Q71. In the event of the offices of both the President and Vice President falling vacant simultaneously, who acts as the President of India?
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 71–80 of 100 questions
Q72. Arrange the following constitutional functionaries in the correct order of the Table of Precedence:
I. Prime Minister
II. President
III. Governors of States within their respective States
IV. Vice President
I. Prime Minister
II. President
III. Governors of States within their respective States
IV. Vice President
Explanation
The Warrant of Precedence defines the hierarchy of various constitutional and government officials. The President holds the first rank as the head of state. The Vice-President ranks second, followed by the Prime Minister in the third position. Governors of states, within their respective jurisdictions, occupy the fourth rank. This order is used for state protocols and ceremonial occasions across the country.
Q73. Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer:
| Office | Administers Oath to the Office |
|---|---|
| A. President | i. President or his appointee |
| B. Prime Minister | ii. Chief Justice of India |
| C. Vice President | iii. President |
| D. Chief Justice of India | iv. President or some person appointed in that behalf by him |
Explanation
Oaths of office are administered by specific authorities. The Chief Justice of India administers the oath to the President. The President, in turn, administers the oath to the Prime Minister, Vice- President, and the Chief Justice of India. In some cases, the President may appoint another person to perform this duty. These oaths are crucial for assuming constitutional responsibilities and maintaining legal order.
Q74. Which of the following constitutional provisions embodies the convention that the President is the nominal head?
Explanation
Article 74(1) provides for a Council of Ministers headed by the Prime Minister to aid and advise the President, who must act on that advice. This is what makes the President the nominal head.
Q75. Consider the following statements regarding the role of the Prime Minister of India:
I. He is the chairman of the National Development Council.
II. He is the principal channel of communication between the President and the Council of Ministers.
III. He is the political head of the services.
IV. He recommends the dissolution of the Lok Sabha to the President.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
I. He is the chairman of the National Development Council.
II. He is the principal channel of communication between the President and the Council of Ministers.
III. He is the political head of the services.
IV. He recommends the dissolution of the Lok Sabha to the President.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
Explanation
The Prime Minister holds several pivotal roles. He chairs the National Development Council and serves as the principal communicator between the President and the Cabinet. As the political head of the services, he oversees administration and policy implementation. Crucially, the Prime Minister recommends the dissolution of the Lok Sabha to the President, wielding significant control over the lower house’s tenure and election cycles.
Q76. When a bill is passed by the Parliament and sent to the President, which of the following is an effect of the President returning the bill for reconsideration?
Explanation
When the President returns a non-money bill for reconsideration, Parliament may reconsider it. If the bill is passed again by both Houses, with or without amendments, and presented back to the President, he is constitutionally obligated to give his assent. This suspensive veto allows the President to flag concerns but ensures the ultimate legislative supremacy of Parliament in the law-making process.
Q77. The term "Collective Responsibility" implies that a decision taken by the Cabinet is:
Explanation
Collective responsibility requires that all cabinet decisions are binding on all ministers. While free debate occurs within cabinet meetings, once a decision is made, every minister must defend it in Parliament and public. If a minister cannot support a cabinet decision, they are expected to resign. This principle ensures the government presents a united front and speaks with a single voice on policy.
Q78. Which of the following best distinguishes the legal responsibility of a Minister in India from that in Britain?
Explanation
Unlike the British system, where ministers are legally responsible for the monarch’s acts and must countersign them, the Indian Constitution does not provide for the legal responsibility of ministers. A presidential order for a public act does not require a minister’s countersignature. Consequently, Indian courts cannot inquire into the advice given by ministers to the President, as stipulated under Article 74(2).
Q79. Consider the following statements regarding the Attorney General of India:
I. He must have the qualifications of a Supreme Court judge.
II. He receives a fixed retainer salary drawn from the Consolidated Fund of India as specified in the Constitution.
III. He has the right to vote in parliamentary committees to which he is nominated.
IV. He can advise the Government of India on legal matters referred by the President.
V. He can appear on behalf of the Government of India in all courts.
Which of the above statements are correct?
I. He must have the qualifications of a Supreme Court judge.
II. He receives a fixed retainer salary drawn from the Consolidated Fund of India as specified in the Constitution.
III. He has the right to vote in parliamentary committees to which he is nominated.
IV. He can advise the Government of India on legal matters referred by the President.
V. He can appear on behalf of the Government of India in all courts.
Which of the above statements are correct?
Explanation
The Attorney General must be qualified for appointment as a Supreme Court judge. While they represent the government in courts and provide legal advice, they do not receive a constitutionally fixed salary; instead, their remuneration is determined by the President. Although they can participate in parliamentary proceedings and committees, they are strictly prohibited from voting. They represent the government’s legal interests nationwide.
Q80. Identify the correct pair regarding the President’s Veto power:
Explanation
The President’s veto powers are classified into three types. The absolute veto involves withholding assent completely. The suspensive veto is exercised when the President returns a bill to Parliament for reconsideration, which can be overridden by a simple majority. The pocket veto involves taking no action on a bill. The Indian President does not possess a qualified veto, which requires a higher majority override.Answer key for these questions
| Q | Correct answer |
|---|---|
| 71 | (d) The Chief Justice of India |
| 72 | (a) II, IV, I, III |
| 73 | (a) A-ii, B-iii, C-iv, D-i |
| 74 | (a) Article 74(1) |
| 75 | (d) I, II, III and IV |
| 76 | (b) President must give assent if the bill is passed again with or without amendments |
| 77 | (c) Binding on all Ministers, even if they differed in the meeting |
| 78 | (d) Presidential order for a public act does not require a Minister’s countersignature |
| 79 | (a) I, IV and V only |
| 80 | (b) Suspensive Veto - Used when the President returns a bill for reconsideration. |
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.