Federalism, states & centre–state relations

Answer: (c) 1 and 3 only

The N.K. Singh FRBM Review Committee (report made public in 2017) proposed a 60 per cent general-government debt anchor, with the Centre brought down to 40 per cent by FY23 and the States at about 20 per cent. Statement 2 swaps the numbers: it is the Centre whose debt was about 49 per cent of GDP. Article 293(3) makes statement 3 correct.

• ✓ 1. The committee recommended a glide path that brings the Centre's debt to 40 per cent of GDP by FY23 within a general-government anchor of about 60 per cent, leaving roughly 20 per cent for the States together.
• ✗ 2. The figures are reversed. The report puts the Union government's debt at 49.4 per cent of GDP and the States' collective debt at only about 19–21 per cent.
• ✓ 3. Article 293(3) says a State may not raise a loan without the Government of India's consent if any part of a loan made or guaranteed by the Centre is still outstanding.

Remember · FRBM Review (N.K. Singh) Committee: debt anchor 60% of GDP (Centre 40%, States 20%); fiscal deficit 2.5% by FY23. Article 293(3): indebted States need the Centre's consent to borrow.

Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper I (2018, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). Permalink · Report an error

Answer: (b) Governor General

Under the Government of India Act, 1935 the residuary powers went to the Governor-General, not to the Federal or the Provincial Legislature. Section 104 let him, acting in his own discretion, authorise either legislature to make a law on a matter not listed in the Seventh Schedule.

• ✓ (b) Section 104(1) says the Governor-General may by public notification empower either the Federal Legislature or a Provincial Legislature to legislate on a matter not enumerated in any list of the Seventh Schedule, and Section 104(2) says he acts in his discretion.
• ✗ (a) The Federal Legislature had only the powers given in the Federal List and the Concurrent List. It could make a law on an unlisted matter only if the Governor-General empowered it.
• ✗ (c) The Provincial Legislature likewise held only the Provincial and Concurrent Lists and had no residuary power of its own.

Remember · 1935 Act: residuary powers with the Governor-General (Section 104). The Constitution of India changed this: Article 248 gives them to Parliament.

Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper I (2018, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). Permalink · Report an error

Answer: (a) 1 only

The Speaker of a state Legislative Assembly must vacate office on ceasing to be a member of the Assembly, but does not leave office when the Assembly is dissolved. Article 179 lets the Speaker continue until just before the first meeting of the new Assembly.

• ✓ 1. Article 179(a) says a Speaker or Deputy Speaker shall vacate office if he ceases to be a member of the Assembly, for example on disqualification or losing a seat.
• ✗ 2. The second proviso to Article 179 says that on dissolution the Speaker shall not vacate office until immediately before the first meeting of the Assembly after the dissolution. So there is no immediate vacation.

Remember · On dissolution the Speaker stays in office until just before the new Assembly's first meeting (Article 179; Article 94 for the Lok Sabha Speaker).

Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper I (2018, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). Permalink · Report an error

Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2

Both statements are correct. The Constitution gives a Governor immunity from criminal proceedings during the term of office (Article 361) and bars any reduction of the Governor's emoluments and allowances during that term (Article 158).

• ✓ 1. Article 361(2) bars criminal proceedings of every kind, whether starting or continuing, against the President or a State's Governor in any court while the term of office lasts.
• ✓ 2. Article 158(4) says the emoluments and allowances of the Governor shall not be diminished during his term of office, which secures the Governor's financial independence.

Remember · Article 361 shields the President and Governors from criminal proceedings during their term; Article 158(4) protects the Governor's emoluments from reduction.

Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper I (2018, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). Permalink · Report an error

Answer: (b) the powers of the Legislature of that State shall be exercisable by or under the authority of the Parliament.

Under Article 356 the President can declare that the State Legislature's powers will be exercised by or under the authority of Parliament. This is the constitutional core of President's Rule, and it is the option that uses the Article's own words.

• ✓ (b) Article 356(1)(b) allows the President to declare that the powers of the State Legislature shall be exercisable by or under Parliament's authority.
• ✗ (d) The President does not get lawmaking power directly from the Proclamation. Under Article 357, Parliament may confer on the President the State Legislature's power to make laws.
• ✗ (a) Article 356 does not dissolve the Assembly. It only takes over the Legislature's powers, so the Assembly can stay in suspended animation.
• ✗ (c) Article 19 is suspended under Article 358, and only while an Emergency for war or external aggression is in operation. A President's Rule Proclamation under Article 356 does not suspend it.

Remember · Article 356 (President's Rule): the State Legislature's powers pass to Parliament; the President legislates only if Parliament confers that power (Art. 357). Art. 19 is suspended only under Art. 358.

Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper I (2018, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). Permalink · Report an error