Q71. Which of the following is NOT an action typically performed by the Governor acting as an agent of the Centre?
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 71–80 of 86 questions
Q72. Read the following statements regarding the appointment of the Governor and select the correct option:
Statement I: The Sarkaria Commission recommended that the Governor should be an eminent person from outside the state to ensure impartiality.
Statement II: The Constitution mandates that the Chief Minister of the concerned state must be legally consulted before the appointment of a Governor.
Statement I: The Sarkaria Commission recommended that the Governor should be an eminent person from outside the state to ensure impartiality.
Statement II: The Constitution mandates that the Chief Minister of the concerned state must be legally consulted before the appointment of a Governor.
Explanation
The Sarkaria Commission recommended that the Governor should be an eminent person from outside the State, so Statement I is correct. The Constitution does not require consulting the Chief Minister, though it is the convention, so Statement II is incorrect.
Q73. The landmark Supreme Court judgement in the S. R. Bommai case (1994) primarily dealt with preventing the misuse of which constitutional provision?
Explanation
The S. R. Bommai case (1994) laid down guidelines to prevent the misuse of Article 356, the provision for President’s Rule, and made proclamations subject to judicial review.
Q74. According to Dr. B. R. Ambedkar in the Constituent Assembly, the use of Article 356 was expected to be a ‘dead letter’. What is the constitutional justification for invoking it only as a last resort?
Explanation
Ambedkar hoped Article 356 would remain a dead letter. It should be used as a last resort because it disrupts federalism and overrides the democratic mandate of a State.
Q75. Match the landmark Supreme Court cases in List-I with their primary subject matter regarding Centre-State relations in List-II:
| Supreme Court Cases | Primary Subject Matter |
|---|---|
| A. S.R. Bommai v. Union of India (1994) | i. Challenge to dissolution of state assemblies when the ruling party at the Centre changed. |
| B. State of Rajasthan v. Union of India (1977) | ii. Dissolution of Bihar legislative assembly kept in suspended animation was held unconstitutional. |
| C. Rameshwar Prasad v. Union of India (2006) | iii. Established comprehensive guidelines for invoking Article 356 and made it subject to judicial review. |
| D. Kuldip Nayar v. Union of India (2006) | iv. Upheld the amendment doing away with the domicile requirement for Rajya Sabha elections. |
Explanation
Bommai laid down guidelines for Article 356 and made it open to judicial review, State of Rajasthan (1977) was a challenge to the dissolution of assemblies when the party in power at the Centre changed, Rameshwar Prasad (2006) held the Bihar dissolution unconstitutional and Kuldip Nayar (2006) upheld the removal of the domicile requirement for Rajya Sabha. This gives A-iii, B-i, C-ii, D-iv.
Q76. Which of the following statements regarding the maximum duration of President’s Rule under Article 356 is incorrect?
Explanation
President’s Rule must be approved by Parliament within two months and can last six months at a time, up to three years in all, with extension beyond one year only in specific conditions. It cannot be extended indefinitely up to ten years by a simple resolution, so B is incorrect.
Q77. The following question consists of two statements -- Assertion (A) and Reason (R). Answer the question by selecting the appropriate option:
Assertion (A): The Proclamation of President’s Rule under Article 356 is subject to judicial review.
Reason (R): The Supreme Court in the Bommai case ruled that if the presidential proclamation is based on mala fide or irrelevant grounds, the court can strike it down and restore the dismissed state government.
Assertion (A): The Proclamation of President’s Rule under Article 356 is subject to judicial review.
Reason (R): The Supreme Court in the Bommai case ruled that if the presidential proclamation is based on mala fide or irrelevant grounds, the court can strike it down and restore the dismissed state government.
Explanation
The imposition of President’s Rule is not beyond the reach of the courts. In the Bommai case, the Supreme Court established that the proclamation is subject to judicial review to prevent mala fide use of power. If the court finds the grounds for dismissal irrelevant or based on political whim, it has the authority to strike down the proclamation and restore the ousted state government.
Q78. Consider the following instances:
I. Where a state government is deliberately acting against the Constitution and the law.
II. Where a hung assembly is formed and no party is able to form a government after elections.
III. Where a state ministry resigns and no other party is able to form a government.
IV. Where the ruling party in the state suffers a massive defeat in the Lok Sabha elections. According to the guidelines laid down in the S.R. Bommai case, which of the above instance(s) constitute a ‘proper’ use of Article 356?
I. Where a state government is deliberately acting against the Constitution and the law.
II. Where a hung assembly is formed and no party is able to form a government after elections.
III. Where a state ministry resigns and no other party is able to form a government.
IV. Where the ruling party in the state suffers a massive defeat in the Lok Sabha elections. According to the guidelines laid down in the S.R. Bommai case, which of the above instance(s) constitute a ‘proper’ use of Article 356?
Explanation
According to the Bommai guidelines, proper reasons for invoking Article 356 include a deliberate violation of the Constitution, a hung assembly, or a situation where no party can form a ministry. However, the defeat of a state’s ruling party in Lok Sabha elections is considered an improper ground for dismissal. Such political shifts do not automatically imply a breakdown of constitutional machinery within the state itself.
Q79. The Sarkaria Commission on Centre-State Relations was appointed by the Government of India in the year:
Explanation
The Sarkaria Commission was appointed by the Government of India in 1983 to examine the relationship and balance of power between the Union and the States. Led by Justice R. S. Sarkaria, the commission conducted an extensive review of the constitutional framework. Its report, submitted years later, became a foundational document for promoting cooperative federalism and suggesting reforms to improve administrative and legislative coordination.
Q80. Read the following statements regarding the Sarkaria Commission and select the correct option:
Statement I: It categorically rejected the demand for the abolition of the All-India Services (IAS, IPS).
Statement II: It recommended that the residuary powers of taxation should continue to remain with the Parliament, while other residuary powers should be placed in the Concurrent List.
Statement I: It categorically rejected the demand for the abolition of the All-India Services (IAS, IPS).
Statement II: It recommended that the residuary powers of taxation should continue to remain with the Parliament, while other residuary powers should be placed in the Concurrent List.
Explanation
The Sarkaria Commission supported retaining All-India Services like the IAS and IPS, viewing them as essential for national integration. It also recommended that while residuary powers of taxation should remain with Parliament, other residuary subjects should be moved to the Concurrent List. These recommendations aimed to balance the need for a strong central framework with the states’ desire for more legislative flexibility and autonomy.Answer key for these questions
| Q | Correct answer |
|---|---|
| 71 | (b) Presiding over joint sessions to facilitate State budgets. |
| 72 | (a) Statement I is correct and Statement II is incorrect |
| 73 | (a) Article 356 (President’s Rule) |
| 74 | (c) Disrupts federalism and the democratic mandate of States. |
| 75 | (d) A-iii, B-i, C-ii, D-iv |
| 76 | (b) Indefinite extension up to ten years by simple resolution. |
| 77 | (a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A. |
| 78 | (a) I, II and III only |
| 79 | (c) 1983 |
| 80 | (c) Both Statement I and Statement II are correct |
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).