State Executive & Legislature 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. Which Constitutional Amendment made it possible for the same person to be appointed Governor of two or more states?

   • 42nd Amendment, 1976
   • 1st Amendment, 1951
   • 7th Amendment, 1956
   • 44th Amendment, 1978

   Answer: 7th Amendment, 1956. The 7th Amendment, which accompanied the reorganisation of states, added this proviso to Article 153.

2. The oath of office to the Governor of a state is administered by:

   • the Chief Justice of the High Court of that state
   • the President of India
   • the Chief Justice of India
   • the Speaker of the state Legislative Assembly

   Answer: the Chief Justice of the High Court of that state. Article 159 provides for the oath before the state High Court Chief Justice, or the senior-most available judge in his absence.

3. Unlike the President, the Governor of a state cannot:

   • commute a sentence
   • remit a sentence
   • suspend a sentence
   • pardon a death sentence

   Answer: pardon a death sentence. Under Article 161 the Governor may suspend, remit or commute a death sentence, but only the President can pardon it under Article 72.

4. When a bill passed by the state Legislature would endanger the position of the High Court, the Governor must:

   • return it to the Legislature for reconsideration
   • reserve it for the consideration of the President
   • give assent within thirty days
   • refer it to the Supreme Court for opinion

   Answer: reserve it for the consideration of the President. Article 200 makes reservation compulsory in this case. In other cases reservation is a matter of the Governor's discretion.

5. A Legislative Council in a state can be created or abolished by:

   • a Constitutional amendment ratified by half of the states
   • an Act of Parliament, after the state Assembly passes a resolution by special majority
   • a Presidential order on the Governor's recommendation
   • a resolution of the state Legislative Assembly alone

   Answer: an Act of Parliament, after the state Assembly passes a resolution by special majority. Article 169 needs both the Assembly resolution and a law of Parliament. That law is not treated as an Article 368 amendment.

6. What is the maximum strength of a state Legislative Council?

   • One-fourth of the total strength of the Legislative Assembly
   • Half of the total strength of the Legislative Assembly
   • A fixed number of 100 members
   • One-third of the total strength of the Legislative Assembly

   Answer: One-third of the total strength of the Legislative Assembly. Article 171 caps the Council at one-third of the Assembly, with a minimum of 40 members.

7. In a state Legislative Council, the share of members elected by registered graduates of at least three years' standing is:

   • one-twelfth
   • one-third
   • one-sixth
   • one-fourth

   Answer: one-twelfth. Graduates and teachers elect one-twelfth each; local bodies and the Assembly elect one-third each; the Governor nominates the rest.

8. The total number of ministers, including the Chief Minister, in a state Council of Ministers shall not be less than:

   • 7
   • 10
   • 12
   • 15

   Answer: 12. Article 164(1A), added by the 91st Amendment, sets a ceiling of 15% of the Assembly and a floor of 12 ministers.

9. If a state Legislative Council rejects an ordinary bill passed by the Legislative Assembly, the deadlock is resolved by:

   • a joint sitting of both Houses presided over by the Speaker
   • the Governor referring the bill to the President
   • a reference to the state High Court
   • the Assembly passing the bill again, as there is no joint sitting in states

   Answer: the Assembly passing the bill again, as there is no joint sitting in states. The Council can only delay an ordinary bill (three months, then one month). If the Assembly passes it again, the bill is deemed passed.

10. The Advocate General of a state is appointed under:

    • Article 165
    • Article 76
    • Article 148
    • Article 217

    Answer: Article 165. Article 165 provides for the Advocate General, appointed by the Governor. Article 76 is the Attorney General, Article 148 the CAG and Article 217 High Court judges.