UPSC Previous Year Questions (Prelims): Union Executive (The President & Vice-President) | Indian Polity for UPSC CSE PDF Download

Correct Answer is Option (c) 

• Statement 1: "Initially it was an ad-hoc Committee.": This statement is correct. The Ethics Committee in the Lok Sabha was initially set up as an ad-hoc committee in 1997. Later, it became a standing committee.

• Statement 2: "Only a Member of the Lok Sabha can make a complaint relating to unethical conduct of a member of the Lok Sabha.": This statement is incorrect. A complaint about unethical conduct can be made by anyone, not just a Member of the Lok Sabha. The committee does not limit the source of complaints to its own members.

• Statement 3: "This Committee cannot take up any matter which is sub-judice.": This statement is correct. The Ethics Committee cannot take up cases that are sub-judice, i.e., matters that are currently under judicial consideration in the court.

Correct Answer is Option (c)

• Statement 1: "Article 109 mentions special procedure in respect of Money Bills.": Correct. Article 109 of the Indian Constitution does indeed mention the special procedure for Money Bills. This includes provisions about their introduction, passage, and the powers of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha in relation to Money Bills.

• Statement 2: "A Money Bill shall not be introduced in the Council of States.": Correct. A Money Bill can only be introduced in the Lok Sabha. It cannot be introduced in the Rajya Sabha (Council of States).

• Statement 3: "The Rajya Sabha can either approve the Bill or suggest changes but cannot reject it.": Correct. The Rajya Sabha can suggest amendments to a Money Bill but cannot reject it. If the Rajya Sabha does not act on the Bill within 14 days, the Bill is considered passed in both Houses.

• Statement 4: "Amendments to a Money Bill suggested by the Rajya Sabha have to be accepted by the Lok Sabha.": Incorrect. The Lok Sabha is not obligated to accept the amendments suggested by the Rajya Sabha. The Lok Sabha can reject the amendments made by the Rajya Sabha. The final decision on the Money Bill rests with the Lok Sabha.

Correct Answer is Option (c) 

• Statement 1: "Prorogation of a House by the President of India does not require the advice of the Council of Ministers.": Incorrect. The prorogation of a House (Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha) does not require the advice of the Council of Ministers. The President has the power to prorogue a House under Article 85 of the Constitution.
• Statement 2: "Prorogation of a House is generally done after the House is adjourned sine die but there is no bar to the President of India prorogating the House which is in session.": Correct. Normally, prorogation happens after a House is adjourned sine die, but there is no restriction on the President proroguing the House while it is still in session.
• Statement 3: "Dissolution of the Lok Sabha is done by the President of India who, save in exceptional circumstances, does so on the advice of the Council of Ministers.": Correct. The dissolution of the Lok Sabha, unlike prorogation, always requires the advice of the Council of Ministers and is done by the President under Article 85 of the Constitution.

Correct Answer is Option (d)
Statement 1: "If the election of the President of India is declared void by the Supreme Court of India, all acts done by him/her in the performance of duties of his/her office of President before the date of decision become invalid.": Incorrect. If the election of the President is declared void by the Supreme Court, it does not automatically invalidate the actions performed by the President during their tenure. The principle of "continuity of office" ensures that the acts performed remain valid unless specifically declared otherwise by the Court.
Statement 2: "Elections for the post of the President of India can be postponed on the ground that some Legislative Assemblies have been dissolved and elections are yet to take place.": Incorrect. The election for the President of India cannot be postponed because of the dissolution of Legislative Assemblies or pending elections in the states. The election schedule is fixed by the Election Commission and does not depend on the completion of state elections.
Statement 3: "When a Bill is presented to the President of India, the Constitution prescribes time limits within which he/she has to declare his/her assent.": Incorrect. The Constitution does not prescribe any specific time limit within which the President must assent to a Bill. The President must act expeditiously, but the Constitution does not set a strict deadline for granting assent.

