Q81. Under Article 123 of the Constitution, the power to promulgate ordinances is available to the President:
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 81–90 of 100 questions
Q82. Select the correct sequential order of events for a bill to become an Act of Parliament:
Explanation
For a bill to become an act, it must follow a structured legislative process. It is first introduced and passed by both Houses of Parliament--the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. After receiving approval from both, it is presented to the President for assent. Once the President grants assent, the act is published in the Official Gazette, making it a binding law.
Q83. Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer:
| Type of Veto | Mechanism to override |
|---|---|
| A. Absolute Veto | i. Overridden by the legislature with an ordinary majority |
| B. Qualified Veto | ii. Overridden by the legislature with a higher majority |
| C. Suspensive Veto | iii. Cannot be overridden, bill ends |
| D. Pocket Veto | iv. No mechanism to override as no action is taken |
Explanation
Different vetoes have varying mechanisms for being overridden by the legislature. An absolute veto cannot be overridden, effectively ending the bill. A qualified veto requires a higher majority to override, while a suspensive veto can be overridden by an ordinary majority. A pocket veto has no override mechanism because the President takes no formal action, leaving the bill in a state of suspension.
Q84. Which of the following is NOT a fundamental duty of the Prime Minister under Article 78?
Explanation
Article 78 outlines the Prime Minister’s duties regarding the President. These include communicating all cabinet decisions, furnishing requested information on administration, and submitting matters decided by a single minister for cabinet consideration. However, presenting the Annual Financial Statement is not a constitutional duty of the Prime Minister; it is typically performed by the Finance Minister on behalf of the President under Article 112.
Q85. In the context of the Union Executive, the "Spoils System" or "Patronage System" of ministerial appointments is:
Explanation
The ‘Spoils System’ or ‘Patronage System’, where public offices are distributed based on political loyalty, is not a feature of the Indian Union executive. India follows the parliamentary model where ministerial appointments depend on membership in the legislature and the support of the majority party. Civil service appointments are merit-based and independent of political changes, ensuring administrative continuity and professional neutrality.
Q86. Which among the following Presidents of India was elected unopposed?
Explanation
Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy remains the only President of India to have been elected unopposed. After his nomination papers were scrutinized, he was the sole valid candidate remaining. He served as the sixth President from 1977 to 1982. This unique occurrence happened during the post-Emergency period, following the consensus among various political parties to support his candidacy for the highest office.
Q87. The following question consists of two statements -- Assertion (A) and Reason (R). Answer the question by selecting the appropriate option:
Assertion (A): Nominated members of either House of Parliament do not participate in the election of the President, but they participate in his impeachment.
Reason (R): Impeachment is a quasi-judicial process where all members of Parliament, representing the whole nation, must sit in judgment.
Assertion (A): Nominated members of either House of Parliament do not participate in the election of the President, but they participate in his impeachment.
Reason (R): Impeachment is a quasi-judicial process where all members of Parliament, representing the whole nation, must sit in judgment.
Explanation
The President’s impeachment is a quasi-judicial process involving all members of both Houses of Parliament. Unlike the election process, where nominated members and state legislators are excluded, the impeachment process includes nominated members of Parliament. This is because the removal of the head of state is a grave constitutional matter where the entire national legislature sits in judgment to decide the President’s fate.
Q88. According to the Constitution, a person who is not a member of either House of Parliament can be appointed as a Minister for a maximum period of:
Explanation
A person who is not a member of either House can be appointed a Minister, but must become a member within six months or cease to be a Minister.
Q89. Consider the following statements regarding the difference between the Council of Ministers and the Cabinet in India:
I. The Council of Ministers is a wider body comprising 60 to 70 ministers, whereas the Cabinet is a smaller body of 15 to 20 ministers.
II. The Cabinet is the core policy-making body, while the Council of Ministers implements these policies.
III. The Constitution details the powers and functions of the Council of Ministers, but not the specific functions of the Cabinet.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
I. The Council of Ministers is a wider body comprising 60 to 70 ministers, whereas the Cabinet is a smaller body of 15 to 20 ministers.
II. The Cabinet is the core policy-making body, while the Council of Ministers implements these policies.
III. The Constitution details the powers and functions of the Council of Ministers, but not the specific functions of the Cabinet.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
Explanation
The Council of Ministers is a larger body that includes all categories of ministers. In contrast, the Cabinet is a smaller, core group that formulates major policies and directs the administration. While the Council of Ministers is mentioned throughout the Constitution, the Cabinet’s specific functions were not detailed originally. Today, the Cabinet functions as the supreme decision-making authority within the broader Council.
Q90. If the Prime Minister of India belongs to the Upper House of Parliament (Rajya Sabha):
Explanation
A Prime Minister who is a member of the Rajya Sabha can participate in all proceedings of both Houses but can only vote in the house to which they belong. Since a no-confidence motion is introduced and voted upon exclusively in the Lok Sabha, such a Prime Minister cannot vote in their own favor or against the motion during the final division.Answer key for these questions
| Q | Correct answer |
|---|---|
| 81 | (b) When both the Houses of Parliament are not in session, or when either House is not in session |
| 82 | (a) Passed by Lok Sabha Passed by Rajya Sabha Assent by President Publication in Official Gazette |
| 83 | (a) A-iii, B-ii, C-i, D-iv |
| 84 | (d) To personally present the Annual Financial Statement before the Lok Sabha. |
| 85 | (c) Not prevalent; India follows collective responsibility and parliamentary majority |
| 86 | (b) Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy |
| 87 | (a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A. |
| 88 | (a) 6 months |
| 89 | (d) I, II and III |
| 90 | (a) He cannot vote in his favour during a no- confidence motion |
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.