Union state and union territory structures and distribution of powers. - Question Bank

1. The distribution of legislative powers in the Seventh Schedule reflects a balance between:
A) A purely federal and a purely unitary system
B) A purely unitary and a confederal system
C) A parliamentary and a presidential system
D) A monarchical and a republican system
2. Which article provides for the establishment of an Inter-State Commerce Commission?
A) Article 306
B) Article 307
C) Article 308
D) Article 309
3. The concept of 'Special Provisions' for certain states in the Constitution is primarily aimed at:
A) Strengthening the Centre
B) Addressing unique needs and backwardness of specific regions
C) Reducing the powers of the states
D) Promoting inter-state conflicts
4. Which article empowers the President to delegate certain powers to the Union or its officers in relation to Union Territories?
A) Article 239
B) Article 239A
C) Article 240
D) Article 241
5. Article 257A (now omitted) dealt with:
A) Power of the Union to deploy forces in states
B) Inter-state water disputes
C) Public service commissions
D) Financial relations
6. The Union Government can issue directions to the States regarding:
A) Only matters of national importance
B) Only matters related to the Union List
C) Matters concerning the construction and maintenance of communication
D) All of the above, with certain limitations
7. Which article states that the executive power of every State shall be so exercised as to ensure compliance with the laws made by Parliament and any existing laws which apply in that State?
A) Article 256
B) Article 257
C) Article 258
D) Article 259
8. The primary objective of Zonal Councils is to promote:
A) Inter-state disputes
B) Regional imbalances
C) Cooperation and co-ordination among states
D) Centralization of power
9. The Zonal Councils in India were established by:
A) The Constitution of India
B) An Act of Parliament
C) A Presidential Order
D) The National Development Council
10. Which article deals with the 'Administrative Relations' between the Union and the States?
A) Part XI, Chapter II
B) Part XI, Chapter III
C) Part XII, Chapter I
D) Part XII, Chapter II
11. Article 161 of the Constitution grants the power of pardon to the:
A) President of India
B) Governor of a State
C) Chief Justice of India
D) Prime Minister of India
12. The power of the President to grant pardon, reprieve, or respites is given under which article?
A) Article 72
B) Article 161
C) Article 108
D) Article 111
13. Which article provides for the appointment of Governors for states?
A) Article 153
B) Article 154
C) Article 155
D) Article 156
14. Article 243 I to 243 ZG in the Constitution deal with:
A) Panchayats and Municipalities
B) Tribal Areas
C) Union Territories
D) Inter-State Commerce
15. The 'Residuary powers' in the Indian Constitution refer to powers not explicitly mentioned in:
A) Union List only
B) State List only
C) Concurrent List only
D) Any of the three lists of the Seventh Schedule
16. Which article deals with the 'public acts, records and judicial proceedings' of the Union and States?
A) Article 260
B) Article 261
C) Article 262
D) Article 263
17. The distribution of powers between the Union and States is based on the principle of:
A) Supremacy of the States
B) Federalism
C) Unitary system
D) Confederation
18. Which of the following is a key difference in the legislative powers between a State and a Union Territory with a legislature?
A) Union Territories can legislate on subjects in the Union List
B) States cannot legislate on subjects in the Concurrent List
C) Union Territories' laws are subject to Presidential assent
D) States have more autonomy in financial matters
19. The Union Government has more control over Union Territories compared to States primarily because:
A) They are smaller in size
B) They are administered directly by the Union
C) They lack representation in Parliament
D) They have fewer resources
20. Which article deals with the establishment of a High Court for Union Territories?
A) Article 239
B) Article 240
C) Article 241
D) Article 242
21. The Governor of a State acts as an administrator of an adjoining Union Territory if so appointed by:
A) The Chief Minister of the State
B) The Parliament
C) The President
D) The Supreme Court
22. Which article empowers the President to make regulations for certain Union Territories?
A) Article 239
B) Article 239A
C) Article 240
D) Article 241
23. The President can entrust administrative functions of a Union Territory to:
A) The Governor of a State
B) The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
C) The Prime Minister
D) The Parliament
24. Which of the following Union Territories has a special status similar to some states, with a Legislative Assembly and a Council of Ministers?
