Q40. Which features establish the “Federal nature” of the Indian Constitution?
[MPSC Group C Mains 2025, held 12 July 2026]
(A) Supremacy of the Constitution
(B) Division of Powers
(C) Independent Judiciary
(D) All of the above
Answer: (D) All of the above
Explanation: India possesses essential federal characteristics: a supreme written Constitution, constitutionally distributed powers between the Union and States, and an independent judiciary to interpret the division. These safeguards operate alongside stronger Union powers, making Indian federalism distinctive rather than identical to classical federations.
Q39. What was the primary objective of the Punchhi Commission?
[DSSSB Assistant Superintendent, 1 July 2026]
(A) To look into the new issues of Centre-State relations
(B) To implement the Goods and Services Tax
(C) To revise the Constitution and make amendments
(D) To review judicial appointments
Answer: (A) To look into the new issues of Centre-State relations
Explanation: The Punchhi Commission was established in 2007 under former Chief Justice M. M. Punchhi. It reviewed emerging issues in Union-State relations, including the roles of Governors, internal security and fiscal arrangements, following the earlier Sarkaria Commission on federal relations.
Q38. Articles 245 to 255 of Part XI of the Indian Constitution primarily deal with which aspect of Centre-State relations?
[RRB NTPC Undergraduate CBT-I, 9 May 2026, Shift 2]
(A) Administrative relations
(B) Financial relations
(C) Legislative relations
(D) Judicial relations
Answer: (C) Legislative relations
Explanation: Articles 245–255 regulate legislative relations between the Union and States. They address territorial legislative authority, distribution of subjects and circumstances permitting Parliament to legislate on State subjects. Administrative relations are dealt with separately, mainly under Articles 256–263.
Q37. Which of the following is part of the Concurrent List of the Indian Constitution? I. Forests II. Banking
[SSC GD Constable, 8 May 2026, Shift 3]
(A) Only I
(B) Only II
(C) Both I and II
(D) Neither I nor II
Answer: (A) Only I
Explanation: Forests were transferred from the State List to the Concurrent List by the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1976. Banking remains a Union List subject. Accordingly, both Parliament and State legislatures can legislate on forests, subject to constitutional rules on conflicting laws.
Q36. Education was transferred from the State List to the Concurrent List by:
[SSC GD Constable, 6 May 2026, Shift 3]
(A) 42nd Amendment
(B) 44th Amendment
(C) 52nd Amendment
(D) 86th Amendment
Answer: (A) 42nd Amendment
Explanation: The 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act of 1976 shifted education from the State List to the Concurrent List. Consequently, both Parliament and State legislatures can pass laws concerning education, with Union law generally prevailing in cases of constitutional repugnancy.
Q35. How do Centre-State financial relations impact governance in India?
[RRB NTPC Graduate CBT-I, 17 March 2026, Shift 1]
(A) By providing states with unlimited financial resources
(B) By centralizing all tax revenues at the Centre
(C) Through mechanisms like the Finance Commission that allocate resources
(D) By eliminating the need for state budgets
Answer: (C) Through mechanisms like the Finance Commission that allocate resources
Explanation: Fiscal federalism balances expenditure responsibilities and revenue resources among governments. Under Article 280, the Finance Commission recommends tax devolution and grants-in-aid to States. Such arrangements help support State services and reduce inequalities without abolishing independent State budgeting.
Q34. Which committee was instrumental in recommending changes to the Centre-State relations in India?
[SSC CPO, 11 December 2025, Shift 2]
(A) Ashok Mehta Committee
(B) Balwant Rai Mehta Committee
(C) Sarkaria Commission
(D) Punchhi Commission
Answer: (C) Sarkaria Commission
Explanation: The Sarkaria Commission, appointed in 1983, comprehensively examined existing Union-State legislative, administrative and financial arrangements. Chaired by Justice R. S. Sarkaria, it recommended improvements intended to make Indian federalism more cooperative and to reduce disputes between governments.
Q33. Federalism in India ensures that power is shared between:
[DSSSB TGT Social Science, 10 November 2025, Shift 3]
(A) Local bodies and the Election Commission
(B) Judiciary and Legislature at the Union level
(C) The President and the Prime Minister equally
(D) Central and State governments according to the Constitution
Answer: (D) Central and State governments according to the Constitution
Explanation: The federal principle distributes governmental powers between national and regional governments through constitutional provisions. In India, the Seventh Schedule identifies Union, State and Concurrent subjects. Local self-government adds decentralisation but does not replace the constitutional Union-State division.
Q32. What does the term “quasi-federal” mean?
[OSSSC CRE Preliminary Examination, 18 October 2025, Shift 1]
(A) Fully federal
(B) Fully unitary
(C) Only state-based
(D) Federal with strong central bias
Answer: (D) Federal with strong central bias
Explanation: A quasi-federal arrangement combines a constitutional division of governmental power with significant centralising provisions. India is commonly described this way because the States exercise protected constitutional functions, but emergency powers, residuary legislation and other mechanisms strengthen the Union.
Q31. Which of the following are aspects of the Centre-State legislative relation?
1. Territorial extent of Central and State legislation
2. Distribution of legislative subjects
3. Parliamentary legislation in the State field
4. Centre’s control over State legislation
[RRB NTPC Graduate CBT-II, 13 October 2025, Shift 1]
(A) Only 2 and 3
(B) All 1, 2, 3 and 4
(C) Only 1 and 2
(D) Only 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (B) All 1, 2, 3 and 4
Explanation: Legislative relations encompass where laws operate, which legislature handles particular subjects, exceptional parliamentary powers over State subjects, and constitutional checks on State legislation. Together these features explain the four dimensions of Union-State legislative relations set out in Part XI.