Consider the following subjects under the Constitution of India : I. List I-Union List, in the Seventh Schedule II. Extent of the executive power of a State III. Conditions of the Governor's office 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?

The correct answer is A, I and II only. Both the lists of the Seventh Schedule and the extent of a State's executive power are federal provisions named in the proviso to Article 368(2), so changing them needs ratification by half the State Legislatures.

Article 368(2) lists the matters that touch the federal balance: the election of the President (Articles 54 and 55), the extent of the executive power of the Union and the States (Articles 73 and 162), the Supreme Court and High Courts, the distribution of legislative powers, any of the Lists in the Seventh Schedule, representation of States in Parliament, and Article 368 itself. For these, a special majority in Parliament is not enough; at least half the States must also agree by simple majority in their Legislatures.

B is wrong because the conditions of the Governor's office (Article 158) are not in the proviso. C is wrong for the same reason and because it leaves out II. D is wrong because III needs only a special majority of Parliament.

Exam tip: Seventh Schedule lists, Articles 73 and 162, judiciary, President's election, Article 368 = special majority plus half the States.