FLOOR TEST

FLOOR TEST

CONTEXT: During the Maharashtra political crisis, the 

Supreme Court held that decision taken by the Governor 

to call for a floor test, was wrong.

What is a floor test?

€ A floor test or a “No Confidence Motion” is a legislative 

measure conducted on the floor of the House to check 

whether the executive has the majority support in the 

legislature with the confidence of at least 51% of the 

members of the House.

€ It is called for when an incumbent government is 

suspected to have lost the majority in the house.

€ Although the constitution does not demarcate any 

provision for a political party to be in absolute majority 

to form the government, the executive i.e., the ministers 

it is composed of must exercise the legislatures majority.

€ Under the Article 164 of the Indian Constitution, “the 

council of ministers shall be collectively responsible 

to the Legislative Assembly of the State.” 

€ If the majority is questioned and the incumbent 

government fails to qualify the trust vote, the executive 

falls and the concerned ministers are required to resign 

from their respective positions.

€ A no-confidence motion can be only be passed in the 

Lower Houses at both state and central hierarchies in 

the Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabhas of states.

Role of Governor

€ Governor can summon members of the Assembly and 

ask the Government to prove its majority by conducting 

a floor Test.

€ Article 174 confers on the Governor the power to 

summon, dissolve or prorogue any House of Legislative 

Assembly.

€ Article 175 gives the Governor the power to address 

any House of Legislative Assembly.

PYQ

4. Consider the following statements regarding a 

No-Confidence Motion in India (2014):

1. There is no mention of a No-Confidence 

Motion in the Constitution of India.

2. A Motion of No-Confidence can be introduced 

in the Lok Sabha only.

Which of the statements given above is / are 

correct?

(a) 1 only (b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2

Correct Option: (c