80. Chief Ministers of all states are members of which policy-making body’s Governing Council?
[UPSC CDS-II, 3 September 2023, General Knowledge]
(A) Finance Commission
(B) NITI Aayog
(C) Election Commission
(D) Union Public Service Commission
Answer: (B) NITI Aayog
Explanation: All State Chief Ministers are members of the NITI Aayog Governing Council, alongside other designated members. This is an important cooperative-federalism role of the Chief Minister, separate from the Chief Minister’s direct constitutional responsibilities within the state executive.
79. Manik Saha took oath as Chief Minister in March 2023 in which state?
[SSC CHSL, 10 August 2023, Shift 2]
(A) West Bengal
(B) Tamil Nadu
(C) Assam
(D) Tripura
Answer: (D) Tripura
Explanation: Manik Saha was sworn in as Tripura Chief Minister after the 2023 Assembly election. He had initially assumed the office in May 2022. The Governor administers the oath, and the ministry remains collectively responsible to the state Assembly.
78. Under Article 167, what must the Chief Minister communicate to the Governor?
[SSC CGL, 26 July 2023, Shift 4]
(A) Decisions of the Council of Ministers on administration and proposed legislation
(B) Only annual state budget estimates
(C) Only recommendations made by the High Court
(D) Only decisions of the Legislative Council
Answer: (A) Decisions of the Council of Ministers on administration and proposed legislation
Explanation: Article 167(a) requires the Chief Minister to communicate Council decisions concerning state administration and legislative proposals to the Governor. Clauses (b) and (c) deal with information requested by the Governor and matters requiring consideration by the full Council.
77. The state Council of Ministers, including the Chief Minister, cannot exceed what percentage of the Assembly’s total strength?
[SSC CGL, 18 July 2023, Shift 3]
(A) 20 percent
(B) 10 percent
(C) 15 percent
(D) 25 percent
Answer: (C) 15 percent
Explanation: Article 164(1A), added by the Ninety-first Constitutional Amendment, caps the strength of the state Council of Ministers at fifteen percent of the Legislative Assembly. The provision also requires a minimum of twelve ministers, including the Chief Minister.
76. Who constitutionally administers Union Territories of India?
[SSC MTS 2022 paper, held 19 June 2023, Shift 1]
(A) President
(B) Prime Minister
(C) Member of Legislative Assembly
(D) Chief Minister
Answer: (A) President
Explanation: Article 239 provides for administration of Union Territories by the President through an appointed Administrator, subject to special provisions. Some territories have Chief Ministers and elected Assemblies, but that does not make their governmental framework identical to a full state.
75. Which Chief Minister introduced the Ladli Laxmi Yojana in Madhya Pradesh?
[SSC MTS, 15 June 2023, Shift 1]
(A) Digvijaya Singh
(B) Kamal Nath
(C) Uma Bharti
(D) Shivraj Singh Chouhan
Answer: (D) Shivraj Singh Chouhan
Explanation: The Ladli Laxmi Yojana was launched by the Shivraj Singh Chouhan-led Madhya Pradesh government in 2007. State welfare programmes are implemented through the political executive, with the Chief Minister exercising policy leadership and coordinating the work of relevant ministers.
74. Pramod Sawant took oath as Chief Minister in March 2022 in which state?
[SSC MTS, 15 June 2023, Shift 2]
(A) Goa
(B) Maharashtra
(C) Gujarat
(D) Karnataka
Answer: (A) Goa
Explanation: Pramod Sawant was sworn in for another term as Chief Minister of Goa in March 2022. After an election, a returning incumbent may be freshly appointed by the Governor upon demonstrating the support needed to form the state government.
73. Bhagwant Mann took oath as Chief Minister in March 2022 in which state?
[SSC MTS, 14 June 2023, Shift 3]
(A) Delhi
(B) Himachal Pradesh
(C) Punjab
(D) Haryana
Answer: (C) Punjab
Explanation: Bhagwant Mann took office as Punjab Chief Minister in March 2022 following his party’s Assembly victory. The formal appointment came from the Governor, while the democratic basis of the appointment lay in support from elected Assembly members.
72. Who presides over a meeting of the Madhya Pradesh Council of Ministers when the Chief Minister is absent?
[MPPSC State Service Prelims 2022, held 21 May 2023]
(A) Home Minister
(B) A minister nominated by the Chief Minister
(C) Finance Minister
(D) Parliamentary Affairs Minister
Answer: (B) A minister nominated by the Chief Minister
Explanation: When the Chief Minister is absent, a minister designated by the Chief Minister may preside over the Council meeting. This is part of the Chief Minister’s coordinating role in cabinet government. The Home or Finance Minister has no automatic constitutional priority.
71. Who was the first Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh after the 1956 reorganisation?
[MPPSC State Service Prelims 2022, held 21 May 2023]
(A) Ravishankar Shukla
(B) D. P. Mishra
(C) Kailash Nath Katju
(D) Bhagwantrao Mandloi
Answer: (A) Ravishankar Shukla
Explanation: Ravishankar Shukla became the first Chief Minister of the reorganised Madhya Pradesh on 1 November 1956. His tenure was brief because he died the following month. Such historical questions test state leadership continuity after territorial reorganisation.
