Q1. Which of the following features is not considered a traditional federal feature of the Indian Constitution?
Union-State Relations: RAS Prelims MCQs
86 RAS Prelims MCQs on Union-State relations cover how legislative and executive powers are divided and when Parliament can make laws on State subjects. Residuary powers, Articles 249, 250, 252 and 253, the Governor’s role as an agent of the Centre, Article 356 and the landmark cases are asked as facts and statements.
Practice questions based on the RPSC RAS Prelims syllabus. They follow the exam pattern but are not past-paper questions.
Showing 1–10 of 86 questions
Q2. Read the following statements regarding the federal features of the Indian Constitution and select the correct option:
Statement I: The Indian Constitution is considered rigid because the provisions concerning federal structure can be amended only by a special majority of Parliament and ratification by half of the state legislatures.
Statement II: The establishment of an independent judiciary is essential to resolve disputes between the Centre and the States.
Statement I: The Indian Constitution is considered rigid because the provisions concerning federal structure can be amended only by a special majority of Parliament and ratification by half of the state legislatures.
Statement II: The establishment of an independent judiciary is essential to resolve disputes between the Centre and the States.
Explanation
The Indian Constitution is characterized as rigid because amendments affecting its federal structure require a special majority in Parliament and ratification by half of the states. Furthermore, an independent judiciary is vital in a federal system to act as an impartial arbiter. It ensures that neither the Centre nor the States overstep their constitutional boundaries during administrative or legislative actions.
Q3. Which of the following statements correctly defines the concept of ‘Dual Polity’ in the Indian context?
Explanation
Dual polity refers to the existence of two distinct levels of government within a federal framework. In India, both the Union and the States derive their authority directly from the Constitution. Each level exercises sovereign powers within the specific fields assigned to it by the Seventh Schedule, ensuring a clear distribution of legislative, executive, and financial responsibilities across the country.
Q4. Match the features of the Indian federal system in List-I with their primary source or inspiration in List-II:
| Features of the Indian Federal System | Primary Source or Inspiration |
|---|---|
| A. Federation with a strong Centre | i. Australian Constitution |
| B. Concurrent List | ii. Canadian Constitution |
| C. Method of election of the President | iii. Japanese Constitution |
| D. Procedure established by Law | iv. Irish Constitution |
Explanation
The Indian federal system draws inspiration from various international constitutions. The model of a federation with a strong Centre is based on the Canadian Constitution. The Concurrent List is inspired by Australia, while the method of electing the President comes from Ireland. Finally, the phrase procedure established by law is a feature adopted from the Japanese Constitution for legal protections.
Q5. Which of the following represents an exception to the strict federal principle in the Indian Constitution?
Explanation
Article 3 of the Indian Constitution grants Parliament the power to alter the boundaries or names of states without their formal consent. This represents a significant departure from strict federalism, where the territorial integrity of constituent units is usually guaranteed. In India, states are not indestructible, allowing the Union to reorganize regional territories for administrative convenience or to address political demands.
Q6. India is often described as a ‘quasi-federal’ state. What is the primary cause for this classification?
Explanation
India is termed quasi-federal because its constitutional structure is federal in form but unitary in spirit. While it maintains two levels of government, the Union possesses overriding powers, especially during emergencies. This unitary bias allows the central government to assume control over state subjects, ensuring national stability and security, which distinguishes India from more decentralized and traditional federal systems like America.
Q7. Consider the following statements regarding the legislative relations between the Union and the States:
I. Article 245 defines the territorial extent of laws made by Parliament and State Legislatures.
II. Article 246 completely debars Parliament from making laws on items enumerated in the State List under any circumstance.
III. Article 254 deals with the inconsistency between laws made by Parliament and laws made by the Legislatures of States.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
I. Article 245 defines the territorial extent of laws made by Parliament and State Legislatures.
II. Article 246 completely debars Parliament from making laws on items enumerated in the State List under any circumstance.
III. Article 254 deals with the inconsistency between laws made by Parliament and laws made by the Legislatures of States.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
Explanation
Article 245 defines the territorial extent of legislative powers, and Article 254 addresses inconsistencies between Union and State laws on concurrent subjects. While Article 246 distributes legislative powers across three lists, it does not completely debar Parliament from making laws on state subjects.
