Union-State Relations — Set 10
Constitution Special · केंद्र-राज्य संबंध · Questions 91–100 of 140
Which article empowers Parliament to legislate for the implementation of international treaty obligations?
Correct Answer: D. Article 253
Article 253 gives Parliament the special power to make any law for the whole or any part of India for implementing any treaty, agreement, or convention with any other country or countries, or any decision made at any international conference, association, or other body. This power is not restricted by the legislative lists — Parliament can override state subjects to comply with international obligations. Parliament is the supreme legislative body of India, consisting of the President, Lok Sabha, and Rajya Sabha.
Article 355 and Article 356 together establish the principle that?
Correct Answer: B. The Centre has a constitutional responsibility to ensure constitutional governance in states, and can intervene if states fail
Articles 355 and 356 together establish that: (1) The Centre has a constitutional duty to protect states (Article 355); (2) If states fail to be governed constitutionally, the Centre can take over (Article 356); (3) This intervention (President's Rule) is limited in time and subject to Parliamentary approval and judicial review. Together they balance Centre's supervisory role with state autonomy. Understanding this constitutional provision is essential for competitive examinations and civic awareness.
Under which article can the Central government acquire property in a State without the state government's consent?
Correct Answer: C. Article 294
Article 294 provides for succession to property, assets, and liabilities from the British Crown to the Government of India. More generally, Article 300A provides that no person shall be deprived of his property except by authority of law. For government acquisition, the government must use land acquisition laws. Central government can acquire state land for national purposes after completing legal formalities.
The concept of 'Cooperative Federalism' promoted by NITI Aayog is different from the old Planning Commission because?
Correct Answer: B. NITI Aayog promotes bottom-up planning and consultative decision-making with states, unlike Planning Commission which was top-down
NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India), established in 2015 replacing Planning Commission, promotes 'Cooperative Federalism' by: (1) involving states in national planning through consultation; (2) having Chief Ministers of all states as members; (3) developing state-specific strategies; (4) providing bottom-up planning framework. The old Planning Commission was a top-down body that centrally planned resource allocation. The Election Commission of India is an autonomous constitutional authority responsible for administering elections.
The First Schedule of the Constitution lists the?
Correct Answer: B. Names of States and Union Territories and their territories
The First Schedule to the Indian Constitution contains the names of the States and their territorial extent, and the names of the Union Territories. It is regularly updated when new states are created or when boundaries change. For example, when Telangana was carved out of Andhra Pradesh in 2014, the First Schedule was updated.
Which article makes the boundaries of states justiciable in the Supreme Court?
Correct Answer: B. Article 131
Article 131 gives the Supreme Court original jurisdiction over disputes between the Government of India and one or more States. However, formation and reorganization of state boundaries under Article 3 is a legislative process (Parliament decides) and not a justiciable question for courts. Disputes about constitutional rights of states can go to the Supreme Court under Article 131.
The 'Legislative Competence' of a state law is challenged by?
Correct Answer: B. The Central Government, other states, or any person adversely affected
The legislative competence of a state law can be challenged: (1) by any person whose fundamental rights are affected (under Article 32/226); (2) by the Central Government or other states (under Article 131); or (3) by the Central Government which may argue that the state law is repugnant to a Central law under Article 254. The Supreme Court or High Court determines whether the law falls within the state's legislative competence. Understanding this constitutional provision is essential for competitive examinations and civic awareness.
The constitutional position of states in India regarding their creation/abolition is that?
Correct Answer: B. Parliament can create/alter/abolish states by ordinary legislation under Article 3
Article 3 of the Constitution provides that Parliament may by law: form a new state; increase/diminish the area of a state; alter the boundaries of a state; alter the name of a state. This is done by a simple majority bill (not constitutional amendment). The state legislature must be referred to for 'views' (not consent) before Parliament acts.
Which constitutional amendment reorganized Indian states on linguistic basis?
Correct Answer: B. Seventh Amendment 1956
The Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act 1956 implemented the recommendations of the States Reorganisation Commission (1953-55) chaired by Justice Fazal Ali. It reorganized state boundaries primarily on linguistic basis, creating 14 states and 6 Union Territories. This was one of the most comprehensive reorganizations of state boundaries in Indian constitutional history.
The 'doctrine of Pith and Substance' in Centre-State relations is used to?
Correct Answer: B. Determine which legislature is competent to make a law when it seems to trespass into another's domain
The doctrine of Pith and Substance means that if a law is substantially about a subject within one legislature's competence, it is valid even if it incidentally touches subjects from another list. Courts look at the 'pith and substance' (core or essence) of the law, not its incidental effects. This helps resolve conflicts between Central and State laws.