MCQs: Article 200, Article 143 & Governor’s Assent

 

MCQs: Article 200, Article 143 & Governor’s Assent

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Q1.

Article 200 of the Indian Constitution deals with:

A. The power of the President to assent to State Bills

B. The discretionary powers of the Governor in financial matters

C. The Governor’s options when a Bill passed by the State Legislature is presented to him

D. Judicial review of State legislation

✅ Correct Answer: C

Explanation:

Article 200 specifies the courses of action available to the Governor when a Bill is presented: assent, withholding assent, returning the Bill (except Money Bills), or reserving it for the President.

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Q2.

Which of the following options are constitutionally available to a Governor under Article 200?

1. Grant assent to the Bill

2. Withhold assent

3. Return the Bill for reconsideration (except Money Bills)

4. Refer the Bill to the Supreme Court for advisory opinion

Select the correct answer using the code below:

A. 1, 2 and 3 only

B. 1, 2, 3 and 4

C. 1 and 3 only

D. 2 and 4 only

✅ Correct Answer: A

Explanation:

Article 200 does not allow referral to the Supreme Court. Advisory opinions come under Article 143, and only the President can invoke it.

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Q3.

Under the first proviso to Article 200, when a Bill (other than a Money Bill) is returned by the Governor and subsequently re-passed by the State Legislature, the Governor:

A. May withhold assent

B. Must reserve the Bill for the President

C. Shall not withhold assent

D. May return the Bill again

✅ Correct Answer: C

Explanation:

The constitutional text is explicit: reiteration by the legislature binds the Governor in matters of assent.

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Q4.

Which of the following best describes the significance of the Supreme Court’s judgment in State of Tamil Nadu vs Governor of Tamil Nadu (2025)?

A. It abolished the Governor’s power to reserve Bills

B. It imposed judicially enforceable timelines on Governors to act on Bills

C. It transferred the power of assent to State Assemblies

D. It made the President the final authority on all State Bills

✅ Correct Answer: B

Explanation:

The Court held that indefinite delay violates constitutional functioning and imposed timelines, enabling courts to intervene in cases of unexplained inaction.

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Q5.

The concept of “deemed assent”, as discussed in judicial discourse, refers to:

A. Automatic assent after Presidential approval

B. Assent presumed when Parliament passes a resolution

C. Judicial declaration of assent due to unconstitutional inaction by the Governor

D. Assent granted after a fixed number of legislative sessions

✅ Correct Answer: C

Explanation:

In State of Tamil Nadu (2025), the Court recognised that prolonged, unexplained silence could be treated as assent to prevent constitutional paralysis.

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Q6.

Article 143 of the Constitution empowers the President to:

A. Review Supreme Court judgments

B. Seek advisory opinions from the Supreme Court on questions of law or fact

C. Refer Bills to the Supreme Court before assent

D. Overrule constitutional interpretations by the Supreme Court

✅ Correct Answer: B

Explanation:

Article 143 allows the President to seek the Supreme Court’s advisory opinion, which is not binding but carries strong persuasive value.

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Q7.

Which of the following statements about advisory opinions under Article 143 is/are correct?

1. They are binding precedents

2. They do not overrule existing judgments

3. They are delivered by Constitution Benches

4. They carry persuasive authority

Select the correct answer:

A. 2 and 4 only

B. 1 and 3 only

C. 2, 3 and 4 only

D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

✅ Correct Answer: C

Explanation:

Advisory opinions are not binding, but are usually delivered by Constitution Benches and carry significant persuasive weight.

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Q8.

In Special Reference No. 1 of 2025, the Supreme Court held that:

A. Judicial timelines on Governors are constitutionally mandatory

B. Deemed assent is an essential part of Article 200

C. Governors’ discretionary powers have constitutional “elasticity”

D. Governors are accountable to State Legislatures

✅ Correct Answer: C

Explanation:

The Court rejected timelines and deemed assent, stating that the Constitution allows flexibility (elasticity) in the exercise of discretionary powers.

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Q9.

The Supreme Court’s concern in allowing Governors to refer even reconsidered Bills to the President is criticised mainly because:

A. It violates separation of powers

B. It undermines the binding nature of legislative reiteration

C. It abolishes judicial review

D. It weakens the office of the President

✅ Correct Answer: B

Explanation:

The criticism is that such interpretation negates the first proviso to Article 200, enabling procedural sabotage of elected legislatures.

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Q10.

Which constitutional principle is arguably violated when Governors indirectly block Bills by repeatedly reserving them for the President?

A. Doctrine of Basic Structure

B. Principle of collective responsibility

C. What cannot be done directly cannot be done indirectly

D. Doctrine of pleasure

✅ Correct Answer: C

Explanation:

Allowing indirect obstruction defeats constitutional intent and undermines democratic accountability.

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Q11.

Which of the following best explains why denial or delay of assent is considered more problematic than passing an unconstitutional law?

A. Courts cannot review unconstitutional laws

B. Denial of assent has no judicial remedy

C. Governors are immune under Article 361

D. Legislatures lack corrective mechanisms

✅ Correct Answer: B

Explanation:

Unconstitutional laws can be struck down, but non-assent or delay leaves legislation in limbo, with no effective remedy.

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Q12.

From a federalism perspective, prolonged gubernatorial inaction primarily affects:

A. Judicial independence

B. Parliamentary sovereignty

C. State autonomy and democratic governance

D. Electoral accountability

✅ Correct Answer: C

Explanation:

Governors are unelected; misuse of assent powers undermines State legislative supremacy, harming cooperative federalism.