Selina Textbook Solutions: The Union Executive | Civics Class 8 ICSE PDF Download

 Page 1


The Union Executive 
I. Fill in the blanks: 
1. A person to be appointed a minister must be a member of either House of 
Parliament. 
2. The Prime Minister decides the business to be carried on by the Cabinet. 
3. The Vice President is elected for a period of five years. 
4. The Prime Minister distributes portfolios among the ministers. 
5. The public servants constitute the permanent executives. 
II. Match the contents of Column A with that of Column B : Column A 
 
 
Answer: 
 
Page 2


The Union Executive 
I. Fill in the blanks: 
1. A person to be appointed a minister must be a member of either House of 
Parliament. 
2. The Prime Minister decides the business to be carried on by the Cabinet. 
3. The Vice President is elected for a period of five years. 
4. The Prime Minister distributes portfolios among the ministers. 
5. The public servants constitute the permanent executives. 
II. Match the contents of Column A with that of Column B : Column A 
 
 
Answer: 
 
III. Tick mark (?) the correct statements and cross mark (X) the wrong ones : 
1. The Prime Minister is the vital link between the President and the Cabinet. ? 
2. The Prime Minister acts on the advice of the President.  X 
3. A money bill cannot be introduced without the President’s authority. ? 
4. The President can appoint anyone as the Prime Minister.  X 
5. Most of the Civil Servants at the Centre are selected by the Union Public Service 
Commission. ? 
IV. Answer the following: 
Question 1. 
Who is the Chief Executive of the Indian Union? Who votes for him? 
Answer: 
The Chief Executive of the Indian Union is the President. The elected members of both 
the Houses of Parliament and the elected members of the Legislative Assemblies elect 
the President. 
Question 2. 
State two executive and two judicial powers of the President. Under what circumstances 
can the President proclaim a state of emergency? 
Answer: 
Two Executive powers of the President are: 
1. He appoints the Prime Minister and Union Minister. 
2. He appoints state Governors, the Judges of the Supreme Court and High Court, 
the Comptroller and Auditor-General, the Attorney General and members of the 
Union Public service Commission. 
Two Judicial powers of the President are: 
1. He can pardon, remit or suspend a sentence of punishment given by a court 
martial or death sentence passed by the court. 
2. He is not answerable to any law court for the exercise of his powers, except in 
case of impeachment in Parliament. 
The President can declare emergency if: 
1. Security of India is threatened. 
2. There is a break down of the constitutional machinery in a state. 
3. The financial stability of the country is threatened. 
Page 3


The Union Executive 
I. Fill in the blanks: 
1. A person to be appointed a minister must be a member of either House of 
Parliament. 
2. The Prime Minister decides the business to be carried on by the Cabinet. 
3. The Vice President is elected for a period of five years. 
4. The Prime Minister distributes portfolios among the ministers. 
5. The public servants constitute the permanent executives. 
II. Match the contents of Column A with that of Column B : Column A 
 
 
Answer: 
 
