1. The provisions relating to inter-state relations are contained in:
A) Part X
B) Part XI
C) Part XIII
D) Part XIV
Answer: B
Explanation: Articles 261–263 in Part XI of the Constitution deal with inter-state relations.
2. Which Article provides for full faith and credit to public acts, records, and judicial proceedings?
A) Article 260
B) Article 261
C) Article 262
D) Article 263
Answer: B
Explanation: Article 261 ensures that acts, records, and judicial proceedings of one state are recognised in other states.
3. Which Article deals with adjudication of inter-state water disputes?
A) Article 260
B) Article 262
C) Article 263
D) Article 268
Answer: B
Explanation: Article 262 provides Parliament power to make laws regarding inter-state river water disputes.
4. Who decides inter-state water disputes under Article 262?
A) Supreme Court
B) High Court
C) Parliament-created tribunals
D) Inter-State Council
Answer: C
Explanation: Article 262 excludes jurisdiction of SC/HC; Parliament sets up tribunals.
5. Which Article provides for Inter-State Council?
A) Article 260
B) Article 261
C) Article 262
D) Article 263
Answer: D
Explanation: Article 263 empowers President to establish Inter-State Council for coordination.
6. Who can establish the Inter-State Council?
A) Parliament
B) President
C) Prime Minister
D) Rajya Sabha
Answer: B
Explanation: Under Article 263, the President can establish the Inter-State Council.
7. The Inter-State Council was established in:
A) 1985
B) 1990
C) 1992
D) 2000
Answer: B
Explanation: It was set up in 1990 on the recommendation of the Sarkaria Commission.
8. The Inter-State Council is chaired by:
A) President
B) Prime Minister
C) Home Minister
D) Chief Justice of India
Answer: B
Explanation: The Prime Minister is the ex-officio Chairman of the Inter-State Council.
9. How many Zonal Councils are there in India?
A) 4
B) 5
C) 6
D) 7
Answer: C
Explanation: There are 6 Zonal Councils: North, South, East, West, Central, and North-Eastern.
10. Zonal Councils were set up under:
A) Constitution of India
B) States Reorganisation Act, 1956
C) Finance Commission Act, 1951
D) Government of India Act, 1935
Answer: B
Explanation: Zonal Councils were established by the States Reorganisation Act, 1956.
11. Which body is known as the “keystone of the arch of Indian federalism”?
A) Inter-State Council
B) Finance Commission
C) Supreme Court
D) Rajya Sabha
Answer: C
Explanation: The Supreme Court is considered the keystone of Indian federalism.
12. Which Article empowers the Centre to protect states against external aggression and internal disturbance?
A) Article 352
B) Article 355
C) Article 356
D) Article 360
Answer: B
Explanation: Article 355 imposes duty on Union to protect states.
13. Which Article provides that the Union can give directions to states for maintaining communication facilities of national importance?
A) Article 256
B) Article 257
C) Article 260
D) Article 261
Answer: B
Explanation: Article 257 empowers Centre to give directions regarding communication and transport.
14. Which provision enables the President to establish an authority for inter-state water disputes?
A) Article 258
B) Article 260
C) Article 262
D) Article 263
Answer: C
Explanation: Article 262 allows Parliament to provide for such an authority.
15. Freedom of trade, commerce, and intercourse is provided in:
A) Part XI
B) Part XII
C) Part XIII (Articles 301–307)
D) Part XIV
Answer: C
Explanation: Part XIII (Articles 301–307) guarantees freedom of trade and commerce.
16. Which Article guarantees freedom of trade, commerce, and intercourse?
A) Article 301
B) Article 302
C) Article 304
D) Article 307
Answer: A
Explanation: Article 301 ensures freedom of trade and commerce throughout India.
17. Which Article allows Parliament to impose restrictions on trade in public interest?
A) Article 301
B) Article 302
C) Article 304
D) Article 305
Answer: B
Explanation: Article 302 allows Parliament to impose reasonable restrictions on trade.
