The Union Executive

Read the two statements given below about the Executive Powers of the President. Select the option that shows the correct relationship between (A) and (R).

Assertion (A): The President appoints the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces.

Reason (R): He presides over the sessions of the House and regulates debates and proceedings.

1. (R) contradicts (A)
2. (R) is the reason for (A)
3. (A) is true but (R) is false
4. (A) and (R) are independent of each other

Answer

(A) and (R) are independent of each other

Explanation — The President is himself the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces. Also, it is the duty of the Speaker of the two Houses to preside over the sessions of the House and regulate debates and proceedings, and not that of the President. The President only addresses the Joint session of both the Houses.

Identify the Emergency powers of the President.

P: If the security of India is threatened by external aggression or internal rebellion

Q: If there is breakdown of the Constitutional machinery in a state

R: If the conflict arises between two states

S: If the conflict arises between two union territories

1. P and Q
2. R and S
3. P and R
4. Q and S

Answer

P and Q

Shweta is preparing a speech on the Vice President of India. Which of the following statements she must mention in her speech?

1. He/She is the ex-officio chairman of the Lok Sabha
2. He/She is the ex-officio chairman of the Rajya Sabha.
3. He/She is the Governor of the Reserve Bank of India.
4. He/She is the Chief Election Commissioner of India.

Answer

He/She is the ex-officio chairman of the Rajya Sabha.

Which of the following aspects is being depicted by the given picture?

1. Prime Minister is not responsible to the Lok Sabha.
2. Only Cabinet Ministers are responsible to the Lok Sabha.
3. Lok Sabha is less powerful than Rajya Sabha.
4. Selection of the Union Council of Ministers and their role

Answer

Selection of the Union Council of Ministers and their role

Identify the ODD ONE out of the following main features of the Union Executive.

1. The President
2. The Vice President
3. The Prime Minister
4. The Chief Minister

Answer

The Chief Minister

Consider the statements given below and choose the correct answer.

Statement I: Draupadi Murmu is the first women President of Independent India.

Statement II: The Vice President is elected by the members of both Houses of the Parliament.

1. Statement (I) is correct and statement (II) is incorrect.
2. Statement (I) is incorrect and statement (II) is correct.
3. Both statements (I) and (II) are incorrect.
4. Both statements (I) and (II) are correct.

Answer

Statement (I) is incorrect and statement (II) is correct.

Which among the following statements is incorrect?

1. The Prime Minister select the other Ministers.
2. The Prime Minister can also demand the resignation of any minister
3. In the parliamentary form of government the Prime Minister is the real head of the Indian government.
4. There are five categories of ministers

Answer

There are five categories of ministers

Who among the following can pardon, remit or suspend a sentence of punishment given by a court martial or a death sentence passed by the court?

1. The Speaker of the Lok Sabha
2. The President
3. The Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha
4. The Vice President

Answer

The President

Identify the Union Executive on the basis of given clues.

• He/She can summon, prorogue or dissolve the Parliament.
• He/She nominates 12 members to the Rajya Sabha.

1. The President
2. The Prime Minister
3. The Cabinet Secretary of India
4. The Vice President

Answer

The President

The term 'UPSC' stands for

1. Unit Public Service Commission
2. Union Public Service Committee
3. Union Private Service Commission
4. Union Public Service Commission

Answer

Union Public Service Commission

Fill in the blanks.

1. A person to be appointed as a minister must be a member of either House of the ............... .

2. ............... was the first woman President of India.

3. The Vice President is elected for a period of ............... .

4. The ............... distributes portfolios among the ministers.

5. ............... are the administrative or permanent executives.

Answer

1. Parliament

2. Pratiba Devisingh Patil

3. five years

4. Prime Minister

5. Civil or Public Servants

Match Column A with Column B.

Answer

State whether the following statements are True or False.

1. The Prime Minister is the vital link between the President and the Cabinet.

2. The Prime Minister acts on the advice of the President.

3. A money bill cannot be introduced without the President's authority.

4. The President can appoint anyone as the Prime Minister.

5. Most of the Civil Servants at the Centre are selected by the Union Public Service Commission.

Answer

1. True

2. False
   Correct Statement — The President acts on the advice of the Prime Minister.

3. True

4. False
   Correct Statement — The President appoints the leader of the political party securing absolute majority as the Prime Minister.