III. Tick mark (?) the correct statements and cross mark (X) the wrong ones : 
1. The Prime Minister is the vital link between the President and the Cabinet. ? 
2. The Prime Minister acts on the advice of the President.  X 
3. A money bill cannot be introduced without the President’s authority. ? 
4. The President can appoint anyone as the Prime Minister.  X 
5. Most of the Civil Servants at the Centre are selected by the Union Public Service 
Commission. ? 
IV. Answer the following: 
Question 1. 
Who is the Chief Executive of the Indian Union? Who votes for him? 
Answer: 
The Chief Executive of the Indian Union is the President. The elected members of both 
the Houses of Parliament and the elected members of the Legislative Assemblies elect 
the President. 
Question 2. 
State two executive and two judicial powers of the President. Under what circumstances 
can the President proclaim a state of emergency? 
Answer: 
Two Executive powers of the President are: 
1. He appoints the Prime Minister and Union Minister. 
2. He appoints state Governors, the Judges of the Supreme Court and High Court, 
the Comptroller and Auditor-General, the Attorney General and members of the 
Union Public service Commission. 
Two Judicial powers of the President are: 
1. He can pardon, remit or suspend a sentence of punishment given by a court 
martial or death sentence passed by the court. 
2. He is not answerable to any law court for the exercise of his powers, except in 
case of impeachment in Parliament. 
The President can declare emergency if: 
1. Security of India is threatened. 
2. There is a break down of the constitutional machinery in a state. 
3. The financial stability of the country is threatened. 
Question 3. 
What are the two main functions of the Cabinet? 
Answer: 
The two main functions of the Cabinet are: 
1. All important decisions are taken by the cabinet ministers. 
2. Cabinet formulates the policies and programmes of the government. 
Question 4. 
Name the three categories of the union ministers. 
Answer: 
The three categories of Ministers are: 
1. Cabinet Ministers 
2.  Minister of State 
3. Deputy Ministers 
Question 5. 
What is the position of the Prime Minister? Mention his powers. 
Answer: 
Leader of the political party or parties securing absolute majority in the Lok Sabha. 
1. Leader of the Lok Sabha. 
2. Manages the affairs of the country both internal as well as extrenal. 
3. He is the chief spokesperson of the Government. 
4. Selects other ministers. 
5. Distributes portfolios. 
6. Can demand the resignation of any minister. 
7. Advises the President on various appointments to important posts. 
8. Presides over cabinet meetings. 
Question 6. 
Do you think the President of India should be directly elected by the people? Why/why 
not? 
Answer: 
We have a system of government in which the Prime Minister is the most important 
person in the government of the country, the President is only a nominal Head. If the 
President was to be elected then he too would be equally important was powerful. Then 
there would be a clash of powers. So, in my opinion it is preferable that the President 
should not be directly elected by the people. 
 
 
Page 4


The Union Executive 
I. Fill in the blanks: 
1. A person to be appointed a minister must be a member of either House of 
Parliament. 
2. The Prime Minister decides the business to be carried on by the Cabinet. 
3. The Vice President is elected for a period of five years. 
4. The Prime Minister distributes portfolios among the ministers. 
5. The public servants constitute the permanent executives. 
II. Match the contents of Column A with that of Column B : Column A 
 
 
Answer: 
 
III. Tick mark (?) the correct statements and cross mark (X) the wrong ones : 
1. The Prime Minister is the vital link between the President and the Cabinet. ? 
2. The Prime Minister acts on the advice of the President.  X 
3. A money bill cannot be introduced without the President’s authority. ? 
4. The President can appoint anyone as the Prime Minister.  X 
5. Most of the Civil Servants at the Centre are selected by the Union Public Service 
Commission. ? 
IV. Answer the following: 
Question 1. 
Who is the Chief Executive of the Indian Union? Who votes for him? 
Answer: 
The Chief Executive of the Indian Union is the President. The elected members of both 
the Houses of Parliament and the elected members of the Legislative Assemblies elect 
the President. 
Question 2. 
State two executive and two judicial powers of the President. Under what circumstances 
can the President proclaim a state of emergency? 
Answer: 
Two Executive powers of the President are: 
1. He appoints the Prime Minister and Union Minister. 
2. He appoints state Governors, the Judges of the Supreme Court and High Court, 
the Comptroller and Auditor-General, the Attorney General and members of the 
Union Public service Commission. 
Two Judicial powers of the President are: 
1. He can pardon, remit or suspend a sentence of punishment given by a court 
martial or death sentence passed by the court. 
2. He is not answerable to any law court for the exercise of his powers, except in 
case of impeachment in Parliament. 
The President can declare emergency if: 
1. Security of India is threatened. 
2. There is a break down of the constitutional machinery in a state. 
3. The financial stability of the country is threatened. 
Question 3. 
What are the two main functions of the Cabinet? 
Answer: 
The two main functions of the Cabinet are: 
1. All important decisions are taken by the cabinet ministers. 
2. Cabinet formulates the policies and programmes of the government. 
Question 4. 
Name the three categories of the union ministers. 
Answer: 
The three categories of Ministers are: 
1. Cabinet Ministers 
2.  Minister of State 
3. Deputy Ministers 
Question 5. 
What is the position of the Prime Minister? Mention his powers. 
Answer: 
Leader of the political party or parties securing absolute majority in the Lok Sabha. 
1. Leader of the Lok Sabha. 
2. Manages the affairs of the country both internal as well as extrenal. 
3. He is the chief spokesperson of the Government. 
4. Selects other ministers. 
5. Distributes portfolios. 
6. Can demand the resignation of any minister. 
7. Advises the President on various appointments to important posts. 
8. Presides over cabinet meetings. 
Question 6. 
Do you think the President of India should be directly elected by the people? Why/why 
not? 
Answer: 
We have a system of government in which the Prime Minister is the most important 
person in the government of the country, the President is only a nominal Head. If the 
President was to be elected then he too would be equally important was powerful. Then 
there would be a clash of powers. So, in my opinion it is preferable that the President 
should not be directly elected by the people. 
 