18. Which Article allows state legislatures to impose reasonable restrictions on trade?
A) Article 302
B) Article 304
C) Article 305
D) Article 307
Answer: B
Explanation: Article 304 permits states to impose restrictions with Presidential assent.
19. Which Article saves existing laws relating to trade and commerce?
A) Article 302
B) Article 304
C) Article 305
D) Article 307
Answer: C
Explanation: Article 305 protects existing trade regulations from invalidation.
20. Which Article empowers Parliament to appoint an authority for trade and commerce?
A) Article 304
B) Article 305
C) Article 306
D) Article 307
Answer: D
Explanation: Article 307 allows appointment of authority for trade and commerce.
21. Which of the following is NOT a Zonal Council?
A) North-Eastern Council
B) Central Zonal Council
C) Eastern Zonal Council
D) Western Zonal Council
Answer: A
Explanation: North-Eastern Council (1971 Act) is a statutory body, not one of the six Zonal Councils.
22. The North-Eastern Council was created by:
A) Constitution
B) States Reorganisation Act, 1956
C) North Eastern Council Act, 1971
D) Sarkaria Commission
Answer: C
Explanation: North Eastern Council was set up in 1971 to promote regional development.
23. Who heads the North-Eastern Council?
A) Prime Minister
B) Home Minister
C) Union Home Minister
D) Governor of a North-Eastern State
Answer: C
Explanation: The Union Home Minister acts as the ex-officio Chairman of the NEC.
24. Which Article lays down the principle of full faith and credit in India?
A) Article 260
B) Article 261
C) Article 262
D) Article 263
Answer: B
Explanation: Article 261 mandates full faith and credit to records and judicial proceedings.
25. Which body can recommend establishment of Inter-State Council?
A) Rajya Sabha
B) Lok Sabha
C) President
D) Sarkaria Commission
Answer: D
Explanation: The Sarkaria Commission recommended establishment of Inter-State Council, which was accepted in 1990.
26. The Inter-State Council is a:
A) Statutory body
B) Permanent constitutional body
C) Non-constitutional body
D) Constitutional body
Answer: D
Explanation: Article 263 makes Inter-State Council a constitutional body, though not permanent.
27. Inter-State Council was set up by which Prime Minister?
A) Rajiv Gandhi
B) V.P. Singh
C) P.V. Narasimha Rao
D) Atal Bihari Vajpayee
Answer: B
Explanation: V.P. Singh set up the Inter-State Council in 1990.
28. The Inter-State Council Secretariat is under:
A) Ministry of Home Affairs
B) Ministry of Finance
C) Prime Minister’s Office
D) Ministry of Defence
Answer: A
Explanation: The Inter-State Council Secretariat functions under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
29. Which Article empowers Union to give directions to states to maintain railways?
A) Article 256
B) Article 257
C) Article 258
D) Article 261
Answer: B
Explanation: Article 257(1) obligates states not to impede Union communications/railways.
30. Who is responsible for resolving inter-state boundary disputes?
A) President
B) Parliament
C) Supreme Court
D) Prime Minister
Answer: C
Explanation: Article 131 gives Supreme Court original jurisdiction in boundary disputes.
31. Which of the following cases is related to inter-state water disputes?
A) Krishna Water Dispute
B) Cauvery Water Dispute
C) Ravi-Beas Water Dispute
D) All of the above
Answer: D
Explanation: All are examples of inter-state river water disputes.
32. Which Commission recommended a permanent Inter-State Council?
A) Sarkaria Commission
B) Punchhi Commission
C) Rajamannar Committee
D) Balwant Rai Mehta Committee
Answer: B
Explanation: Punchhi Commission (2007) recommended permanent Inter-State Council.
33. Who can dissolve Inter-State Council?
A) President
B) Prime Minister
C) Parliament
D) Supreme Court
Answer: A
Explanation: Since President establishes it, he can dissolve it as well.
34. Article 301 ensures:
A) Judicial review
B) Freedom of trade, commerce, intercourse
C) Fiscal federalism
D) Parliamentary sovereignty
Answer: B
Explanation: Article 301 provides freedom of trade and commerce across India.