5. True

State two executive and two judicial powers of the President. Under what circumstances can the President proclaim a state of emergency?

Answer

Two Executive powers of the President are:

1. He appoints the Prime Minister and Union Ministers.
2. He is the supreme commander of the Armed Forces.

Two Judicial powers of the President are:

1. He is not answerable to any court of law for the exercise of his powers, except in case of impeachment in Parliament.
2. He can pardon, remit or suspend a sentence of punishment given by a court martial or a death sentence passed by the court.

The President can declare Emergency when -

1. the security of India is threatened by external aggression or internal rebellion.
2. there is a breakdown of the Constitutional machinery in a state.
3. the financial stability of the country is threatened.

What are the two main functions of the Cabinet?

Answer

Two main functions of the Cabinet are:

1. The Cabinet Ministers hold important portfolios such as Home, Finance, Defense, etc. They take all the important decisions which are binding upon all other ministers.
2. The Cabinet is responsible for formulating the policies of the Government.

Name the three categories of the Union Ministers.

Answer

Three categories of Union Ministers are —

1. Cabinet Ministers
2. Ministers of State
3. Deputy Ministers

What is the position of the Prime Minister? Mention his powers.

Answer

In India’s parliamentary system, the Prime Minister is the real head of the government, leading the Lok Sabha and the largest party or coalition. He manages the country’s internal and external affairs and serves as the chief government spokesperson. The Prime Minister and Council of Ministers are directly responsible to the Lok Sabha and remain in office as long as they have majority support.

The Prime Ministers enjoys the following powers:

1. The Prime Minister selects the other Ministers.
2. The Prime Minister allots one or more departments to each minister. This is known as allotment of portfolios. The ministers are known by the portfolio they hold, for example, Minister of Defence, Minister of Finance, etc.
3. He presides over cabinet meetings and decides the business to be transacted at such meetings.
4. The Prime Minister can also demand the resignation of any minister.
5. He reports to the President the decisions of the Cabinet and also advises the President on proroguing or dissolving the Lok Sabha. The Prime Minister can also expand his Cabinet.
6. He advises the President on various appointments to important posts, such as Judges to the Supreme Court, Governors and Ambassadors, etc.

Do you think the President of India should be directly elected by the people? Why/why not?

Answer

The President of India is better elected indirectly by an Electoral College rather than directly by the people. This ensures political neutrality, preserves the federal balance, and avoids conflicts with the Prime Minister and the government. Direct elections could turn the President into a political figure with a separate mandate, which may disturb the parliamentary system.

Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow.

To seek election to the high office of the President of India, a candidate should be a citizen of India. He should be at least thirty-five years of age at the time of election. He should not hold any office of profit under the central or state government. The elected members of both the Houses of Parliament and the elected members of the Legislative Assemblies elect the President by casting their votes.

(i) To become the President of India, one should have completed the minimum age of

1. 35 years
2. 40 years
3. 25 years
4. 18 years

(ii) The tenure of the President is

1. 2 years
2. 10 years
3. 3 years
4. 5 years

(iii) Who among the following participate in the election of the President?

1. Elected members of Lok Sabha
2. Elected members of Rajya Sabha
3. Elected members of the Legislative Assemblies
4. All of the above

(iv) The President of India is the

1. nominal head
2. real head
3. both (1) and (2)
4. none of these

Answer

(i) 35 years

(ii) 5 years

(iii) All of the above

(iv) nominal head

(i) Identify the building.

(ii) Where is it located?

(iii) Mention the powers of the person who resides here.

Answer

(i) The given picture shows the Prime Minister's office.

(ii) It is located at South Block in New Delhi.

(iii) The powers of the Prime Minister are given below:

1. The Prime Minister selects the other Ministers.
2. The Prime Minister allots one or more departments to each minister. This is known as allotment of portfolios. The ministers are known by the portfolio they hold, for example, Minister of Defence, Minister of Finance, etc.
3. He presides over cabinet meetings and decides the business to be transacted at such meetings.
4. The Prime Minister can also demand the resignation of any minister.
5. He reports to the President the decisions of the Cabinet and also advises the President on proroguing or dissolving the Lok Sabha. The Prime Minister can also expand his Cabinet.
6. He advises the President on various appointments to important posts, such as Judges to the Supreme Court, Governors and Ambassadors, etc.