Q20. Part VIII of the Constitution of India deals with what?
[SSC CGL 2020, 5 March, Shift 2]
(A) Union Territories
(B) Panchayats
(C) Municipalities
(D) States
Answer: (A) Union Territories
Explanation: The Constitution places Union Territory administration in Part VIII. Panchayats are addressed in Part IX, Municipalities in Part IXA, and provisions relating to States primarily in Part VI. Recognising these Part numbers helps identify the relevant Articles.
Q19. In which states do Fifth Schedule provisions NOT apply?
(1) Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha;
(2) Assam, Tripura;
(3) Meghalaya, Mizoram.
[UPSC NDA General Ability Test 2019, 17 November]
(A) 1 only
(B) 1 and 2 only
(C) 2 and 3 only
(D) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (C) 2 and 3 only
Explanation: The Fifth Schedule excludes Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram; their specified tribal areas are governed through the Sixth Schedule. Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Odisha have Fifth Schedule Areas, so only groups 2 and 3 are excluded.
Q18. Which Constitutional Amendment designated Delhi as the National Capital Territory?
[RRB JE CBT-I 2019, 2 June, Shift 2]
(A) 69th Amendment Act
(B) 74th Amendment Act
(C) 63rd Amendment Act
(D) 76th Amendment Act
Answer: (A) 69th Amendment Act
Explanation: The Constitution (69th Amendment) Act, 1991 established Delhi’s constitutional title as the National Capital Territory and inserted Article 239AA. It also created a special elected legislative arrangement while reserving key domains to the Union.
Q17. Under which Schedule may transfer of tribal land to private parties for mining be declared null and void?
[UPSC CSE Prelims 2019]
(A) Third Schedule
(B) Fifth Schedule
(C) Ninth Schedule
(D) Twelfth Schedule
Answer: (B) Fifth Schedule
Explanation: The Fifth Schedule enables protection of Scheduled Area land and restrictions on transfers. The Supreme Court’s Samatha decision considered such protections in the context of private mining leases on tribal land. The other Schedules concern different constitutional subjects.
Q16. Who governs Union Territories in India?
[RPF Sub-Inspector 2018 cycle, held 10 January 2019, Shift 3]
(A) President of India
(B) Council of Ministers
(C) Union Defence Minister
(D) Union Finance Minister
Answer: (A) President of India
Explanation: Article 239 confers administration of Union Territories on the President acting through appointed administrators. Although ministers may supervise relevant departments as part of Union government, the constitutional office expressly identified for administration is the President.
Q15. When the Governor of a State is appointed administrator of an adjoining Union Territory, how must the Governor act in that capacity?
[APPSC Group 1 Prelims 2018 cycle, held 2019]
(A) On aid and advice of the State Council of Ministers
(B) Independently of the State Council of Ministers
(C) With a newly selected personal Council of Ministers
(D) Such an appointment is unconstitutional
Answer: (B) Independently of the State Council of Ministers
Explanation: Article 239(2) specifically provides that an appointed Governor exercises Union Territory administrative functions independently of the State Council of Ministers. This separates the Governor’s special Union Territory role from the ordinary constitutional functioning of the state government.
Q14. Which Schedule of the Constitution provides for establishment of Autonomous District Councils?
[UPSC CDS General Knowledge 2018, 18 November]
(A) Third Schedule
(B) Fourth Schedule
(C) Fifth Schedule
(D) Sixth Schedule
Answer: (D) Sixth Schedule
Explanation: The Sixth Schedule authorises Autonomous District and Regional Councils in specified tribal areas of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram. Unlike Fifth Schedule Tribes Advisory Councils, they can exercise defined legislative, administrative and judicial functions.
Q13. Article 239AA gives special constitutional status to which territory?
[MP Vyapam AAO 2018, 4 August, Shift 2]
(A) National Capital Territory of Delhi
(B) Daman and Diu
(C) Puducherry
(D) Jammu and Kashmir
Answer: (A) National Capital Territory of Delhi
Explanation: Article 239AA was inserted by the Sixty-ninth Amendment in 1991 for Delhi. It makes Delhi the National Capital Territory and provides its distinctive Assembly, Council of Ministers and Lieutenant Governor arrangements within the Union Territory framework.
Q12. Who may enact laws for Union Territories on subjects included in the Union, State and Concurrent Lists?
[SSC CHSL 2018, 5 March, Shift 3]
(A) President alone
(B) Parliament
(C) Prime Minister
(D) Union Home Minister
Answer: (B) Parliament
Explanation: Parliament has broad legislative competence for Union Territories, including matters listed in the State List, subject to constitutional arrangements and applicable statutes. Elected assemblies in some territories do not erase Parliament’s power to legislate for those territories.
Q11. Which Part of the Constitution deals with Union Territories?
[SSC CHSL 2018, 4 March, Shift 1]
(A) Part VI
(B) Part VII
(C) Part VIII
(D) Part IX
Answer: (C) Part VIII
Explanation: Part VIII contains provisions on Union Territories, including Article 239 and Delhi’s special Article 239AA. Part VI deals with states, Part IX with Panchayats, and the former Part VII was repealed in 1956.
