RAS question
The Governor of Rajasthan can reserve a bill for the consideration of the President under which Article?
Correct answer: (C) Article 200.
Under Article 200 of the Constitution of India, the Governor of Rajasthan may reserve a Bill passed by the State Legislature for the consideration of the President.
Explanation
Article 200 is the operative provision because it deals with a Bill after it has been passed by the State Legislature and presented to the Governor. At that stage, the Governor must declare one of the constitutional courses: assent to the Bill, withhold assent, reserve the Bill for the President's consideration, or, if it is not a Money Bill, return it with a message for reconsideration. The same Article also says the Governor must reserve a Bill for the President if, in the Governor's opinion, it would so derogate from the powers of the High Court as to endanger the constitutional position of that Court. So the power to reserve the Bill is located in Article 200, not in the later procedure under Article 201.
Why the other options are wrong
- (A) Article 213 concerns the Governor's power to promulgate Ordinances when circumstances require it, not the Governor's choices after a Bill is presented for assent.
- (B) Article 202 concerns the annual financial statement of the State, so it belongs to budget procedure rather than assent or reservation of Bills.
- (D) Article 201 begins after a Governor has already reserved a Bill and explains the President's options, so it does not confer the Governor's reservation power.
Concept
This tests the constitutional role of the Governor in the State legislative process, especially assent, return and reservation of Bills. It recurs in RAS because Rajasthan polity questions often ask candidates to separate closely placed Articles in Part VI of the Constitution.