Consider the following statements:
- I.The Constitution of India explicitly mentions that in certain spheres the Governor of a State acts in his/her own discretion.
- II.The President of India can, of his/her own, reserve a bill passed by a State Legislature for his/her consideration without it being forwarded by the Governor of the State concerned.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer & explanation
Answer: (a) I only
Statement I is right: Article 163(1) makes the Governor act on the advice of his Ministers except where the Constitution itself requires him to act in his discretion. Statement II is wrong: a State Bill reaches the President only when the Governor reserves it, so the President cannot call it up on his own.
- ✓ I Article 163(1) carves out the matters in which the Governor is required 'by or under this Constitution' to act in his discretion, and Article 163(2) makes his own decision on whether a matter falls there final.
- ✗ II Article 201 deals with a Bill 'reserved by a Governor for the consideration of the President'. The route to the President starts with the Governor's reservation; the Constitution gives the President no power to reserve a State Bill himself.
Remember · Governor acts on ministerial advice except where the Constitution requires his discretion (Art 163). A State Bill reaches the President only if the Governor reserves it (Arts 200–201).
Sources
- Constitution of India (Government of India, Legislative Department), Article 163: Council of Ministers to aid and advise Governor ↗ “There shall be a Council of Ministers with the Chief Minister at the head to aid and advise the Governor in the exercise of his functions, except in so far as he is by or under this Constitution required to exercise his functions or any of them in his discretion. … When a Bill is reserved by a Governor for the consideration of the President, the President shall declare either that he assents to the Bill or that he withholds assent therefrom”
Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper I (2025, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). ·