 
V. Explain the following statements: 
Question 1. 
“The President is a nominal head.” 
Answer: 
It means that in our system of government, it is the Prime Minister who runs the 
government under a parliamentary from of government. The President is a constitutional 
head of the Indian Union. He is only a nominal head. The government is run by the 
Prime Minister and his council of Ministers. The real executive power vests in the 
Council of Ministers headed by the Prime Minister. 
Question 2. 
“All the ministers, including the Prime Minister, swim and sink together.” 
Answer: 
The Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers are directly responsible to the Lok 
Sabha. If a vote of no confidence is passed against one minister, the whole Council of 
ministers including the Prime Minister has to resign. 
Additional Questions 
A. Fill in the blanks: 
1. The President can be removed from office by a procedure known 
as Impeachment. 
2. The President appoints the judges of the Supreme Court and the High Court. 
3. The President can call a joint session of the Parliament if there is a deadlock 
regarding a bill. 
4. The Cabinet is the inner core of the Council of Ministers. The Cabinet Ministers 
hold important portfolios. 
5. The Prime Minister is the link between the President, the people and 
the Parliament. 
B. Name the following: 
1. The current Prime Minister of India 
Ans. Narendra Modi 
2. The current Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha – 
Ans. Mohammad Hamid Ansari 
3. The current Supreme Commander of the Defence Forces 
Ans. Pranab Mukherjee 
4. The current ministers in charge of (a) Defence (b) External Affairs (c) Finance (d) 
Health 
Ans. 
(a) Defence Minister – Manohar Parrikar 
Page 5


The Union Executive 
I. Fill in the blanks: 
1. A person to be appointed a minister must be a member of either House of 
Parliament. 
2. The Prime Minister decides the business to be carried on by the Cabinet. 
3. The Vice President is elected for a period of five years. 
4. The Prime Minister distributes portfolios among the ministers. 
5. The public servants constitute the permanent executives. 
II. Match the contents of Column A with that of Column B : Column A 
 
 
Answer: 
 
III. Tick mark (?) the correct statements and cross mark (X) the wrong ones : 
1. The Prime Minister is the vital link between the President and the Cabinet. ? 
2. The Prime Minister acts on the advice of the President.  X 
3. A money bill cannot be introduced without the President’s authority. ? 
4. The President can appoint anyone as the Prime Minister.  X 
5. Most of the Civil Servants at the Centre are selected by the Union Public Service 
Commission. ? 
IV. Answer the following: 
Question 1. 
Who is the Chief Executive of the Indian Union? Who votes for him? 
Answer: 
The Chief Executive of the Indian Union is the President. The elected members of both 
the Houses of Parliament and the elected members of the Legislative Assemblies elect 
the President. 
Question 2. 
State two executive and two judicial powers of the President. Under what circumstances 
can the President proclaim a state of emergency? 
Answer: 
Two Executive powers of the President are: 
1. He appoints the Prime Minister and Union Minister. 
2. He appoints state Governors, the Judges of the Supreme Court and High Court, 
the Comptroller and Auditor-General, the Attorney General and members of the 
Union Public service Commission. 
Two Judicial powers of the President are: 
1. He can pardon, remit or suspend a sentence of punishment given by a court 
martial or death sentence passed by the court. 
2. He is not answerable to any law court for the exercise of his powers, except in 
case of impeachment in Parliament. 
The President can declare emergency if: 
1. Security of India is threatened. 
2. There is a break down of the constitutional machinery in a state. 
3. The financial stability of the country is threatened. 
Question 3. 
What are the two main functions of the Cabinet? 
Answer: 
The two main functions of the Cabinet are: 
1. All important decisions are taken by the cabinet ministers. 
2. Cabinet formulates the policies and programmes of the government. 
Question 4. 
Name the three categories of the union ministers. 
Answer: 
The three categories of Ministers are: 
1. Cabinet Ministers 
2.  Minister of State 
3. Deputy Ministers 
Question 5. 
What is the position of the Prime Minister? Mention his powers. 
Answer: 
Leader of the political party or parties securing absolute majority in the Lok Sabha. 
1. Leader of the Lok Sabha. 
2. Manages the affairs of the country both internal as well as extrenal. 
3. He is the chief spokesperson of the Government. 
4. Selects other ministers. 
5. Distributes portfolios. 
6. Can demand the resignation of any minister. 
7. Advises the President on various appointments to important posts. 
8. Presides over cabinet meetings. 
Question 6. 
Do you think the President of India should be directly elected by the people? Why/why 
not? 
Answer: 
We have a system of government in which the Prime Minister is the most important 
person in the government of the country, the President is only a nominal Head. If the 
President was to be elected then he too would be equally important was powerful. Then 
there would be a clash of powers. So, in my opinion it is preferable that the President 
should not be directly elected by the people. 
 
