UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Bengal CM likely to expand Cabinet tomorrow; Budget session to begin on June 22

Q1. With reference to the constitutional provisions governing the appointment of a State's Council of Ministers, consider the following statements. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. Under Article 163 there is a Council of Ministers with the Chief Minister at its head to aid and advise the Governor.
  2. The Chief Minister of a State is appointed by the Governor.
  3. The Ministers hold office during the pleasure of the Governor.
  4. The Governor is bound to act on the advice of the Council of Ministers in every matter, without any exception.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 2 and 3
  • C. 4 only
  • D. 1 and 4

Q2. Under Article 164(1A), the total number of Ministers, including the Chief Minister, in the West Bengal Council of Ministers (Legislative Assembly strength: 294) cannot exceed approximately how many?

  • A. 41
  • B. 44
  • C. 47
  • D. 59

Q3. With reference to the 91st Constitutional Amendment Act, 2003, consider the following statements. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. It inserted Article 164(1A) capping a State's Council of Ministers at 15% of the Assembly's total strength.
  2. It was enacted on the recommendation of the National Commission to Review the Working of the Constitution.
  3. It capped the Union Council of Ministers at 15% of the total strength of the Lok Sabha.
  4. It fixed every State's Council of Ministers at exactly 15% of the Assembly strength, with no lower limit permitted.
  • A. 1 and 3
  • B. 2 only
  • C. 4 only
  • D. 3 and 4

Q4. The ceiling on the size of a State's Council of Ministers at 15% of the Legislative Assembly's strength was introduced into the Constitution by which one of the following Amendment Acts?

  • A. The 52nd Amendment Act
  • B. The 91st Amendment Act
  • C. The 97th Amendment Act
  • D. The 101st Amendment Act

Q5. In the 2026 West Bengal Assembly election, to how many seats was the outgoing Trinamool Congress reduced?

  • A. 80
  • B. 118
  • C. 164
  • D. 211

Q6. Which one of the following authorities is constitutionally responsible for conducting and supervising the general election to the West Bengal Legislative Assembly?

  • A. The Election Commission of India
  • B. The State Election Commission of West Bengal
  • C. The Governor of West Bengal
  • D. The Delimitation Commission

Q7. Under Article 202, which single document is the primary statement of the estimated receipts and expenditure of the State that the Governor must cause to be laid before the House in respect of every financial year?

  • A. The Annual Financial Statement
  • B. The Appropriation Bill
  • C. The Finance Bill
  • D. The Demands for Grants

Q8. The recommendation that a State cannot be carried on in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution — the basis for imposing President's Rule — is, in the first instance, made to the Union by which one of the following authorities?

  • A. The Governor of the State
  • B. The Chief Justice of the High Court
  • C. The State Election Commissioner
  • D. The Speaker of the Legislative Assembly

Q9. Unless sooner dissolved, for how many years does a State Legislative Assembly normally continue from the date appointed for its first meeting?

  • A. Four years
  • B. Five years
  • C. Six years
  • D. Seven years

Q10. The CPI(M)-led Left Front that governed West Bengal from 1977 to 2011 is most notably distinguished as which one of the following?

  • A. The longest-serving democratically elected communist government in the world
  • B. India's first elected communist State government
  • C. The first non-Congress government formed in independent India
  • D. The longest-serving coalition government at the Union level

Q11. When the newly constituted West Bengal Council of Ministers is formed, the oath of office to the Chief Minister and other Ministers is administered by which single constitutional authority alone?

  • A. The Governor of West Bengal
  • B. The Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court
  • C. The Speaker of the Legislative Assembly
  • D. The Chief Secretary of the State