Union Executive: President, Vice President, Prime Minister and Cabinet: RAS Prelims MCQs
100 RAS Prelims MCQs on the Union Executive cover the election and powers of the President, the Vice President, the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers. The electoral college, the oath, disputes over elections, the veto powers, ordinances and the nominal head principle are asked as articles, facts and statements.
Practice questions based on the RPSC RAS Prelims syllabus. They follow the exam pattern but are not past-paper questions.
Showing 21–30 of 100 questions
RAS PrelimsIndian Polity and Governance · Union Executive: President, Vice President, Prime Minister and Cabinet
Q21. Consider the following statements regarding legislative procedures in India: Statement I: The President of India can send a money bill back to the Lok Sabha for reconsideration. Statement II: A money bill is introduced in the Lok Sabha only on the prior recommendation of the President. Which of the above statements is/are correct?
Explanation
A money bill is introduced in the Lok Sabha only on the recommendation of the President. Once passed by both Houses and presented for assent, the President can either give his assent or withhold it, but he cannot return the bill for reconsideration. This is because the bill is introduced with his prior approval, making the return process logically unnecessary.
RAS PrelimsIndian Polity and Governance · Union Executive: President, Vice President, Prime Minister and Cabinet
Q22. Select the correct sequence of the constitutional mechanism for the promulgation and approval of an Ordinance:
Explanation
The promulgation of an ordinance occurs when Parliament is not in session and immediate action is required. The President issues the ordinance on the advice of the Council of Ministers. Once Parliament reassembles, the ordinance must be laid before both Houses. It ceases to operate after six weeks from reassembly unless a resolution is passed by both Houses approving it earlier.
RAS PrelimsIndian Polity and Governance · Union Executive: President, Vice President, Prime Minister and Cabinet
Q23. Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the codes given below:
Provisions related to Vice President
Articles
A. The Vice-President of India
i. Article 63
B. The Vice-President to be ex-officio Chairman of the Council of States
ii. Article 64
C. Election of Vice-President
iii. Article 66
D. Term of office of Vice-President
iv. Article 67
Explanation
The Vice-President’s office is modeled on the American pattern and ranks second in the precedence table. Article 63 establishes the office, while Article 64 designates the Vice-President as the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. Article 66 details the election process by both Houses of Parliament. Article 67 specifies the five-year term of office, subject to resignation or earlier removal.
RAS PrelimsIndian Polity and Governance · Union Executive: President, Vice President, Prime Minister and Cabinet
Q24. What is the maximum period for which the Vice President can act as the President of India in case of a vacancy in the President’s office?
Explanation
When a vacancy occurs in the office of the President due to death, resignation, or removal, the Vice-President acts as the President. This arrangement is temporary and can last for a maximum period of six months. Within this timeframe, a new election must be held to fill the vacancy. During this period, the Vice- President enjoys all powers and immunities of the President.
RAS PrelimsIndian Polity and Governance · Union Executive: President, Vice President, Prime Minister and Cabinet
Q25. Which of the following represents the most appropriate description of a ‘Pocket Veto’ in the Indian context?
Explanation
The pocket veto is a unique power where the President neither ratifies nor rejects nor returns the bill, but simply keeps it pending for an indefinite period. This is possible because the Indian Constitution does not specify a time limit for the President to take action. Consequently, the bill effectively dies as no further progress can be made without presidential assent.
RAS PrelimsIndian Polity and Governance · Union Executive: President, Vice President, Prime Minister and Cabinet
Q26. Who was the first President of India to exercise the Pocket Veto, and concerning which bill?
Explanation
In 1986, President Giani Zail Singh exercised the pocket veto concerning the Indian Post Office (Amendment) Bill. The bill was criticized for potentially violating the privacy of correspondence. By taking no action, the President prevented the bill from becoming law. This instance highlighted the President’s role in checking legislative overreach and protecting fundamental freedoms even when the government possesses a parliamentary majority.
RAS PrelimsIndian Polity and Governance · Union Executive: President, Vice President, Prime Minister and Cabinet
Q27. The following question consists of two statements -- Assertion (A) and Reason (R). Answer the question by selecting the appropriate option: Assertion (A): The Vice-President is the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. Reason (R): The Vice-President is elected by the members of the Rajya Sabha alone.
