UPSC Previous Year Question | Prelims GS | 2025

Consider the following subjects under the Constitution of India: I. List I - Union List, in the Seventh Schedule. II. Extent of the executive power of a State. III. Conditions of the Governor's office. For a constitutional amendment with respect to which of the above, ratification by the Legislatures of not less than one-half of the States is required before presenting the bill to the President of India for assent?

  1. I and II only
  2. II and III only
  3. I and III only
  4. I, II and III

Answer

Correct Answer

I and II only

Explanation

Under the proviso to Article 368(2), amendments affecting matters such as the distribution of legislative powers between the Union and States (which includes the Union List) and the extent of the executive power of the Union or States require ratification by at least one-half of the State Legislatures. However, provisions relating to the Governor's office generally (barring specific entrenched matters) do not require such ratification for amendment. Hence I and II require ratification.

Topics: article 368, constitutional amendment, polity