UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — What is the role of Legislative Councils?

Q1. With reference to the procedure under Article 169 of the Constitution of India for creating or abolishing a State Legislative Council, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Once the State Legislative Assembly has passed the required resolution, Parliament is constitutionally bound to enact the law creating or abolishing the Council.
  2. The law made by Parliament for this purpose may itself contain amendments to the Constitution needed to give effect to it.
  3. A State whose Council has once been abolished under this procedure cannot use the same procedure to create a Council again.
  • A. 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1 only

Q2. Consider the following statements: Which of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

  1. A State Legislative Assembly cannot bring a Legislative Council into existence merely by passing a resolution to that effect.
  2. Article 169 requires the Assembly's resolution to be passed by a majority of its total membership and by not less than two-thirds of the members present and voting.
  • A. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I
  • B. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I
  • C. Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect
  • D. Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct

Q3. A State that has no Legislative Council has an Assembly of 180 members. A resolution seeking creation of a Council is put to vote: 150 members are present and voting, and 100 of them vote in favour. Which assessment of the resolution is correct under Article 169?

  • A. Failed, as it does not have the support of two-thirds of the Assembly's total membership
  • B. Failed, as it does not have three-fourths of the members present and voting
  • C. Passed, as it has a majority of total membership and two-thirds of those present and voting
  • D. Failed, as it does not exceed two-thirds of the members present and voting

Q4. With reference to Money Bills in a State that has a bicameral legislature, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above are correct?

  1. A Money Bill cannot be introduced in the Legislative Council.
  2. If the Council does not return a Money Bill within the prescribed period, the Bill is deemed passed by both Houses in the form passed by the Assembly.
  3. Any question whether a Bill is a Money Bill is decided jointly by the Speaker of the Assembly and the Chairman of the Council.
  4. The Council may amend a Money Bill, and its amendments take effect unless the Assembly expressly rejects them.
  • A. 1, 2 and 4 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1, 3 and 4 only
  • D. 1 and 2 only

Q5. Consider the following statements: Which of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

  1. The Legislative Council of a State cannot ultimately prevent an ordinary Bill passed by the Legislative Assembly from becoming law.
  2. If the Council rejects an ordinary Bill, the Assembly may pass it again, and if the Council again rejects it or does not pass it within the prescribed time, the Bill is deemed passed in the form the Assembly passed it the second time.
  • A. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I
  • B. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I
  • C. Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect
  • D. Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct

Q6. When the upper House rejects an ordinary (non-Money) Bill passed by the lower House, how is the deadlock resolved at the Union and State levels respectively?

  • A. Union: the Lok Sabha may re-pass the Bill and override; State: the Assembly may re-pass the Bill and override
  • B. Union: the President may convene a joint sitting; State: the Assembly may re-pass the Bill and override
  • C. Union: the Lok Sabha may re-pass the Bill and override; State: the Governor may convene a joint sitting
  • D. Union: the President may convene a joint sitting; State: the Governor may convene a joint sitting

Q7. With reference to the composition of a State Legislative Council under Article 171, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The members whom the Legislative Assembly elects to the Council must be persons who are not members of the Assembly.
  2. Members elected to the Council are chosen by proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote.
  3. The composition laid down in the Constitution applies only until Parliament by law provides otherwise.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 3
  • D. 1 and 2 only

Q8. The Legislative Council of a State is composed, as nearly as may be, as follows: one-third elected by electorates of municipalities, district boards and other local authorities; one-third elected by members of the Legislative Assembly; one-twelfth elected by registered graduates; one-twelfth elected by teachers; and the remainder nominated by the Governor. Which of the following inferences can be validly drawn from the above?

  1. No member of the Council is chosen by direct election by the general body of adult voters of the State.
  2. A majority of the Council's members owe their seats to votes cast by members of the Legislative Assembly.
  3. Some members of the Council may sit in it without having faced any electorate.
  • A. 2 and 3 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 3
  • C. 1 only
  • D. 1 and 3 only