UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Panel defers adoption of report on Bill for removal of Prime Minister, CMs

Q1. Under the Constitution (One Hundred and Thirtieth Amendment) Bill, 2025, for how many consecutive days must a Prime Minister, Chief Minister or Minister remain arrested and in custody before the provision for cessation/removal from office is triggered?

  • A. 15 consecutive days
  • B. 30 consecutive days
  • C. 60 consecutive days
  • D. 90 consecutive days

Q2. With reference to the Constitution (One Hundred and Thirtieth Amendment) Bill, 2025, consider the following statements: 1. The removal provision is attracted only for offences punishable with imprisonment of five years or more. 2. A Prime Minister or Chief Minister who fails to resign ceases to hold office from the day after 30 consecutive days of detention. 3. The provisions are extended to the National Capital Territory of Delhi. 4. The trigger for removal is conviction by a trial court, not mere arrest and detention. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

  1. The removal provision is attracted only for offences punishable with imprisonment of five years or more.
  2. A Prime Minister or Chief Minister who fails to resign ceases to hold office from the day after 30 consecutive days of detention.
  3. The provisions are extended to the National Capital Territory of Delhi.
  4. The trigger for removal is conviction by a trial court, not mere arrest and detention.
  • A. 1 and 2
  • B. 4 only
  • C. 2 and 3
  • D. 1 and 4

Q3. With reference to the Joint Parliamentary Committee examining the Constitution (130th Amendment) Bill, 2025, consider the following statements: 1. Whereas the Bill as introduced uses the language of 'removal'/'cease to be a Minister', the Committee's draft report recommends substituting the word 'suspension'. 2. The Committee has a larger number of Lok Sabha members than Rajya Sabha members. 3. The Committee was constituted to examine only the Constitution (130th Amendment) Bill and no other Bill. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Whereas the Bill as introduced uses the language of 'removal'/'cease to be a Minister', the Committee's draft report recommends substituting the word 'suspension'.
  2. The Committee has a larger number of Lok Sabha members than Rajya Sabha members.
  3. The Committee was constituted to examine only the Constitution (130th Amendment) Bill and no other Bill.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q4. The Constitution (One Hundred and Thirtieth Amendment) Bill, 2025 was piloted and introduced in the Lok Sabha by which Union Ministry?

  • A. Ministry of Law and Justice
  • B. Ministry of Home Affairs
  • C. Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs
  • D. Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions

Q5. The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2025 — referred to the Joint Committee alongside the 130th Amendment Bill — seeks to amend which parent statute?

  • A. The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019
  • B. The Jammu and Kashmir Reservation Act, 2004
  • C. Article 370 of the Constitution
  • D. The Jammu and Kashmir Public Safety Act, 1978

Q6. An amendment under Article 368 that alters the distribution of legislative powers between the Union and the States must, besides being passed by a special majority in Parliament, be ratified by the legislatures of at least what fraction of the States?

  • A. One-third of the States
  • B. One-half of the States
  • C. Two-thirds of the States
  • D. Three-fourths of the States

Q7. The 'basic structure' doctrine, invoked by critics who argue that the 130th Amendment Bill undermines federalism, was propounded by the Supreme Court in which case?

  • A. Golak Nath v. State of Punjab (1967)
  • B. Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala (1973)
  • C. Minerva Mills v. Union of India (1980)
  • D. Indira Nehru Gandhi v. Raj Narain (1975)

Q8. With reference to the existing constitutional scheme for the tenure of Ministers, consider the following statements: 1. Under Article 75, the Union Council of Ministers holds office during the pleasure of the President. 2. Under Article 164, the Chief Minister and other Ministers of a State hold office during the pleasure of the Governor. 3. Under the existing scheme, a Prime Minister can be removed only through impeachment by a two-thirds majority of both Houses. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Under Article 75, the Union Council of Ministers holds office during the pleasure of the President.
  2. Under Article 164, the Chief Minister and other Ministers of a State hold office during the pleasure of the Governor.
  3. Under the existing scheme, a Prime Minister can be removed only through impeachment by a two-thirds majority of both Houses.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q9. In the criticism of the 130th Amendment Bill, the principle of 'presumption of innocence' is repeatedly invoked. It refers to which one of the following?

  • A. An accused person is regarded as innocent until proven guilty by a competent court
  • B. A person once acquitted or convicted of an offence cannot be tried again for the same offence
  • C. No person accused of an offence shall be compelled to be a witness against himself
  • D. A person cannot be subjected to a penalty greater than that prescribed when the offence was committed