70. The Chief Minister of which state launched the SAFAL agricultural loan portal?
[SSC MTS, 19 May 2023, Shift 2]
(A) Odisha
(B) Maharashtra
(C) West Bengal
(D) Bihar
Answer: (A) Odisha
Explanation: Naveen Patnaik’s Odisha government launched the SAFAL agricultural loan portal to simplify farmers’ access to credit. The example illustrates state-level policy leadership and cooperation among government departments, agricultural agencies and financial institutions.
69. Who is the constitutional head of an Indian state?
[SSC MTS 2022 paper, held 10 May 2023, Shift 3]
(A) Chief Justice of High Court
(B) Governor
(C) State Election Commissioner
(D) Chief Minister
Answer: (B) Governor
Explanation: The Governor is the constitutional head of a state, while the Chief Minister is the head of its political executive. The Governor ordinarily acts on advice from the Council led by the Chief Minister, except where discretion is permitted.
68. Before entering politics, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann worked mainly as a _____.
[SSC CHSL 2022 paper, held 20 March 2023, Shift 4]
(A) Comedian
(B) Cricketer
(C) Writer
(D) Singer
Answer: (A) Comedian
Explanation: Bhagwant Mann was widely known as a comedian before becoming Punjab Chief Minister in March 2022. Professional background does not determine constitutional eligibility. The person appointed must satisfy the applicable legislative qualifications and secure the Assembly’s confidence.
67. The Chief Minister of which state launched the “Football for All” programme?
[SSC CHSL 2022 paper, held 9 March 2023, Shift 1]
(A) Jharkhand
(B) Madhya Pradesh
(C) West Bengal
(D) Odisha
Answer: (D) Odisha
Explanation: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik launched the Football for All programme in October 2022. State executive leadership includes setting development priorities and inaugurating public initiatives, though constitutional powers of appointment and ministerial responsibility remain separately specified.
66. Who was Chief Minister of Kerala as of November 2022?
[SSC GD Constable, 8 February 2023, Shift 2]
(A) Pinarayi Vijayan
(B) Anandiben Patel
(C) Basavaraj Bommai
(D) Naveen Patnaik
Answer: (A) Pinarayi Vijayan
Explanation: Pinarayi Vijayan served as Kerala Chief Minister through the relevant period, having begun his first term in 2016 and a second in 2021. This office-holder question is tied to November 2022; a later change would not alter its historical answer.
65. Who was Chief Minister of Goa in January 2023?
[SSC GD Constable, 6 February 2023, Shift 1]
(A) Manohar Parrikar
(B) Digambar Kamat
(C) Pramod Sawant
(D) Churchill Alemao
Answer: (C) Pramod Sawant
Explanation: Pramod Sawant headed the Goa government in January 2023. He originally succeeded Manohar Parrikar in 2019 and continued following the 2022 Assembly election. The Chief Minister’s tenure ultimately depends on Assembly confidence rather than a separate direct popular election.
64. Who appoints the Chief Minister of an Indian state?
[SSC GD Constable, 2 February 2023, Shift 4]
(A) Vice-President of India
(B) Prime Minister
(C) Governor of the state
(D) President of India
Answer: (C) Governor of the state
Explanation: The power of appointment lies with the Governor by Article 164. In practice, the Governor normally appoints the majority leader or a person able to establish majority support, which preserves the principle of representative government at state level.
63. Who was Gujarat Chief Minister immediately before the December 2022 Assembly election?
[SSC GD Constable, 27 January 2023, Shift 4]
(A) Bhupendra Patel
(B) Vijay Rupani
(C) Dhanjibhai Patel
(D) Isudan Gadhvi
Answer: (A) Bhupendra Patel
Explanation: Bhupendra Patel became Gujarat Chief Minister in September 2021 and remained in office at the time of the December 2022 election. He subsequently began another term. The wording “before the election” distinguishes this historical fact from later developments.
62. Who was Chief Minister of Karnataka in November 2022?
[SSC GD Constable, 17 January 2023, Shift 2]
(A) Pinarayi Vijayan
(B) K. Chandrashekar Rao
(C) M. K. Stalin
(D) Basavaraj Bommai
Answer: (D) Basavaraj Bommai
Explanation: Basavaraj Bommai was Chief Minister of Karnataka between July 2021 and May 2023, so he held office in November 2022. Office-holder questions should always be answered with reference to the date mentioned in the question.
61. Who allocates ranks and portfolios among state ministers?
[SSC GD Constable, 16 January 2023, Shift 4]
(A) Speaker of Legislative Assembly
(B) Governor acting independently
(C) Chief Minister
(D) Political party’s national president
Answer: (C) Chief Minister
Explanation: The Chief Minister decides the distribution of portfolios among ministers, and the Governor makes the formal appointments on the Chief Minister’s advice. Portfolio allocation is an important practical power because it determines how departments are coordinated within the state government.
