Q.A company's Board has a total strength of 12 directors, with no director being interested in any item on the agenda. What is the quorum required for a valid Board Meeting? (A) 2 directors
(B) 3 directors
(C) 4 directors
(D) 6 directors

Section 174 fixes quorum as one-third of the Board's total strength or two directors, whichever number is higher, so this only needs one simple calculation from the total strength given.

Section 174(1) fixes quorum as one-third of the total strength of the Board, or two directors, whichever is higher.

One-third of the total strength of 12 directors = 12 ÷ 3 = 4 directors. Comparing this to the alternative floor of 2 directors, 4 is higher, so the quorum for this Board is 4 directors.

(A) 2 directors is the alternative floor only, not the higher of the two figures here — incorrect.

(B) 3 directors does not match either one-third of 12 (which is exactly 4) or the floor of 2 — incorrect.

(C) 4 directors correctly applies one-third of the total strength of 12, which is higher than the floor of 2 — correct.

(D) 6 directors would be one-half of the total strength, not one-third — incorrect.

One-third of total strength = 12 ÷ 3 = 4; compare with the floor of 2 directors; take the higher value = 4.

Students sometimes compute one-half of the total strength instead of one-third, or forget to compare the one-third figure against the 2-director floor before finalising the answer.