 
V. Explain the following statements: 
Question 1. 
“The President is a nominal head.” 
Answer: 
It means that in our system of government, it is the Prime Minister who runs the 
government under a parliamentary from of government. The President is a constitutional 
head of the Indian Union. He is only a nominal head. The government is run by the 
Prime Minister and his council of Ministers. The real executive power vests in the 
Council of Ministers headed by the Prime Minister. 
Question 2. 
“All the ministers, including the Prime Minister, swim and sink together.” 
Answer: 
The Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers are directly responsible to the Lok 
Sabha. If a vote of no confidence is passed against one minister, the whole Council of 
ministers including the Prime Minister has to resign. 
Additional Questions 
A. Fill in the blanks: 
1. The President can be removed from office by a procedure known 
as Impeachment. 
2. The President appoints the judges of the Supreme Court and the High Court. 
3. The President can call a joint session of the Parliament if there is a deadlock 
regarding a bill. 
4. The Cabinet is the inner core of the Council of Ministers. The Cabinet Ministers 
hold important portfolios. 
5. The Prime Minister is the link between the President, the people and 
the Parliament. 
B. Name the following: 
1. The current Prime Minister of India 
Ans. Narendra Modi 
2. The current Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha – 
Ans. Mohammad Hamid Ansari 
3. The current Supreme Commander of the Defence Forces 
Ans. Pranab Mukherjee 
4. The current ministers in charge of (a) Defence (b) External Affairs (c) Finance (d) 
Health 
Ans. 
(a) Defence Minister – Manohar Parrikar 
(b) External Affairs – Sushma Swaraj 
(c) Finance Minister – Arun Jaitley 
(d) Health Minister – Jagat Prakash Nadda 
C. Choose the correct answer: 
1. The President/Prime Minister/Vice President is the nominal head of the 
government of India. 
Ans. The President is the nominal head of the government of India. 
2. The President is the Supreme Commander of the Indian Administrative 
Service/Defense Forces/Indian Foreign Service. 
Ans. The President is the Supreme Commander of the Defense Forces. 
3. The Vice-President is the Chairperson of the Lok Sabha/ Rajya Sabha/Vidhan 
Sabha. 
Ans. The Vice-President is the Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha. 
4. After the elections, the President appoints the leader of the majority party as the 
Vice President/Speaker/Prime Minister. 
Ans. After the elections, the President appoints the leader of the majority party as 
the Prime Minister. 
5. The Council of Ministers is the real executive but the administration is carried on in 
the name of the Prime Minister/President/Vice-President. ” 
Ans. The Council of Ministers is the real executive but the administration is carried 
on in the name of the Prime Minister. 
D. State whether the following are true or false: 
1. The President is elected for a term of 4 years. 
False. 
Correct : The President is elected for a term of 5 years. 
2. The President can pardon a death sentence. 
True. 
3. The President can declare war or conclude peace. 
True. 
4. The Prime Minister choose the Cabinet Ministers. 
True. 
5. Civil servants belong to the majority party in Parliament. 
False. 
Correct : Civil servants belong to the minority party in Parliament.