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Q1Polity & Governance·Union ExecutivePYQ 2025
With reference to the Indian polity, consider the following statements:
Statement I: An Ordinance can amend any Central Act.
Statement II: An Ordinance can abridge a Fundamental Right.
Statement III: An Ordinance can come into effect from a back date.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
- AI and II only
- BII and III only
- CI and III onlyCorrect
- DI, II and III
Explanation
Correct. An ordinance has the same force and effect as an Act of Parliament, so it can amend an existing Central Act (Statement I correct). It may also be given retrospective effect, i.e., come into effect from a back date (Statement III correct). However, Statement II is wrong because the ordinance power is subject to the Constitution and cannot abridge Fundamental Rights.
Why the other options are incorrect
- Option A
Statement II is incorrect. An ordinance is subject to the same constitutional limitations as an Act of Parliament and cannot abridge Fundamental Rights.
- Option B
Statement II is incorrect. Just as Parliament cannot enact a law that abridges Fundamental Rights, an ordinance also cannot validly abridge them.
- Option D
Statement II is incorrect. The ordinance power under Article 123 is subject to the Constitution. Just as Parliament cannot pass a law violating Fundamental Rights, an ordinance also cannot abridge them.
Q2Polity & Governance·Union ExecutivePYQ 2025
Consider the following statements with regard to the pardoning power of the President of India:
Statement I: The exercise of this power by the President can be subjected to limited judicial review.
Statement II: The President can exercise this power without the advice of the Central Government.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
- AStatement I is correct but Statement II is incorrectCorrect
- BStatement II is correct but Statement I is incorrect
- CBoth Statements I and II are correct
- DNeither Statement I nor Statement II is correct
Explanation
Correct. Statement I is correct because the Supreme Court in Maru Ram v. Union of India and Epuru Sudhakar v. Government of Andhra Pradesh recognized limited judicial review of the pardoning power on grounds of mala fides, arbitrariness, or non-application of mind. Statement II is wrong because the President exercises pardon power under Article 72 on the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers.
Why the other options are incorrect
- Option B
Statement II is incorrect. The President cannot exercise the pardoning power independently without ministerial advice, as Article 74(1) mandates that the President acts on the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers.
- Option C
Statement II is incorrect. The President must act on the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers under Article 74(1) when exercising the pardoning power.
- Option D
Statement I is correct. Courts have upheld limited judicial review of the President's pardoning power in landmark cases.
Q3Polity & Governance·Union ExecutivePYQ 2023
Consider the following statements in respect of election to the President of India:
1. Members nominated to either House of Parliament or to State Legislative Assemblies are included in the Electoral College.
2. The higher the number of elective Assembly seats, the higher is the value of vote of each MLA of that State.
3. The value of vote of each MLA of Madhya Pradesh is greater than that of Kerala.
4. The value of vote of each MLA of Puducherry is higher than that of Arunachal Pradesh because the population-to-elected-seat ratio is greater in Puducherry.
How many of the above statements are correct?
- AOnly oneCorrect
- BOnly two
- COnly three
- DAll four
Explanation
Correct. Only Statement 4 is correct. Nominated members are excluded from the Electoral College (Statement 1 wrong). The vote value depends on the population-to-seat ratio, not just the number of seats (Statement 2 wrong). Kerala's MLA vote value is higher than Madhya Pradesh's (Statement 3 wrong). Puducherry's higher population-to-seat ratio does produce a higher vote value than Arunachal Pradesh's (Statement 4 correct).
Why the other options are incorrect
- Option B
Only one statement is correct. Statements 1, 2, and 3 all contain factual errors regarding the presidential electoral system.
- Option C
Three of the four statements are incorrect, leaving only one correct.
- Option D
Statements 1, 2, and 3 are all incorrect based on constitutional provisions and the actual vote value calculations.
Q4Polity & Governance·Union ExecutivePYQ 2023
Consider the following statements:
1. If the election of the President of India is declared void by the Supreme Court, all acts done by the President before the date of decision become invalid.
2. Election for the post of President can be postponed on the ground that some Legislative Assemblies have been dissolved and elections are yet to take place.
3. When a Bill is presented to the President, the Constitution prescribes time limits within which assent must be declared.
How many of the above statements are correct?
- AOnly one
- BOnly two
- CAll three
- DNoneCorrect
Explanation
Correct. Article 71 protects acts done by the President before the election is declared void (Statement 1 false). Presidential election is not postponed merely because some Assemblies are dissolved (Statement 2 false). The Constitution fixes no time limit for presidential assent to ordinary bills (Statement 3 false).
