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The provision that the executive power of every State shall be so exercised as to ensure compliance with the laws made by Parliament, and that the Union may give directions to a State for this purpose, is contained in:
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Answer: Option C — Article 256
Detailed Solution
Article 256 lays down the obligation of the States and the Union: the executive power of every State shall be so exercised as to ensure compliance with the laws made by Parliament and any existing laws which apply in that State, and the executive power of the Union shall extend to giving such directions to a State as may appear to the Government of India to be necessary for that purpose.
Meaning of Article 256:
- It ensures that the laws made by Parliament are properly implemented throughout the country, including by the state governments.
- The states cannot use their executive power to obstruct or ignore central laws.
Related provisions on administrative relations:
Article 257: The executive power of every State shall be so exercised as not to impede or prejudice the exercise of the executive power of the Union; the Union can give directions to the States on matters such as the construction and maintenance of means of communication of national or military importance, and the protection of railways.
Article 258: The President may, with the consent of a State government, entrust to that government functions relating to any matter to which the executive power of the Union extends.
Consequence of non-compliance:
Article 365: If a State fails to comply with, or give effect to, any directions given by the Union, it shall be lawful for the President to hold that a situation has arisen in which the government of the State cannot be carried on in accordance with the Constitution; this can lead to President's Rule.
The Sarkaria Commission recommended that the Union should use its power of giving directions sparingly and after consulting the states.
Why not the other options?
Article 257 deals with the control of the Union over the States in certain cases; Article 258 with the entrusting of Union functions to the States; Article 365 with the effect of failure to comply with the Union's directions.
Quick tip
Remember: Article 256 = obligation of the States to ensure compliance with laws made by Parliament; Article 365 = failure to comply with Union directions can lead to President's Rule.
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Centre-State Relations & Emergency Provisions — Preparation
This question tests your understanding of Centre-State Relations & Emergency Provisions, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.
This topic covers the distribution of legislative, administrative and financial powers between the Centre and the states, the Union, State and Concurrent Lists, inter-state councils and zonal councils, and the three types of emergency: national emergency (Article 352), President's rule (Article 356) and financial emergency (Article 360). Exams ask which list a subject falls in, which commission examined Centre-state relations (the Sarkaria and Punchhi Commissions), and how often each type of emergency has been declared. Remember that a financial emergency has never been declared in India, and that 'armed rebellion' replaced 'internal disturbance' as a ground for national emergency through the 44th Amendment. Practise the Centre-state relations and emergency provisions questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.