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?
Detailed Explanation:
✅ Statement I is Correct: Any amendment affecting the Union List (Seventh Schedule) changes the distribution of legislative powers between the Centre and States. Therefore, it requires ratification by at least half of the State Legislatures under Article 368.
✅ Statement II is Correct: Changes in the extent of the executive power of a State affect Centre-State relations and also require ratification by not less than one-half of the States.
❌ Statement III is Incorrect: The conditions of the Governor's office can be amended by Parliament through the special majority procedure and do not require State ratification.
Therefore, only I and II require ratification by at least half of the States.
📝 Short Notes: Constitutional Amendments Requiring State Ratification
| Provision | State Ratification Required? |
|---|---|
| Election of President | ✅ Yes |
| Extent of Executive Power of Union/States | ✅ Yes |
| Supreme Court & High Courts | ✅ Yes |
| Seventh Schedule (Union, State, Concurrent Lists) | ✅ Yes |
| Representation of States in Parliament | ✅ Yes |
| Article 368 Amendment Procedure | ✅ Yes |
| Governor's Office Conditions | ❌ No |
Key Fact:
Under Article 368, certain federal provisions can be amended only after ratification by not less than one-half of the State Legislatures.
Question 1 of 4 Amendment Procedure
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First question in this topic
As per Article 368 of the Constitution of India, the Parliament may amend any provisi...