Consider the following subjects under the Constitution of India: For a constitutional amendment with respect to which of the above, ratification by the Legislatures of not less than one-half of the States is required before presenting the bill to the President of India for assent?

Answer: (a) I and II only

Seventh Schedule lists and Art. 162 are federal provisions; Art. 158 is not.

Statement by statement

1. ✓ NEEDS STATES Any of the lists in the Seventh Schedule is in the Art. 368(2) proviso.

2. ✓ NEEDS STATES Art. 162 (extent of State executive power) is in the proviso.

3. ✗ PARLIAMENT ALONE Art. 158 is not in the proviso; a special majority of Parliament is enough.

The idea

The Art. 368(2) proviso list: election of the President (54, 55) · extent of Union and State executive power (73, 162) · Art. 241 and 279A (GST Council) · Supreme Court and High Courts (Part V Ch IV, Part VI Ch V) · legislative relations (Part XI Ch I) · any list in the Seventh Schedule · representation of States in Parliament · Art. 368 itself.

Special majority in each House → + half the States (only for federal items) → President must assent (24th Amendment)

Why the others are wrong

(b) The Governor is a State office, but his conditions of office are not a federal-balance item.

(c) Swaps II for III.

(d) Art. 158 does not need State ratification.

The trap

“Governor” sounds like a State matter, so III feels federal. The test is the Art. 368(2) list, not whether a State official is involved.