2013 GS Paper I, all questions

UPSC Prelims 2013 · GS Paper I

Question 11: Polity and Governance

Consider the following statements :

  1. 1.An amendment to the Constitution of India can be initiated by an introduction of a bill in the Lok Sabha only.
  2. 2.If such an amendment seeks to make changes in the federal character of the Constitution, the amendment also requires to be ratified by the legislature of all the States of India.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

a1 only
b2 only
cBoth 1 and 2
dNeither 1 nor 2

AnswerUPSC’s answer is (d).

Under Article 368, a Bill to amend the Constitution can be introduced in either House of Parliament, not the Lok Sabha only, so statement 1 is wrong. Ratification by State legislatures is required only for changes to certain federal provisions, and then by the legislatures of not less than half of the States, not all of them. Statement 2 is wrong too.

  • 1. An amendment Bill may be introduced in either House.
  • 2. Ratification by not less than half of the State legislatures is needed, not all.

How you could have got this

  1. If you were sure statement 1 is not correct, (a) and (c) go: each of them includes 1.

    What you needed to know: An amendment Bill may be introduced in either House.

    The red flag in statement 1 is “only”. In UPSC’s papers, statements with “only” were true 27% of the time (82 statements). A hint, not a rule.

  2. Then, if you were sure statement 2 is not correct, (b) goes: it includes 2.

    What you needed to know: Ratification by not less than half of the State legislatures is needed, not all.

    The red flag in statement 2 is “all”. In UPSC’s papers, statements with “all” were true 41% of the time (76 statements). A hint, not a rule.

Only (d) is left. This one needs every statement.

Which options go is worked out from UPSC’s key and the options, not by a model.

Why each option is right or wrong
  • (a) Wrong. An amendment Bill can start in the Rajya Sabha as well.
  • (b) Wrong. Ratification needs only half of the States, not all of them.
  • (c) Wrong. Both statements are false.
  • (d) Correct. Either House can initiate, and ratification by half of the States, not all, is needed for federal matters.

Answer: UPSC’s key. Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.

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Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2013, General Studies Paper I, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.