Q8. According to the Constitution of India, who possesses the power to make laws with ‘extra-territorial operation’?
Explanation
Under Article 245 of the Indian Constitution, only the Parliament possesses the authority to make laws with extra-territorial operation. This means parliamentary laws can apply to Indian citizens and their property located anywhere in the world. Conversely, laws enacted by State Legislatures are strictly confined to the territorial limits of the respective state and cannot have legal effects outside those regional boundaries.
Q9. The following question consists of two statements -- Assertion (A) and Reason (R). Answer the question by selecting the appropriate option:
Assertion (A): A law made by a State Legislature on a subject in the Concurrent List that is repugnant to an earlier law made by Parliament can still prevail in that State.
Reason (R): If the State law has been reserved for the consideration of the President and has received his assent, it prevails over the Parliamentary law in that State.
Assertion (A): A law made by a State Legislature on a subject in the Concurrent List that is repugnant to an earlier law made by Parliament can still prevail in that State.
Reason (R): If the State law has been reserved for the consideration of the President and has received his assent, it prevails over the Parliamentary law in that State.
Explanation
Generally, a central law prevails over a conflicting state law on a concurrent subject. However, Article 254 provides an exception where a state law can prevail if it was reserved for the President’s consideration and received his assent. This mechanism allows for regional variations in law while maintaining the overall supremacy of Parliament, provided the Union executive approves the deviation.
Q10. The ‘Doctrine of Colourable Legislation’ in the context of Union-State legislative relations implies that:
Explanation
The doctrine of colourable legislation tests the competence of a legislature to enact a specific law. It posits that a legislature cannot use its power to achieve a prohibited objective by disguising it as an authorized one. If the primary purpose of a law falls outside the legislature’s jurisdiction, the law is considered invalid, regardless of its outward appearance or stated motives.Answer key for these questions
| Q | Correct answer |
|---|---|
| 1 | (b) Single Citizenship |
| 2 | (c) Both Statement I and Statement II are correct |
| 3 | (c) Two levels of government--Union and State--exercising sovereign powers within their assigned fields. |
| 4 | (d) A-ii, B-i, C-iv, D-iii |
| 5 | (c) Parliament’s authority to unilaterally alter state boundaries without state consent. |
| 6 | (d) Unitary bias allowing the Union to exercise centralizing powers during emergencies. |
| 7 | (a) I and III only |
| 8 | (c) Parliament only |
| 9 | (a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A. |
| 10 | (d) A legislature cannot do indirectly what it cannot do directly. |
Key facts from Union-State Relations
- Residuary powers, over subjects in none of the three lists, belong to Parliament.
- Parliament can legislate on a State List subject by a two-thirds Rajya Sabha resolution (Article 249), in a National Emergency (Article 250), with State consent (Article 252) and to implement a treaty (Article 253).
- A Rajya Sabha resolution under Article 249 lasts one year at a time.
- Article 256 requires the States to exercise their executive power in compliance with Union laws.
- The S. R. Bommai case (1994) laid down guidelines on Article 356 and made it subject to judicial review.
- The Sarkaria Commission recommended that the Governor be an eminent person from outside the State.
Frequently asked questions
How many RAS Prelims practice MCQs are there on Union-State Relations?
This page has 86 practice MCQs on Union-State Relations (Indian Polity and Governance). Each has the correct answer, and most have an explanation.
What are residuary powers?
The powers of legislation over subjects not mentioned in any of the three lists. Article 248 gives them to Parliament, unlike in the United States, where residuary powers belong to the States.
What did the S. R. Bommai case decide?
In 1994 the Supreme Court laid down guidelines to prevent misuse of Article 356 (President’s Rule). It held that a proclamation is subject to judicial review, and that a floor test is the way to test a government’s majority.
When can Parliament make laws on State subjects?
In five situations: a Rajya Sabha resolution (Article 249), a National Emergency (250), consent of two or more States (252), implementation of international treaties (253) and President’s Rule (356).