Which one of the following Amendments to the Constitution of India has prescribed that the Council of Ministers shall not exceed 15 percent of total number of members of the House of the People or Legislative Assembly in the States?
- A.91st Amendment
- B.87th Amendment
- C.97th Amendment
- D.90th Amendment
Show answer
Correct answer: A. 91st Amendment
Explanation
The correct answer is 91st Amendment. The 91st Amendment Act, 2003 inserted Article 75(1A), which says the total number of ministers, including the Prime Minister, in the Union Council of Ministers shall not exceed 15% of the total number of members of the Lok Sabha, and Article 164(1A), which applies the same limit to the States, with a minimum of 12 ministers. It also barred a member disqualified for defection from being appointed a minister, and strengthened the anti-defection law by deleting the provision that allowed "splits".
The other amendments are from around the same time but on different subjects. The 97th Amendment (2011) dealt with co-operative societies. The 87th Amendment (2003) provided for delimitation of constituencies on the basis of the 2001 census. The 90th Amendment (2003) concerned representation in the Assam Legislative Assembly from the Bodoland Territorial Areas District. The 15% cap was meant to stop jumbo ministries formed to reward supporters and hold coalitions together.