Federalism & Centre–State Relations Quiz: Indian Polity Practice

Spoilers! These are the Starter quiz’s answers. Easy, Medium, Hard and Mixed rounds show their own answers when you finish.

1. Article 1 of the Constitution describes India as a:

   • Union of States
   • Federation of States
   • Confederation of States
   • Union of Provinces

   Answer: Union of States. The phrase "Union of States" signals that the federation was not formed by an agreement among states and that no state can secede.

2. Under Article 248, the residuary powers of legislation in India are vested in:

   • the state legislatures
   • both Parliament and the states jointly
   • Parliament
   • the President

   Answer: Parliament. India follows the Canadian model of giving residuary powers to the Centre. In the USA and Australia they belong to the states.

3. Which subject was transferred from the State List to the Concurrent List by the 42nd Amendment Act, 1976?

   • Police
   • Education
   • Agriculture
   • Public health

   Answer: Education. Five subjects moved: education, forests, weights and measures, protection of wild animals and birds, and administration of justice. Police, agriculture and public health remain state subjects.

4. Under Article 249, Parliament can make laws on a State List subject in the national interest if:

   • the Lok Sabha passes a resolution by a simple majority
   • two or more state legislatures request it by resolution
   • the President issues a proclamation on the advice of the Cabinet
   • the Rajya Sabha passes a resolution supported by two-thirds of members present and voting

   Answer: the Rajya Sabha passes a resolution supported by two-thirds of members present and voting. Only the Rajya Sabha resolution is needed. The resulting law lasts one year at a time. A request by states is the Article 252 route.

5. If a state law on a Concurrent List subject conflicts with a central law, the state law prevails in that state only when:

   • the Governor gave assent before the central law was made
   • it was passed earlier than the central law
   • the Assembly passed it by a two-thirds majority
   • it was reserved for and received the assent of the President

   Answer: it was reserved for and received the assent of the President. Article 254(2) lets a state law with Presidential assent prevail, though Parliament can later amend or repeal it.

6. The Inter-State Council under Article 263 was first constituted in 1990 on the recommendation of the:

   • Punchhi Commission
   • Sarkaria Commission
   • Rajamannar Committee
   • First Administrative Reforms Commission

   Answer: Sarkaria Commission. The Sarkaria Commission (report 1988) recommended a permanent Inter-State Council. The Punchhi Commission reported much later, in 2010.

7. Zonal Councils in India were established by:

   • Article 263 of the Constitution
   • an executive resolution of 1950
   • the States Reorganisation Act, 1956
   • the 42nd Amendment Act, 1976

   Answer: the States Reorganisation Act, 1956. They are statutory bodies under the 1956 Act, each chaired by the Union Home Minister. The Inter-State Council is the one under Article 263.

8. Which body is chaired by the Union Finance Minister and takes decisions by a three-fourths majority of weighted votes?

   • GST Council
   • Finance Commission
   • Inter-State Council
   • NITI Aayog Governing Council

   Answer: GST Council. The GST Council under Article 279A gives the Centre one-third and the states two-thirds of the voting weight, so decisions need both sides.

9. A bill to alter the boundaries of a state can be introduced in Parliament only:

   • with the prior consent of the state legislature concerned
   • on the President's recommendation, after he refers it to the state legislature for its views
   • after a referendum in the affected area
   • as a constitutional amendment ratified by half of the states

   Answer: on the President's recommendation, after he refers it to the state legislature for its views. Under Article 3 the state's views are sought but are not binding, and Article 4 says such a law is not an amendment under Article 368.

10. Which Article allows Parliament to provide for adjudication of inter-state river water disputes and to bar the Supreme Court's jurisdiction over them?

    • Article 263
    • Article 131
    • Article 262
    • Article 280

    Answer: Article 262. Under Article 262 Parliament passed the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956, which sets up tribunals and keeps courts out of such disputes.