Q51. The Attorney General of India is appointed by the President and must be a person qualified to be appointed as:
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 51–60 of 100 questions
Q52. Which of the following is NOT a characteristic feature of the Cabinet in the Indian parliamentary system?
Explanation
The Cabinet is a smaller, core body within the Council of Ministers that meets regularly to decide government policies. While it is the supreme decision-making authority, its size is not explicitly fixed by the Constitution. Instead, the size and composition are determined by the Prime Minister based on administrative needs and political considerations, following the overall fifteen percent ceiling.
Q53. Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer:
| Constitutional Amendments | Impact on Executive |
|---|---|
| A. 24th Amendment Act | i. Limited the size of the Council of Ministers |
| B. 42nd Amendment Act | ii. Made it obligatory for President to assent to Constitutional Amendment Bills |
| C. 44th Amendment Act | iii. Allowed President to return advice for reconsideration once |
| D. 91st Amendment Act | iv. Made President bound by the advice of the Council of Ministers |
Explanation
Various amendments shaped the executive’s powers. The 24th Amendment made the President’s assent to constitutional bills mandatory. The 42nd Amendment made the Council’s advice binding, while the 44th Amendment allowed the President to request one reconsideration. The 91st Amendment restricted the Council of Ministers’ size to fifteen percent of the Lok Sabha, promoting leaner and more efficient governance at the Union level.
Q54. Identify the correct statement regarding the relationship between the President and the Prime Minister of India.
Explanation
Under Article 78, the Prime Minister serves as the primary link between the President and the Council of Ministers. The Prime Minister is constitutionally obligated to communicate all decisions relating to the administration of the Union and proposals for legislation. Furthermore, the Prime Minister must furnish any information called for by the President concerning these administrative and legislative affairs of the Union.
Q55. Consider the following statements regarding the individual responsibility of ministers in India:
I. Ministers hold office during the pleasure of the President.
II. The President can remove a minister only on the advice of the Prime Minister.
III. Individual responsibility ensures that the Prime Minister can maintain the homogeneity of the Cabinet.
IV. The concept is explicitly mentioned in Article 74.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
I. Ministers hold office during the pleasure of the President.
II. The President can remove a minister only on the advice of the Prime Minister.
III. Individual responsibility ensures that the Prime Minister can maintain the homogeneity of the Cabinet.
IV. The concept is explicitly mentioned in Article 74.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
Explanation
Individual responsibility is detailed in Article 75, stating ministers hold office during the President’s pleasure. The President exercises this power only on the Prime Minister’s advice. This mechanism ensures cabinet homogeneity and enables the Prime Minister to dismiss any minister who no longer enjoys their confidence. Article 74, however, focuses on the Council of Ministers providing general aid and advice.
Q56. Which of the following Prime Ministers of India was a member of the Rajya Sabha at the time of his/her initial appointment?
Explanation
While most Prime Ministers have been members of the Lok Sabha, the Constitution allows a member of either House to be appointed. Indira Gandhi was the first Prime Minister to be a member of the Rajya Sabha when she was initially appointed in 1966. Other examples include H.D. Deve Gowda, I.K. Gujral, and Dr. Manmohan Singh, who served from the upper house.
Q57. Which of the following describes the most appropriate description of a ‘Caretaker Government’ in India?
Explanation
A caretaker government is a temporary administration that stays in office after the Lok Sabha is dissolved until a new government is formed. It is expected to perform only routine administrative duties and avoid taking major policy decisions or making significant financial commitments. This convention ensures that the country is not without an executive during the transition period between general elections.
Q58. The concept of the ‘Kitchen Cabinet’ (or Inner Cabinet) refers to:
Explanation
The ‘Kitchen Cabinet’ is an informal, extra-constitutional body consisting of the Prime Minister and a few influential colleagues, friends, or family members. It serves as an inner circle where crucial decisions are often discussed and finalized before being presented to the formal Cabinet. This informal arrangement exists in many parliamentary systems to facilitate quick decision-making and provide trusted advice.
Q59. Consider the following features of the Indian Parliamentary System:
I. Presence of nominal and real executives
II. Majority party rule
III. Collective responsibility of the executive to the legislature
IV. Membership of the ministers in the legislature
V. Dissolution of the Upper House (Rajya Sabha) by the Prime Minister
Which of the above statements represent the correct features?
I. Presence of nominal and real executives
II. Majority party rule
III. Collective responsibility of the executive to the legislature
IV. Membership of the ministers in the legislature
V. Dissolution of the Upper House (Rajya Sabha) by the Prime Minister
Which of the above statements represent the correct features?
Explanation
The Indian parliamentary system is characterized by the presence of a nominal head (President) and a real head (Prime Minister). It features majority party rule, collective responsibility to the Lok Sabha, and the requirement that ministers be members of the legislature. While the Lok Sabha can be dissolved, the Rajya Sabha is a permanent body and cannot be dissolved by any authority.
Q60. What is the constitutional significance of the post of Deputy Prime Minister of India?
Explanation
The post of Deputy Prime Minister is not mentioned in the Constitution. It is a purely political arrangement created by the Prime Minister for administrative convenience or to balance political interests within a coalition. A Deputy Prime Minister holds the rank of a Cabinet Minister and enjoys no special constitutional powers or automatic right of succession to the office of Prime Minister.Answer key for these questions
| Q | Correct answer |
|---|---|
| 51 | (c) A judge of the Supreme Court |
| 52 | (d) Its size is explicitly fixed at 15 to 20 ministers by the Constitution. |
| 53 | (a) A-ii, B-iv, C-iii, D-i |
| 54 | (b) The Prime Minister communicates to the President all decisions of the Council of Ministers relating to administration. |
| 55 | (a) I, II and III |
| 56 | (a) Indira Gandhi |
| 57 | (c) Temporary government in power after Lok Sabha dissolution until a new government is formed |
| 58 | (a) Informal body of the Prime Minister and a few colleagues or friends advising on crucial issues |
| 59 | (b) I, II, III and IV |
| 60 | (b) The post has no constitutional sanction; it is merely a political arrangement. |
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.