Why the other options are incorrect
- Option A
None of the three statements is correct, so 'only one' is an overcount.
- Option B
None of the three statements is correct, so 'only two' is an overcount.
- Option C
All three statements are incorrect based on constitutional provisions.
Q5Polity & Governance·Union ExecutivePYQ 2022
Consider the following statements:
1. The Constitution of India classifies ministers into four ranks, namely Cabinet Minister, Minister of State with Independent Charge, Minister of State, and Deputy Minister.
2. The total number of ministers in the Union Government, including the Prime Minister, shall not exceed 15 percent of the total number of members of the Lok Sabha.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- A1 only
- B2 onlyCorrect
- CBoth 1 and 2
- DNeither 1 nor 2
Explanation
Correct. Statement 1 is wrong because the Constitution does not prescribe ministerial ranks; they are conventional. Statement 2 is correct as Article 75(1A), inserted by the 91st Amendment, caps Union ministers at 15% of Lok Sabha's total strength.
Why the other options are incorrect
- Option A
Statement 1 is incorrect. The Constitution does not classify ministers into ranked categories. The categorization into Cabinet Minister, Minister of State with Independent Charge, Minister of State, and Deputy Minister is a matter of parliamentary convention, not constitutional text.
- Option C
Statement 1 is incorrect. The ministerial hierarchy is a matter of convention and rules of business, not a constitutional classification.
- Option D
Statement 2 is correct. Article 75(1A) explicitly states the 15% cap on the size of the Council of Ministers.
Q6Polity & Governance·Union ExecutivePYQ 2021
With reference to the Union Government, consider the following statements:
1. The Gopalaswamy Iyengar Committee suggested that a minister and a secretary be designated solely for pursuing administrative reform.
2. In 1970, the Department of Personnel was constituted on the recommendation of the Administrative Reforms Commission and was placed under the Prime Minister's charge.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- A1 only
- B2 onlyCorrect
- CBoth 1 and 2
- DNeither 1 nor 2
Explanation
Correct. The Department of Personnel was established in 1970 following the recommendations of the first Administrative Reforms Commission and was placed under the Prime Minister's charge.
Why the other options are incorrect
- Option A
Statement 1 is not accepted as correct in the standard administrative-reforms chronology. The Gopalaswamy Iyengar Committee had different recommendations.
- Option C
Statement 1 is not supported by standard administrative reform history as used in this context. Only Statement 2 is correct.
- Option D
Statement 2 is correct. The Department of Personnel was indeed created in 1970 on the ARC's recommendation and placed under the PM.
Q7Polity & Governance·Union ExecutivePYQ 2018
With reference to the election of the President of India, consider the following statements:
1. The value of the vote of each MLA varies from State to State.
2. The value of the vote of MPs of the Lok Sabha is more than the value of the vote of MPs of the Rajya Sabha.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- A1 onlyCorrect
- B2 only
- CBoth 1 and 2
- DNeither 1 nor 2
Explanation
Correct. The value of each MLA's vote depends on the population of that State divided by the number of elected assembly members, so it varies across States. However, all elected MPs (both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha) have the same vote value in the presidential election.
Why the other options are incorrect
- Option B
Statement 2 is incorrect. In the presidential election, the vote value of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha MPs is the same. It is calculated by dividing the total value of votes of all MLAs by the total number of elected MPs.
- Option C
Only Statement 1 is correct. There is parity in the vote value of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha MPs in the presidential election.
- Option D
Statement 1 is correct because the MLA vote value formula under Article 55 produces different values for different States based on their population and number of elected assembly seats.
Q8Polity & Governance·Union ExecutivePYQ 2015
Consider the following statements:
1. The executive power of the Union of India is vested in the Prime Minister.
2. The Prime Minister is the ex-officio Chairman of the Civil Services Board.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- A1 only
- B2 only
- CBoth 1 and 2
- DNeither 1 nor 2Correct
Explanation
Correct. The executive power of the Union is formally vested in the President under Article 53, not in the Prime Minister. The Civil Services Board is not chaired ex officio by the Prime Minister but by the Cabinet Secretary.
Why the other options are incorrect
- Option A
Statement 1 is incorrect. Under Article 53, the executive power of the Union is vested in the President, though exercised on the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers.
- Option B
Statement 2 is incorrect. The Prime Minister is not the ex-officio Chairman of the Civil Services Board. The Cabinet Secretary heads the Board.
