UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — The significance of the Cardiff MoU

Q1. Which one of the following features, if present in a country, is decisive in classifying it as a federation rather than as a unitary state with devolved legislatures?

  • A. Sub-national governments are empowered to levy or vary certain taxes within their own territories
  • B. Sub-national units have their own languages, cultural identities and nationalist political parties
  • C. Sub-national units hold powers that the central legislature cannot curtail on its own by ordinary law
  • D. Sub-national legislatures are directly elected and can make laws on a wide range of subjects

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

  1. The United Kingdom is classified as a unitary state even though it has devolved legislatures in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
  2. The U.K. government officially describes the United Kingdom as being made up of four nations.
  • 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. With reference to the constitution of the United Kingdom, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

  1. Its rules are derived partly from statutes, partly from decisions of courts of law and partly from conventions.
  2. The mainly appointive House of Lords is not a constituent part of the sovereign Parliament.
  3. Any of its constitutional institutions and rules can be modified by an ordinary Act of Parliament.
  • A. 2 and 3 only
  • B. 2 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 3
  • D. 1 and 2 only

Q4. Consider the following statements: Which of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

  1. The Cardiff Memorandum of Understanding of September 2026 transferred to the devolved legislatures of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland the legal power to decide on independence from the U.K.
  2. In the United Kingdom, the validity of an Act of Parliament cannot be challenged in a court of law.
  • 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

Q5. Consider the following facts about devolution in the United Kingdom: In 1997, over 74 per cent of Scottish voters backed a Scottish Parliament and 64 per cent backed giving it power to vary tax rates, while Welsh voters approved an Assembly by 50.3 per cent to 49.7 per cent. The Scottish Parliament was offered the ability to pass legislation and set some tax rates, whereas the Welsh Assembly was given neither and mainly decided how laws passed in London were implemented in Wales. Which of the following inferences can be drawn from the above?

  1. The U.K. adopted an asymmetric pattern of devolution, under which its constituent nations received different kinds of autonomy.
  2. The strength of the popular vote in each nation determined the scope of the powers its devolved body received.
  3. Since the Welsh Assembly lacked primary law-making power, the transfer of functions to it did not amount to devolution.
  4. The Scottish Parliament had greater scope than the Welsh Assembly to adopt policies diverging from those of Westminster.
  • A. 1, 3 and 4 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 4 only
  • D. 1 and 4 only

Q6. With reference to the power of Parliament under Article 3 of the Constitution of India to reorganise States, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The views expressed by the legislature of a State to which such a Bill is referred are binding on Parliament.
  2. The power extends to altering the name of a State, and not merely its area or boundaries.
  3. Such a Bill can be introduced in either House of Parliament only on the recommendation of the President.
  • A. 2 and 3 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 3
  • C. 1 and 2 only
  • D. 3 only

Q7. Consider the following assertion: The Constitution of India does not guarantee the territorial integrity of individual States against the Union. Which of the following statements support/supports the above assertion?

  1. Parliament may by law diminish the area or alter the boundaries of any State.
  2. A law made under Article 3 is not deemed to be an amendment of the Constitution for the purposes of Article 368.
  3. Parliament may by law admit into the Union new States on such terms and conditions as it thinks fit.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 3
  • D. 1 and 2 only

Q8. With reference to the principle of self-determination in international law, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The UN Charter requires Members to refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity of any state.
  2. Under the UN General Assembly's 1970 Friendly Relations Declaration, the establishment of a sovereign and independent State is only one of several modes of implementing the right of self-determination.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 2 only
  • C. Both 1 and 2
  • D. Neither 1 nor 2