A) Andaman and Nicobar Islands
B) Lakshadweep
C) Puducherry
D) Chandigarh
25. Article 262 of the Constitution deals with:
A) Inter-state trade
B) Inter-state rivers and river valleys
C) Co-ordination of State policies
D) Public acts, records and judicial proceedings
26. Which body is primarily responsible for advising on matters of common interest between the Union and the States?
A) National Development Council
B) NITI Aayog
C) Inter-State Council
D) Zonal Councils
27. The establishment of Inter-State Councils is provided for under which article?
A) Article 261
B) Article 262
C) Article 263
D) Article 264
28. Which article grants the President the power to direct a State to make provisions for the establishment of a Hindi Language authority?
A) Article 343
B) Article 350A
C) Article 351
D) Article 352
29. The Sarkaria Commission was appointed to examine the issues related to:
A) Electoral reforms
B) Centre-State relations
C) Panchayati Raj institutions
D) Administrative reforms
30. Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of the Union-State relationship in India?
A) Parliamentary supremacy
B) Single citizenship
C) Independent judiciary
D) Division of powers
31. The concept of 'cooperative federalism' in India emphasizes:
A) Conflict between Union and States
B) Dominance of the Union over States
C) Cooperation and coordination between Union and States
D) Autonomy of States
32. Which article allows Parliament to implement international treaties, agreements, and conventions, even on subjects in the State List?
A) Article 249
B) Article 250
C) Article 251
D) Article 253
33. Parliament can make laws for two or more states by agreement between such states, provided for by which article?
A) Article 249
B) Article 250
C) Article 251
D) Article 252
34. During a Proclamation of Emergency under Article 352, the Parliament can legislate on any matter enumerated in the State List. This is provided under which article?
A) Article 249
B) Article 250
C) Article 251
D) Article 252
35. Which article empowers the Parliament to make laws with respect to matters in the State List in the national interest?
A) Article 249
B) Article 250
C) Article 251
D) Article 252
36. In case of a conflict between a law made by Parliament and a law made by a State Legislature on a subject in the Concurrent List, which law prevails?
A) The State law prevails
B) The Union law prevails
C) The older law prevails
D) The newer law prevails
37. Residuary powers of legislation in India are vested in:
A) The President
B) The Parliament
C) The Supreme Court
D) The States
38. The State Legislatures have exclusive power to legislate on matters enumerated in:
A) Union List
B) Concurrent List
C) Residuary Powers
D) State List
39. The Union Parliament has exclusive power to legislate on matters enumerated in:
A) State List
B) Concurrent List
C) Union List
D) Residuary Powers
40. Which list in the Seventh Schedule contains subjects on which both the Union and the States can make laws?
A) Union List
B) State List
C) Concurrent List
D) Residuary List
41. The distribution of legislative powers between the Union and the States is outlined in which schedule of the Constitution?
A) Fifth Schedule
B) Sixth Schedule
C) Seventh Schedule
D) Eighth Schedule
42. Which Union Territory has a legislature of its own?
A) Delhi
B) Puducherry
C) Both Delhi and Puducherry
D) None of the above
43. Who administers the Union Territories in India?
A) The Governor of the adjacent state
B) The President of India
C) The Chief Minister of the UT
D) The Administrator appointed by the President
44. Which article of the Constitution deals with the administration of Union Territories?
A) Article 239
B) Article 240
C) Article 241
D) Article 242
45. Which of the following is NOT a Union Territory of India?
A) Puducherry
B) Chandigarh
C) Lakshadweep
D) Darjeeling
46. Which article provides for the creation of a 'common high court for two or more states'?
A) Article 230
B) Article 231
C) Article 232
D) Article 233
47. The power to alter the boundaries of states is vested with:
A) The President of India
B) The Parliament of India
C) The Supreme Court of India
D) The concerned State Legislatures
48. Which article of the Constitution allows Parliament to form a new state by uniting territory of a state or by uniting two or more states or parts thereof?
A) Article 2
B) Article 3
C) Article 4
D) Article 5
49. Which part of the Indian Constitution deals with the Union Territories?
A) Part VI
B) Part VII
C) Part VIII
D) Part IX