- Option C
Both statements are factually wrong. Executive power is vested in the President (Article 53), and the Civil Services Board is not chaired by the Prime Minister.
Q9Polity & Governance·Union ExecutivePYQ 2014
Consider the following statements:
1. The President shall make rules for the more convenient transaction of the business of the Government of India, and for the allocation among Ministers of the said business.
2. All executive actions of the Government of India shall be expressed to be taken in the name of the Prime Minister.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- A1 onlyCorrect
- B2 only
- CBoth 1 and 2
- DNeither 1 nor 2
Explanation
Correct. Article 77(3) empowers the President to make rules for the more convenient transaction of business of the Government of India and for the allocation among ministers of the said business. Statement 2 is false because executive action is expressed in the name of the President, not the Prime Minister.
Why the other options are incorrect
- Option B
Statement 2 is incorrect. Under Article 77(1), all executive action of the Government of India shall be expressed to be taken in the name of the President, not the Prime Minister.
- Option C
Only Statement 1 is correct. Statement 2 wrongly substitutes 'Prime Minister' for 'President' in the context of Article 77.
- Option D
Statement 1 is a nearly verbatim reproduction of Article 77(3) and is correct.
Q10Polity & Governance·Union ExecutivePYQ 2013
Consider the following statements:
1. The Council of Ministers in the Centre shall be collectively responsible to Parliament.
2. The Union Ministers shall hold office during the pleasure of the President of India.
3. The Prime Minister shall communicate to the President about proposals for legislation.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- A1 only
- B2 and 3 onlyCorrect
- C1 and 3 only
- D1, 2 and 3
Explanation
Correct. Statement 2 is correct under Article 75(2) which says ministers hold office during the pleasure of the President. Statement 3 is correct under Article 78(b) which requires the PM to communicate proposals for legislation to the President.
Why the other options are incorrect
- Option A
Statement 1 is incorrect as stated. The Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha (House of the People), not to Parliament as a whole. Article 75(3) specifies this.
- Option C
Statement 1 is incorrect because Article 75(3) provides for collective responsibility to the Lok Sabha, not to Parliament as a whole. The Rajya Sabha cannot pass a no-confidence motion.
- Option D
Statement 1 is incorrect. The distinction between 'Parliament' and 'Lok Sabha' is important here. Collective responsibility under Article 75(3) is to the Lok Sabha specifically.
Q11Polity & Governance·Union ExecutivePYQ 2012
The Prime Minister of India, at the time of his/her appointment:
- ANeed not necessarily be a member of one of the Houses of Parliament but must become a member of one of the Houses within six monthsCorrect
- BNeed not necessarily be a member of one of the Houses of Parliament but must become a member of the Lok Sabha within six months
- CMust be a member of one of the Houses of Parliament
- DMust be a member of the Lok Sabha
Explanation
Correct. Under Article 75(5), a minister (including the Prime Minister) who is not a member of either House of Parliament for a consecutive period of six months ceases to be a minister. So a PM may be appointed without being a member, but must secure membership in either House within six months.
Why the other options are incorrect
- Option B
There is no constitutional requirement that the Prime Minister must specifically become a member of the Lok Sabha. Membership in either House satisfies the requirement.
- Option C
The Constitution does not mandate that a person must already be a member of Parliament at the time of appointment as Prime Minister. The six-month window applies.
- Option D
The Prime Minister need not be a Lok Sabha member. Several Prime Ministers have served while being members of the Rajya Sabha, such as Manmohan Singh and I.K. Gujral.
Q12Polity & Governance·Union ExecutivePYQ 2009
With reference to Union Government, consider the following statements:
1. The Constitution of India provides that all Cabinet Ministers shall be compulsorily the sitting members of Lok Sabha only.
2. The Union Cabinet Secretariat operates under the direction of the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- A1 only
- B2 only
- CBoth 1 and 2
- DNeither 1 nor 2Correct
Explanation
Correct. Article 75 allows ministers to be from either House of Parliament, so Statement 1 is wrong. The Cabinet Secretariat functions under the Prime Minister, not the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, so Statement 2 is also wrong.
Why the other options are incorrect
- Option A
Statement 1 is incorrect because Union ministers, including Cabinet Ministers, may belong to either House of Parliament under Article 75. There is no requirement to be a Lok Sabha member.
- Option B
Statement 2 is incorrect because the Cabinet Secretariat functions directly under the Prime Minister, not under the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs.
- Option C
Both statements are factually incorrect. Ministers can be from either House, and the Cabinet Secretariat reports to the Prime Minister.