Explanation
The Vice-President serves as the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, performing duties similar to the Speaker of the Lok Sabha. However, the Vice-President is not elected by the Rajya Sabha alone. Instead, the electoral college consists of members from both Houses of Parliament, including both elected and nominated members. This distinguishes the vice-presidential election from the presidential election’s college.
RAS PrelimsIndian Polity and Governance · Union Executive: President, Vice President, Prime Minister and Cabinet
Q28. Which of the following is an exception to the rule that the President must act on the advice of the Council of Ministers?
Explanation
Although the President generally acts on the advice of the Council of Ministers, certain situations allow for individual discretion. A primary example is the appointment of the Prime Minister when no single party or coalition enjoys a clear majority in the Lok Sabha. In such cases, the President must use personal judgment to invite a leader capable of providing a stable government.
RAS PrelimsIndian Polity and Governance · Union Executive: President, Vice President, Prime Minister and Cabinet
Q29. Consider the following situations regarding the situational discretion of the President of India: I. Appointment of the Prime Minister when no party has a clear majority. II. Dismissal of the Council of Ministers when it cannot prove the confidence of the Lok Sabha. III. Dissolution of the Lok Sabha if the Council of Ministers has lost its majority. Which of the above statements represents the discretionary powers of the President?
Explanation
The President of India possesses situational discretion in specific political circumstances. This includes appointing the Prime Minister during a hung Parliament, dismissing the Council of Ministers if they lose the confidence of the Lok Sabha, and dissolving the Lok Sabha if the ministry loses its majority. These powers are crucial for maintaining constitutional order when the standard parliamentary processes face a deadlock.
RAS PrelimsIndian Polity and Governance · Union Executive: President, Vice President, Prime Minister and Cabinet
Q30. Regarding the Ordinance making power of the President under Article 123, which of the following statements is incorrect?
Explanation
The President’s ordinance-making power under Article 123 is co-extensive with the legislative power of Parliament. Ordinances can only be issued on subjects where Parliament has the authority to make laws. During normal times, this excludes the State List. Furthermore, an ordinance can only be promulgated when at least one House of Parliament is not in session and immediate action is required.
Answer key for these questions
Q
Correct answer
21
(d) Statement I is incorrect and Statement II is correct.
22
(a) Parliament not in session President promulgates ordinance Parliament reassembles Resolution to approve within 6 weeks.
23
(a) A-i, B-ii, C-iii, D-iv
24
(b) 6 months
25
(c) Power to keep a bill pending for an indefinite period without taking any action
26
(a) Giani Zail Singh; Indian Post Office (Amendment) Bill
27
(c) A is true but R is false.
28
(b) Appointing the Prime Minister when no party has a clear majority in the House
29
(d) I, II and III
30
(d) The President can promulgate ordinances on State List subjects during normal times.
Key facts from Union Executive: President, Vice President, Prime Minister and Cabinet
Article 52 provides for a President and Article 53 vests the executive power of the Union in him.
The Chief Justice of India administers the oath to the President, and disputes about the election go to the Supreme Court.
The value of the vote of an MLA of Rajasthan in the Presidential election is 129.
The Vice President can act as President for up to six months; a Minister who is not a member of either House can serve up to six months.
Giani Zail Singh used the pocket veto on the Indian Post Office (Amendment) Bill.
The D. C. Wadhwa case (1987) was about repeated re-promulgation of ordinances.
Frequently asked questions
How many RAS Prelims practice MCQs are there on Union Executive: President, Vice President, Prime Minister and Cabinet?
This page has 100 practice MCQs on Union Executive: President, Vice President, Prime Minister and Cabinet (Indian Polity and Governance). Each has the correct answer, and most have an explanation.
Who administers the oath to the President of India?
The Chief Justice of India, or in his absence the senior-most judge of the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court also decides any dispute regarding the election of the President under Article 71.
Who used the pocket veto and on which bill?
President Giani Zail Singh used the pocket veto on the Indian Post Office (Amendment) Bill, which Parliament had passed in 1986. He neither signed nor returned it, and the bill lapsed.
What did the D. C. Wadhwa case decide?
The Supreme Court held in 1987 that repeated re-promulgation of ordinances by the executive, without placing them before the Legislature, is a fraud on the Constitution and invalid. The case is the key authority on ordinance-making.
