Prelims · Polity & governance · 30 questions

Federalism, states & centre–state relations

Every UPSC Prelims question on this topic, 2016–2026, newest first. Tap an option to check yourself; the answer and explanation open below it.

Asked in 9 of 11 years · most in 2025 (4)

UPSC syllabus: “Indian Polity and Governance-Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc.” See the full syllabus →

Prelims 2016 · Q25

Medium

Consider the following statements:

1.The Chief Secretary in a State is appointed by the Governor of that State.
2.The Chief Secretary in a State has a fixed tenure.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Answer & explanation

Answer: (d) Neither 1 nor 2

The Chief Secretary, the senior-most civil servant of a State, is picked by the Chief Minister and appointed by the State Government; the order only carries the Governor's name because all State executive action is expressed in that name (Article 166). The post has no fixed tenure, which is why the Second Administrative Reforms Commission recommended a fixed tenure of at least two years.

✗ 1. The choice is the Chief Minister's and the appointment is an executive act of the State Government; the Governor does not select the officer, even though the order is issued in the Governor's name under Article 166(1).
✗ 2. No law fixes the Chief Secretary's term; the officer holds the post at the State Government's discretion until moved or retired. The 2nd ARC (15th Report, 2009) asked for a collegium-based panel and a fixed tenure of at least two years.

Remember · Chief Secretary: senior-most State civil servant, chosen by the CM, no fixed tenure; 2nd ARC proposed a collegium panel and a minimum two-year tenure.

Sources

Second Administrative Reforms Commission, 15th Report: State and District Administration (2009) ↗ “There should be a collegium to recommend a panel of names to the Chief Minister/Cabinet for these two posts. … (b) the Leader of the Opposition in the State Legislative Assembly and (c) the incumbent Chief Secretary. • There should be a fixed tenure of atleast two years for both these posts.”
Constitution of India, Article 166(1) ↗ “All executive action of the Government of a State shall be expressed to be taken in the name of the Governor.”

Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper I (2016, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). Permalink ·

Prelims 2016 · Q95

Easy

The Parliament of India acquires the power to legislate on any item in the State List in the national interest if a resolution to that effect is passed by the

Answer & explanation

Answer: (d) Rajya Sabha by a majority of not less than two-thirds of its members present and voting

Under Article 249 only the Rajya Sabha can give Parliament this power, and it must do so by a resolution supported by at least two-thirds of its members present and voting. The Lok Sabha has no role in passing the resolution.

✓ (d) Article 249(1) says that if the Council of States (Rajya Sabha) declares, by a resolution supported by not less than two-thirds of members present and voting, that it is necessary or expedient in the national interest, Parliament may make laws on that State List matter for the whole or any part of India.
✗ (a) The Lok Sabha does not pass the Article 249 resolution, and a simple majority would not be enough in any case.
✗ (c) The House is right but the majority is wrong: the resolution needs two-thirds of members present and voting, not a simple majority of total membership.
✗ (b) Two-thirds is the correct size of majority, but it is counted in the Rajya Sabha and among members present and voting, not in the Lok Sabha.

Remember · Article 249: Rajya Sabha resolution, two-thirds of members present and voting, lets Parliament legislate on a State List subject in the national interest; it lasts up to one year and can be renewed.