Correct Answer is Option (a)

• Statement 1: Incorrect. Nominated members (both in Parliament and State Assemblies) are not included in the Electoral College for the Presidential election. Only elected members can vote.
• Statement 2:  Incorrect. The value of each MLA's vote is based on the population of the state and the total number of elected members in the State Assembly. It is not just the number of seats but the population-to-seats ratio that determines the vote's value. So, simply having more seats does not automatically increase the value of each MLA's vote.
• Statement 3:  Correct. Madhya Pradesh has a larger population compared to Kerala, and therefore, based on the formula (population of the state ÷ number of elected members), the value of each MLA's vote in Madhya Pradesh is indeed greater than in Kerala.
• Statement 4:  Incorrect. The value of the vote of each MLA in a state or Union Territory is determined by dividing the state's population by the number of elected representatives. Arunachal Pradesh has a relatively higher population than Puducherry, so the value of the vote of each MLA in Arunachal Pradesh is greater than in Puducherry.

Correct Answer is Option (b)

• Statement 1:  Incorrect. A Constitution Amendment Bill does not require prior recommendation from the President. However, any bill amending the Constitution must be introduced either in Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha, and it can be introduced with or without the recommendation of the President.

• Statement 2: Correct. According to Article 368 of the Constitution, once a Constitution Amendment Bill is passed by the required majority in both Houses of Parliament, the President must give his/her assent. The President cannot withhold assent to a Constitution Amendment Bill.

• Statement 3:  Correct. A Constitution Amendment Bill must be passed by a special majority (i.e., a majority of the total membership of each House and a majority of the members present and voting) in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. Moreover, for Constitution Amendment Bills, there is no provision for a joint sitting; both Houses must pass the Bill separately.

Correct Answer is Option (c)

• Article 85 of the Indian Constitution empowers the President to summon each house of the Parliament at such time and place as he thinks fit. (Hence, 1st statement is correct)
• The Constitution of India does not mention the anything about the number of Parliamentary sessions in a year. (Hence, 2nd statement is incorrect)
• There is some ambiguity in the 3rd statement.
• If the UPSC interprets it in a narrow and literal sense, then exact number of days for which the Parliament is supposed to meet in a year is not mentioned in the Constitution and hence, 3rd statement is correct.
• However, if we interpret the question in a broader manner, then Article 85 of the Indian Constitution mentions that 6 months shall not intervene the 2 sessions of the Parliament. Interpreting this clause, it essentially means that Parliament has to meet at least for 2 days in a year to prevent the violation of Article 85. In such a scenario, 3rd statement is incorrect.

Correct Answer is Option (b)
The President's Rule can be proclaimed under Article 356… He can declare that the powers of the state legislature are to be exercised by the Parliament. So "B" is the right answer.

Correct Answer is Option (b)
MIND IT: you've to find the wrong statements herethey're the right answers.
when the President's Rule is imposed in a state, the President dismisses the state council of ministers headed by the chief minister. The state governor, on behalf of the President, carries on the state administration with the help of the chief secretary of the state or the advisors appointed by the President. Meaning "2" is definitely the consequence of proclamation. Hence all options involving "2" are wrong. Hence by elimination we are left with answer "B": 1 and 3 only.

Correct Answer is Option (b)
The first statement is not correct because its talks about chairman as well as the deputy chairman. The Vice- President of India is ex-officio Chairman of Rajya Sabha. Rajya Sabha also chooses from amongst its members, a Deputy Chairman.
President: Elected members of parliament (MPs from Lok Sabha as well as Rajya Sabha). Elected members of State legislative members, including that if NCT of Delhi and Pondicherry.
Vice President: Vice President is elected indirectly, by an electoral college consisting of members of both houses of the parliament. The second statement is correct.

Correct Answer is Option (b)
Mohd. Hidayatullah (1979-84); Shankar Dayal Sharma (1987-92)

Correct Answer is Option (b)
The value of a MP's vote is calculated by dividing the total value of all MLAs' votes by the number of MPs.
Value of an MP vote

Correct Answer is Option (b)
President can issue an ordinance only when both houses of parliament are not in session (Art 123). No minimum age is prescribed for appointment as a judge of the Supreme Court in the Constitution. The age of a Judge of the SC shall be determined by such authority and in such manner as parliament may by law provide. NDC is composed of the PM as its head, all Union Cabinet ministers, the CMs of all states, CMs/Administrators of all UTs and the members of the Planning Commission. There is no constitutional provision regarding the accountability of the planning commission the parliament.

Correct Answer is Option (b)
Statement 1 is correct as per provisions under Article 59. Statement 2 is correct as according to Article 79, Parliament shall consist of the President and two Houses.

Correct Answer is Option (c)
The expression at present population in 1997 here means the previous census, i.e., 1971.