The Uniform Civil Code finds a place in the Constitution as:

A Fundamental Duty in Article 51A

A Fundamental Right in Article 25

A provision of the Seventh Schedule's Union List

Sixth Schedule autonomous district councils exist in which four States?

Assam, Meghalaya, Manipur and Nagaland

Meghalaya, Sikkim, Tripura and Arunachal Pradesh

Assam, Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram

The 2026 MMDR Amendment relies on a 2024 Supreme Court ruling that held:

Royalty is a tax that only Parliament can levy

Mineral rights fall wholly in the Concurrent List

States have no power to tax mineral rights

Week 1 · Day 4 of 30

Federalism and the States

President's Rule ends in Manipur, a third State passes a Uniform Civil Code, a tribal council in Mizoram stays under the Governor, Sikkim closes fifty years of statehood, and Parliament limits State taxes on minerals. Each one tests who holds power: the Union, the State or the people of a region.

5 stories · 8 questions · every story sourced

President's Rule ends in Manipur after a year

4 February 2026

President's Rule was imposed in Manipur on 13 February 2025, days after Chief Minister N. Biren Singh resigned amid the ethnic conflict, and the 60-member Assembly was kept in suspended animation. On 4 February 2026 the President revoked the proclamation, and Y. Khemchand Singh of the BJP was sworn in as Chief Minister the same day by Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla, with two Deputy Chief Ministers, Nemcha Kipgen and L. Dikho. The Assembly's term runs to 2027.

Background. Under Article 356, a proclamation must be approved by both Houses within two months and lasts six months at a time. It can run beyond one year only if a national emergency is in force and the Election Commission certifies that elections cannot be held (Article 356(5), added by the 44th Amendment). S.R. Bommai (1994) made such proclamations open to judicial review.

Why CLAT asks: Article 356's time limits and the Bommai safeguards are standard questions; Manipur is the year's example.

Sources: The Hitavada: President's Rule revoked, Khemchand Singh is Manipur's new CM (5 February 2026); Greater Kashmir: President's Rule revoked in Manipur ahead of govt formation

Assam passes a Uniform Civil Code Bill

27 May 2026

The Assam Legislative Assembly passed the Uniform Civil Code, Assam Bill, 2026 by voice vote on 27 May 2026, two days after it was introduced, rejecting the opposition's demand for a select committee. Assam became the first north-eastern State, and reportedly the third State after Uttarakhand and Gujarat, to pass such a law. The Bill covers marriage, divorce, succession and live-in relationships, bans polygamy, and makes registration of a live-in relationship compulsory within a month, on pain of up to three months' imprisonment or a fine. It does not apply to members of the Scheduled Tribes living in Assam.

Background. Article 44, a Directive Principle, asks the State to endeavour to secure a uniform civil code for citizens throughout India. Uttarakhand's Uniform Civil Code came into force in January 2025. Goa has had a common civil code since the Portuguese period.

Why CLAT asks: A Directive Principle is not enforceable in court, yet a legislature may give effect to it. Note too the carve-out for tribal customary law.

Sources: All India Radio News: Assam Assembly passes UCC Bill, becoming third State to adopt legislation (27 May 2026); Scroll: Assam passes Uniform Civil Code bill

Governor's rule extended in Mizoram's Chakma Autonomous District Council

12 January 2026

The Governor of Mizoram took over the functions of the Chakma Autonomous District Council on 7 July 2025 for six months, after frequent changes of allegiance among its elected members. A notification of 12 January 2026 continued Governor's rule from 7 January 2026, citing continued instability and a pending inquiry report. The Deputy Commissioner of Lawngtlai district runs the Council on the Governor's behalf.

Background. The Sixth Schedule (Articles 244(2) and 275(1)) provides for autonomous district councils in the tribal areas of four States: Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram. Mizoram has three: the Chakma, Lai and Mara councils. The Fifth Schedule governs scheduled areas elsewhere.

Why CLAT asks: Which four States have Sixth Schedule areas, and what separates the Fifth Schedule from the Sixth, come up often.