35. Who presides over Zonal Council meetings?
A) Prime Minister
B) Union Home Minister
C) Governor of State
D) Chief Minister
Answer: B
Explanation: Union Home Minister is the chairman of Zonal Councils.
36. Which is the primary objective of Zonal Councils?
A) Trade regulation
B) Promotion of regional cooperation
C) Judicial coordination
D) Revenue sharing
Answer: B
Explanation: Zonal Councils aim to promote cooperation and coordination among states.
37. Which state was involved in Cauvery Water Dispute?
A) Tamil Nadu and Karnataka
B) Maharashtra and Gujarat
C) Punjab and Haryana
D) Andhra Pradesh and Odisha
Answer: A
Explanation: The Cauvery dispute involved Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
38. The first Inter-State Water Dispute Tribunal was for:
A) Krishna River
B) Cauvery River
C) Godavari River
D) Narmada River
Answer: A
Explanation: Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal was the first such tribunal.
39. Which Article excludes Supreme Court jurisdiction over water disputes?
A) Article 260
B) Article 262(2)
C) Article 263
D) Article 280
Answer: B
Explanation: Article 262(2) excludes SC jurisdiction once Parliament provides tribunal.
40. Which body administers inter-state river waters under tribunal awards?
A) Central Water Commission
B) Inter-State Council
C) Tribunal itself
D) Ministry of Jal Shakti
Answer: D
Explanation: Ministry of Jal Shakti implements tribunal awards.
41. Which Article obligates states to ensure execution of Union laws?
A) Article 256
B) Article 257
C) Article 260
D) Article 261
Answer: A
Explanation: Article 256 obligates states to execute Union laws.
42. Which case upheld Centre’s role in inter-state trade regulation?
A) Atiabari Tea Co. v. State of Assam (1961)
B) Kesavananda Bharati (1973)
C) S.R. Bommai (1994)
D) Minerva Mills (1980)
Answer: A
Explanation: SC upheld Centre’s supremacy in regulating trade under Article 301.
43. Which Article empowers Union to enter into agreements with foreign states on matters relating to state subjects?
A) Article 250
B) Article 253
C) Article 255
D) Article 260
Answer: D
Explanation: Article 260 allows Union to perform functions with consent of foreign states.
44. Which Article provides for compulsory recognition of public records of one state in another?
A) Article 261
B) Article 262
C) Article 263
D) Article 265
Answer: A
Explanation: Article 261 ensures full faith and credit to public acts and records.
45. Who heads the standing committees of Zonal Councils?
A) Union Home Minister
B) Chief Ministers of states
C) Governor
D) President
Answer: B
Explanation: Chief Ministers of states chair the standing committees of Zonal Councils.
46. Which Article imposes duty on Union to protect states from external aggression?
A) Article 352
B) Article 355
C) Article 356
D) Article 360
Answer: B
Explanation: Article 355 ensures Union’s duty to protect states.
47. Which body is empowered to recommend adjustment of boundaries between states?
A) Parliament
B) Inter-State Council
C) Supreme Court
D) NITI Aayog
Answer: A
Explanation: Only Parliament has power to reorganise or adjust state boundaries under Article 3.
48. Which constitutional provision deals with disputes relating to inter-state trade and commerce?
A) Article 301–307
B) Article 280
C) Article 312
D) Article 323
Answer: A
Explanation: Articles 301–307 govern inter-state trade and commerce.
49. Which is the latest tribunal formed for water disputes?
A) Krishna Tribunal
B) Cauvery Tribunal
C) Mahanadi Tribunal
D) Ravi-Beas Tribunal
Answer: C
Explanation: Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal was formed in 2018.
50. Inter-State relations in Indian polity are intended to promote:
A) Conflict
B) Coordination and cooperation
C) Centralisation of power
D) Judicial supremacy
Answer: B
Explanation: The objective is cooperation and coordination among Union and states.