Q61. If a Minister in the Union Government loses a vote of no-confidence in the Lok Sabha on a policy issue related strictly to his department, what is the consequence?
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 61–70 of 100 questions
Q62. The Prime Minister is the Chairman of which of the following bodies?
Explanation
The Prime Minister serves as the ex-officio Chairman of several high-level bodies that facilitate policy coordination and national integration. These include the NITI Aayog, the Inter-State Council, and the National Integration Council. These roles highlight the Prime Minister’s central position in the Indian governance framework. Such chairmanships enable the head of government to drive unified policy agendas across various sectors and states.
Q63. Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer:
| Important Cases/Doctrines | Related Core Concept |
|---|---|
| A. Shamsher Singh v. State of Punjab | i. Repromulgation of Ordinances is unconstitutional |
| B. S.R. Bommai v. Union of India | ii. Justiciability of President’s Rule |
| C. D.C. Wadhwa v. State of Bihar | iii. President is only a formal/nominal executive head |
| D. U.N. Rao v. Indira Gandhi | iv. Council of Ministers must always exist even if Lok Sabha is dissolved |
Explanation
Key judicial rulings have clarified the executive’s role. Shamsher Singh established that the President is a nominal head. S.R. Bommai made the proclamation of President’s Rule subject to judicial review. D.C. Wadhwa declared the repeated repromulgation of ordinances unconstitutional. U.N. Rao v. Indira Gandhi affirmed that a Council of Ministers must always exist to advise the President, even after the Lok Sabha’s dissolution.
Q64. As per Article 74(2), the question whether any, and if so what, advice was tendered by Ministers to the President:
Explanation
Article 74(2) says that the question whether any advice was given by the Ministers to the President, and what it was, shall not be inquired into in any court.
Q65. Arrange the following ranks of the Council of Ministers in their hierarchical order (from highest to lowest):
I. Minister of State
II. Deputy Minister
III. Cabinet Minister
IV. Minister of State (Independent Charge)
I. Minister of State
II. Deputy Minister
III. Cabinet Minister
IV. Minister of State (Independent Charge)
Explanation
The Council of Ministers is organized hierarchically. At the top are Cabinet Ministers, who lead major ministries. Below them are Ministers of State (Independent Charge), followed by Ministers of State who assist cabinet ministers. Deputy Ministers occupy the lowest rank, providing administrative and parliamentary assistance. This structure ensures a clear division of labor and authority within the Union executive branch.
Q66. Which one of the following statements about the Attorney General of India is incorrect?
Explanation
The Attorney General is not a full-time government servant and is not debarred from private legal practice. However, they cannot advise or hold a brief against the Government of India. They also cannot defend accused persons in criminal prosecutions without government permission. The Attorney General holds office during the President’s pleasure and possesses the right of audience in all Indian courts.
Q67. The following question consists of two statements -- Assertion (A) and Reason (R). Answer the question by selecting the appropriate option:
Assertion (A): The death or resignation of the Prime Minister automatically brings about the dissolution of the Council of Ministers.
Reason (R): The Prime Minister is the keystone of the cabinet arch; he is central to its formation, life, and death.
Assertion (A): The death or resignation of the Prime Minister automatically brings about the dissolution of the Council of Ministers.
Reason (R): The Prime Minister is the keystone of the cabinet arch; he is central to its formation, life, and death.
Explanation
The Prime Minister occupies a central position in the parliamentary system, acting as the foundation of the government. Because the Council of Ministers is formed on the Prime Minister’s advice, his death or resignation automatically causes the entire ministry to dissolve. This reflects the principle that the executive’s authority is tied to the Prime Minister, the keystone of the cabinet arch.
Q68. The Chief Minister of a State cannot vote in the Presidential election if:
Explanation
The electoral college for the President consists only of elected members of the Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, and State Legislative Assemblies. Members of the State Legislative Councils, whether elected or nominated, are excluded from the voting process. Therefore, if a Chief Minister is a member of the upper house of the state legislature, they are ineligible to participate in the election.
Q69. Consider the following statements regarding the Vice President of India:
I. He can be removed from office by a resolution of the Rajya Sabha passed by a special majority and agreed to by the Lok Sabha.
II. No ground has been mentioned in the Constitution for his removal.
III. An election to fill a vacancy caused by the expiration of the term of office of Vice- President must be completed before the expiration of the term.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
I. He can be removed from office by a resolution of the Rajya Sabha passed by a special majority and agreed to by the Lok Sabha.
II. No ground has been mentioned in the Constitution for his removal.
III. An election to fill a vacancy caused by the expiration of the term of office of Vice- President must be completed before the expiration of the term.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
Explanation
Unlike the President, the Constitution does not specify grounds for the removal of the Vice- President. The removal resolution must be passed by the Rajya Sabha with an effective majority and agreed to by the Lok Sabha with a simple majority. Furthermore, Article 68 mandates that the election to fill a vacancy caused by the expiration of the term must be completed beforehand.
Q70. Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, who served as the Vice President of India, was formerly the Chief Minister of which state?
Explanation
Bhairon Singh Shekhawat served as the eleventh Vice-President of India from 2002 to 2007. Prior to this, he had a long and distinguished political career in Rajasthan, where he served as the Chief Minister for three terms. His transition from state-level leadership to one of the highest constitutional offices in the Union reflects his significant influence within the Indian political system.Answer key for these questions
| Q | Correct answer |
|---|---|
| 61 | (c) The entire Council of Ministers must resign. |
| 62 | (d) All of the above |
| 63 | (a) A-iii, B-ii, C-i, D-iv |
| 64 | (b) Shall not be inquired into in any court. |
| 65 | (b) III, IV, I, II |
| 66 | (a) He is debarred from private legal practice. |
| 67 | (a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A. |
| 68 | (d) He is a member of the State Legislative Council |
| 69 | (b) II and III only |
| 70 | (b) Rajasthan |
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.