Sources: Chakma Autonomous District Council: Governor extends Governor's Rule to address political instability; UNI: Governor's rule in Chakma ADC in Mizoram extended by six months

Sikkim closes fifty years of statehood

27 April 2026

Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the closing ceremony of Sikkim's 50th year of statehood at Paljor Stadium, Gangtok, on 27 April 2026, and unveiled projects worth over ₹4,000 crore. He said the State showed the spirit of 'Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat'. The celebrations had marked fifty years since Sikkim became a State of India in May 1975.

Background. The 35th Amendment (1974) made Sikkim an 'associate State'. The 36th Amendment (1975) made it the 22nd State, with effect from 16 May 1975, and added Article 371F, its special provisions. Sikkim Day is 16 May.

Why CLAT asks: The 35th and 36th Amendments, and Article 371F, are tested as a pair. So are the special-provision Articles 371A to 371J for other States.

Source: All India Radio News: PM to arrive in Gangtok on two-day visit to Sikkim (27 April 2026)

Parliament limits States' power to tax mineral rights

13 August 2026

The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026 was passed by the Lok Sabha on 12 August and the Rajya Sabha on 13 August, according to PRS. In 2024 a nine-judge Bench of the Supreme Court had held that royalty is not a tax, that States can tax mineral rights, and that Parliament may limit that power by law. The Bill uses that room: States may not impose any tax, cess or levy on mineral rights or mineral-bearing land except as the central government prescribes. Unpaid dues under earlier State levies are treated as invalid, though amounts already collected are not refunded.

Background. Entry 54 of the Union List covers regulation of mines and mineral development. Entry 50 of the State List lets States tax mineral rights, 'subject to any limitations imposed by Parliament by law relating to mineral development'. The 2024 case is Mineral Area Development Authority v. Steel Authority of India.

Why CLAT asks: Union List against State List, and a phrase like 'subject to limitations imposed by Parliament', are what federalism passages turn on.

Source: PRS Bill Track: Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026

Day 4: answers and explanations

Who was sworn in as Chief Minister of Manipur when President's Rule was revoked on 4 February 2026?
Answer: A. Y. Khemchand Singh
Y. Khemchand Singh became Chief Minister; Nemcha Kipgen and L. Dikho became Deputy Chief Ministers. N. Biren Singh had resigned in February 2025.
A proclamation under Article 356 can continue beyond one year only if:
Answer: B. A national emergency is in force and the Election Commission certifies that elections cannot be held
Article 356(5), added by the 44th Amendment, allows continuation beyond one year only on both conditions.
Under Article 174(1), the gap between the last sitting of a State legislature in one session and its first sitting in the next must not exceed:
Answer: D. Six months
Article 174(1) bars an interval of six months between sessions. The same rule for Parliament is in Article 85(1).
The Uniform Civil Code Bill passed by the Assam Assembly in May 2026 does not apply to:
Answer: D. Members of the Scheduled Tribes living in Assam
The Bill excludes members of the Scheduled Tribes living in Assam, protecting tribal customary law.
The Uniform Civil Code finds a place in the Constitution as:
Answer: C. A Directive Principle in Article 44
Article 44 asks the State to endeavour to secure a uniform civil code. As a Directive Principle, it is not enforceable by courts.
Sixth Schedule autonomous district councils exist in which four States?
Answer: A. Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram
The Sixth Schedule covers tribal areas of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram. Nagaland and Manipur have special provisions under Articles 371A and 371C instead.
Sikkim became the 22nd State of India by which constitutional amendment?
Answer: A. 36th Amendment, 1975
The 35th Amendment made Sikkim an associate State; the 36th made it a full State from 16 May 1975 and added Article 371F.
The 2026 MMDR Amendment relies on a 2024 Supreme Court ruling that held:
Answer: A. Royalty is not a tax, and Parliament may limit States' power to tax mineral rights
In Mineral Area Development Authority v. SAIL (2024), a nine-judge Bench held royalty is not a tax and that States can tax mineral rights under Entry 50 of the State List, subject to limits Parliament sets.