Question 1

What is the maximum number of members in the Lok Sabha as per the Constitution?

Accepted Answer

Article 81 of the Indian Constitution specifies that the Lok Sabha shall consist of not more than 552 members. Currently, it has 543 elected members plus 2 nominated members from the Anglo-Indian community (total 545), but the constitutional maximum is 552.

Question 2

Which of the following is NOT a function of the State Legislature?

Accepted Answer

State Legislatures are responsible for making laws on subjects in the State List and Concurrent List, passing budgets, and scrutinizing the executive. However, they cannot declare war, make treaties with foreign nations, or control the armed forces — these are exclusively Union functions under Article 246 and the Seventh Schedule.

Question 3

How many members does the Rajya Sabha have according to the Constitution?

Accepted Answer

Article 80 of the Indian Constitution specifies that the Rajya Sabha shall consist of not more than 250 members. Currently, it has 245 members: 233 elected by State Legislatures and 12 nominated by the President.

Question 4

Which article of the Constitution deals with the composition and powers of the Parliament?

Accepted Answer

Articles 79–123 of the Indian Constitution deal with Parliament. Article 79 defines Parliament as consisting of the President, Lok Sabha, and Rajya Sabha. Articles 81 and 80 specify the composition of each house, while subsequent articles detail their powers and procedures.

Question 5

Which article of the Indian Constitution defines the composition and structure of Parliament?

Accepted Answer

Article 79 of the Indian Constitution defines Parliament and its composition. It states that Parliament shall consist of the President and two Houses—the Council of States (Rajya Sabha) and the House of the People (Lok Sabha). This is a foundational provision establishing the bicameral legislature of India.

Question 6

Under Article 16 of the Indian Constitution, which of the following is NOT a ground on which discrimination in public employment is prohibited?

Accepted Answer

Article 16 guarantees equality of opportunity in matters of public employment. It prohibits discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex, or place of birth. However, it does NOT explicitly prohibit discrimination based on educational qualification or merit, as these are legitimate criteria for employment.

Question 7

Which of the following amendments introduced the concept of 'Fundamental Duties' into the Indian Constitution?

Accepted Answer

The 42nd Amendment Act of 1976 (also called the 'Mini Constitution') introduced Part IVA into the Constitution, which contains Fundamental Duties (Articles 51A–51K). These duties were added during the Emergency period under Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

Question 8

According to Article 74 of the Indian Constitution, the Council of Ministers is responsible to which House of Parliament?

Accepted Answer

Article 74 of the Indian Constitution states that the Council of Ministers shall be collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha (House of the People). This establishes the principle of parliamentary accountability and executive responsibility to the lower house.

Question 9

Which Article of the Indian Constitution defines the composition and powers of the State Legislature?

Accepted Answer

Article 168 of the Indian Constitution defines the composition of State Legislatures. It provides that a State Legislature shall consist of the Governor and one or two Houses (Legislative Assembly and, in some states, Legislative Council). The specific structure and powers are detailed in Articles 168–212 (Part VI, Chapter III).

Question 10

Which article of the Indian Constitution defines the composition and powers of the State Legislative Assembly?

Accepted Answer

Article 168 of the Indian Constitution specifies the composition of the State Legislature. It provides that the Legislature of a State shall consist of the Governor and one or two Houses (Vidhan Sabha and optionally Vidhan Parishad). The article outlines that the Vidhan Sabha is the lower house with members directly elected by the people, while the Vidhan Parishad (where it exists) is the upper house with members elected indirectly and appointed.

Question 11

Which article of the Indian Constitution was amended by the 42nd Amendment Act, 1976, to include the word 'socialist' and 'secular' in the Preamble?

Accepted Answer

The 42nd Amendment Act, 1976, made significant changes to the Constitution during the Emergency period. It added the words 'socialist' and 'secular' to the Preamble, along with 'integrity' to the list of national objectives. This amendment fundamentally altered the ideological character of the Constitution.

Question 12

Under Article 368 of the Indian Constitution, which of the following requires a special majority (2/3 of members present and voting in both Houses) but NOT ratification by State Legislatures?

Accepted Answer

Article 368 defines the amendment procedure. While most constitutional amendments require a special majority in Parliament, certain amendments affecting federal structure (like those changing the number of states or boundaries) require ratification by at least half of the State Legislatures. However, amendments to most articles require only the special majority in Parliament.

Question 13

Which article of the Indian Constitution defines the composition and powers of the Rajya Sabha, including the provision that 1/3 of its members retire every two years?

Accepted Answer

The Rajya Sabha's structure, composition, and the rotation system are defined in specific articles of the Constitution. The article in question establishes that the Rajya Sabha has a maximum of 250 members, with 12 nominated by the President and the rest elected by State Legislatures, with 1/3 retiring every two years.

Question 14

The 101st Amendment Act, 2016, introduced the Goods and Services Tax (GST). Which article was amended to grant Parliament the power to make laws regarding GST?

Accepted Answer

The 101st Amendment Act, 2016, was a landmark constitutional amendment that introduced GST in India. It required amendments to multiple articles to distribute GST-making powers between the Union and States. The primary article amended was Article 246, which defines the legislative powers of Parliament and State Legislatures.

Question 15

Under Article 368 of the Indian Constitution, which of the following amendments requires ratification by the legislatures of not less than one-half of the States in addition to passage by both Houses of Parliament?

Accepted Answer

Article 368 outlines the amendment procedure. Clause (2) specifies that amendments affecting the federal structure, representation in Parliament, or powers of the States require ratification by legislatures of at least half the States. This was a critical safeguard introduced to protect federalism.

SSC GD Constable Parliament & State Legislature

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Parliament & State Legislature — Practice Questions

60-Second Revision — Parliament & State Legislature