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Chapter 3: The Philosophy of The Constitution: Purely Unitary, But Is A Combination of Both
Chapter 3: The Philosophy of The Constitution: Purely Unitary, But Is A Combination of Both
1. Which Part of the constitution deal with issues related to the territory of
India? Which Articles does this contain? Which Schedule is relevant here?
2. What is the difference between ‘Union of India’ and ‘territory of India’?
3. How many union territories have an elected legislature? Name them.
4. Which constitutional amendment relate to the acceptance of Sikkim into the
Union of India?
5. Describe the procedure for reorganization of state boundaries under the
Indian constitution (3 points)
6. What is the role of the state legislature in this regard?
7. Which Part of the constitution deal with issues related to citizenship? Which
Articles does this contain? Which Schedule is relevant here?
8. Name the five ways in which a person can become a citizen of India.
9. Delineate the domicile requirement for public employment at (a) union
government level (b) state government level.
10. What is the appropriate legislative body for each of (a) and (b) above?
Chapter 8: Fundamental Rights and Fundamental Duties
President
1. Describe how the President of India is elected.
2. Are state MLCs allowed to vote in the President’s election?
3. Which members of the Rajya Sabha vote in the election for the President?
4. What are some of the arguments against direct election for President in India
(2)?
5. List the eligibility criteria for the President (4; especially see c).
6. Can sitting Governors of any of the states be appointed President? Can
Ministers at the center/ in the states?
7. Who does the President swear his oath to?
8. If a President resigns, who does his hand his resignation to?
9. How many grounds for impeachment of a sitting President are specified in
the constitution? What are these?
10. Describe the procedure for impeachment of the President (4 points)
11. What Article of the constitution delineates this procedure for impeachment?
12. How much does a President get paid? Pension?
13. Name the 5 ways in which a vacancy might arise in the office of the
President.
14. In which of these cases is the VP allowed to serve as President until the
vacancy is filled?
Vice-President
1. Describe the procedure for election of the VP. Is it any way different from the
election of President? (Trick question)
2. Do all members of the Rajya Sabha vote in the VP’s election?
3. Describe the eligibility criteria for the VP (4). Are these in any way different
from those for the President?
4. How can a sitting VP be removed?
5. What are the functions of a VP?
6. What does the constitution say about when the VP should start discharging
the functions of the President?
7. What happens when both President and VP’s offices are empty at the same
time?
8. While the VP is acting as President, does he still remain the Chairman of
Rajya Sabha?
9. Who adjudicated disputes arising out of elections of a Presidentor VP?
10. Is the election of the president valid in case there were some vacancies in
either house of Parliament at the time of election?
11. What about vacancies in some of the state legislatures?
12. What if a state government isn’t appointed at the time of election?
13. In case the election of the President is declared void by the appropriate
authority after a short amount of time (say, a month) after the election, what
happens to the actions that the President might have taken while in office,
albeit for a very short period of time?
14. What if this time period is longer? Say, a year after the elections?
15. Can the Parliament modify the procedure for election of the President?
General Structure
1. Which part of the constitution deals with governance of states?
2. Do all states have an independent structure of government?
3. Does every state have an exclusive Governor?
4. How is the Governor of a state elected?
5. What are the grounds mentioned in the constitution according to which the
Governor of a state can be removed?
6. Why did the constituent assembly decide to have an appointed Governor as
against an elected one?
7. What are the Governor’s powers with respect to the appointment and
removal of:
Minsters of the state government
Judges of the High Court
Members of state public service commission
Members of Anglo-Indian community in the state assembly
Nominated members of the state legislative council (how many members
can the Governor nominate?)
8. Which Article of the constitution details the provisions of what to do when
the constitutional machinery in a state breaks down?
Chapter 26: Administrative Relations Between the Union and the States
1. List 4 ways in which the union exercises control over the state legislature.
2. What is meant by ‘coercive sanction’? Which Article in the constitution
delineates the provisions for this?
3. If the union government wants to delegate some of its executive functions to
a state, does it need the consent of the state government before it can make
such delegation?
4. How many All India Services exist currently?
5. Can new ones be created? If yes, how?
6. What is an inter-state council? How have these functioned?
7. What is the main function of the ‘National Development Council’? What is its
composition (4)?
8. Which Article of the constitution asks the union to create the NDC?
9. What is the main function of the ‘National Integration Council’? What is its
composition?
10. In case the union government wants to delegate some of its functions to a
state government, but the state government doesn’t give its permission, does
the union government have any remedy to make sure that the said functions
can be delegated to the state government?
11. Can the union government tax the property/ income of state governments?
1. Name the various ways in which the union or the states can acquire property
(5).
2. In case of ocean materials (land/ minerals etc.) that lie within India’s
maritime boundary, whom does the right of ownership belong to?
The Union government
The Parliament
The State along whose coast such minerals lie
Private persons can lay claim by purchase of rights
3. Can the union government carry on trade in an item included in the state
list?
4. Name one major difference between when a state government sues a private
person, as against when it sues another state government.
5. What are the provisions of the existing tort law under which the Government
of India/ any of the states can be sued?
6. Is this distinction also valid for public servants in his personal capacity?
7. What about wrongs conducted by public servants during official duty, but
violate the ordinary law of the land?
8. Does the above apply to ministers, while they’re working in their official
capacity?
9. What are the provisions for initiating criminal/ civil proceedings against the
President/ Governors for acts committed in their personal capacity?
1. Which two matters regarding services under the union/ states are outlined
in the constitution? (Page 399)
2. Does the doctrine of all employment under the union/ state being at the
pleasure of the President/ Governor mean that a government employee
(civil/ military) can be dismissed at any time on any ground?
3. Is there any cause of action for wrongful dismissal if the above happens?
4. Does the above also apply to high officials such as:
CJI
SC judges
HC judges
CEC
CVC
CIC
CAG
5. With regards to the above, is there a differentiation between civil and
military personnel?
6. Describe the 2 special provisions available to civil personnel in cases of
removal from office.
7. In which cases does the government not need to give any opportunity to the
civil servant before dismissal, removal, or reduction in rank? (3)
8. Which category of government employees can move the Administrative
Tribunal in case of any inconsistency in their appointment/ reduction in
rank etc.? (3)
9. Can the decisions of the Administrative Tribunal be challenged in Supreme
Court?
10. Can they be challenged in High Court?
11. Who appoints the members of union and state PSCs? Describe the
composition condition. (Page 404)
12. What is their term of office? Age conditionality?
13. If any members of the PSCs need to be removed, who removes them in case
of (a) Union, and (b) States?
14. What is the procedure for removal of members of the PSCs?
15. Name 4 ways in which the independence of PSC members is sought to be
maintained by the constitution.
16. How many All India Services exist? Name them.
17. What is the content of Article 33? Explain the effect of its provisions on the
Civil Services.
1. Name the two main principles listed in the constitution regarding elections
2. What are the powers of the union/ state legislatures when it comes to
drafting legislation regarding elections?
3. Which Act of the Parliament prescribes voting based on single-member
territorial constituencies?
4. What is the appropriate authority for deciding on disputes related to
elections for:
President
Vice-President
Prime Minister
Speaker of Lok Sabha
Lok Sabha MPs
Rajya Sabha MPs
MLAs
Local Body Members
5. Describe the process of removal of the Chief Election Commissioner. On what
ground can he/she be removed?