that political sovereignty rests with the people, not a monarch. This distinguishes India from constitutional monarchies like the UK.
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 voting age was reduced from 21 to 18 years by the ______ Constitutional Amendment Act, 1988.
Answer: 61st
The 61st Constitutional Amendment Act, 1988 amended Article 326 to reduce the voting age for Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assembly elections from 21 to 18 years. This was aimed at empowering youth and increasing democratic participation. It came into effect in 1989.
The Right to Privacy is explicitly mentioned as a Fundamental Right in the text of the Indian Constitution.
- True
- False
Answer: False
The Right to Privacy is not explicitly mentioned in the Constitution's text. However, in the landmark Justice K.S. Puttaswamy v. Union of India case (2017), a nine-judge bench of the Supreme Court unanimously held that Right to Privacy is an intrinsic part of Right to Life and Personal Liberty under Article 21, and thus a Fundamental Right.