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?
- (a) I and II only ✓ UPSC's answer
- (b) II and III only
- (c) I and III only
- (d) I, II and III
Why the answer is (a)
• The proviso to Article 368(2) lists the federal provisions whose amendment needs ratification by at least half the State legislatures: Articles 54, 55, 73, 162, 241, Chapter IV of Part V, Chapter V of Part VI, Chapter I of Part XI, any of the Lists in the Seventh Schedule, representation of States in Parliament, and Article 368 itself.
• Item I qualifies: the Union List is one of the Lists in the Seventh Schedule.
• Item II qualifies: Article 162 defines the extent of the executive power of a State and is expressly named in the proviso.
• Item III does not qualify: the conditions of the Governor's office (Article 158) are not in the list and can be amended by Parliament's special majority alone.
• Hence I and II only, option (a).
Why the other options are wrong
- (b) II and III only
- Item III (Governor's office) needs no State ratification; item I does.
- (c) I and III only
- Item III does not require ratification; item II (Article 162) does.
- (d) I, II and III
- Item III is outside the proviso to Article 368(2).
Asked in the GS Paper I of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2025, held on 25 May 2025. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.