Q20. Who is regarded as the first citizen of the Republic of India?
[WBCS Preliminary Examination 2017]
(A) Chief Justice of India
(B) President of India
(C) Prime Minister of India
(D) Speaker of Lok Sabha
Answer: (B) President of India
Explanation: The President, as India’s constitutional head of State, is conventionally referred to as the first citizen. The title signifies the office’s ceremonial precedence within the Republic; executive policy remains chiefly the responsibility of elected ministers.
Q19. Who is the ex officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha?
[WBCS Preliminary Examination 2017]
(A) Leader of the Opposition
(B) A person nominated by the President
(C) Vice-President of India
(D) A person nominated by the Vice-President
Answer: (C) Vice-President of India
Explanation: Article 64 makes the Vice-President the ex officio Chairman of the Council of States, or Rajya Sabha. When the Vice-President performs presidential functions under Article 65, the duties of the chairmanship are suspended during that period.
Q18. Who may establish an Inter-State Council under Article 263?
[UPPSC Preliminary Examination 2017]
(A) Parliament
(B) President of India
(C) Lok Sabha Speaker
(D) Prime Minister
Answer: (B) President of India
Explanation: Article 263 allows the President to create an Inter-State Council when its establishment appears desirable in the public interest. The council facilitates consultation, investigation and recommendations on questions involving States or the Union and States.
Q17. Under which constitutional provision is the President required to act according to the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers?
[MPPSC Assistant Professor (Political Science), 11 July 2017]
(A) Article 74(1)
(B) Article 74(2)
(C) Article 75(1)
(D) Article 75(2)
Answer: (A) Article 74(1)
Explanation: Article 74(1) establishes a Council of Ministers led by the Prime Minister to aid and advise the President. Following reconsideration if requested, ministerial advice binds the President. Article 74(2) concerns the bar on judicial inquiry into advice.
Q16. Who determines the remuneration of the Attorney-General of India?
[MPPSC Assistant Professor (Political Science), 2017]
(A) Parliament
(B) Prime Minister
(C) President of India
(D) Chief Justice of India
Answer: (C) President of India
Explanation: Article 76 provides that the Attorney-General receives remuneration as the President may determine. The Attorney-General is the Union’s highest law officer, appointed by the President from persons qualified to be Supreme Court judges.
Q15. With respect to a National Emergency under Article 352, which group of propositions is correct:
(i) proclaimed by the President;
(iii) parliamentary approval within one month;
(v) special majority for approval;
(vi) revocation can be secured by simple majority of Lok Sabha?
[CGPSC Civil Service Preliminary Examination 2017]
(A) (i), (ii), (iv), (viii)
(B) (i), (iii), (vi), (viii)
(C) (i), (iii), (v), (vi)
(D) (ii), (iv), (vii), (viii)
Answer: (C) (i), (iii), (v), (vi)
Explanation: Article 352 emergencies are proclaimed by the President on written Cabinet advice, require parliamentary approval within one month by special majority, and may be disapproved by the Lok Sabha through a simple-majority resolution. The rules reflect post-1978 safeguards.
2016
Q14. Which presidential eligibility statements are correct?
1. A person above 35 is eligible.
2. A former President can be re-elected for more than one term.
3. Holding a disqualifying office of profit prevents election.
[UPSC NDA-I 2016, General Ability Test (17 April 2016)]
(A) 1 and 2 only
(B) 2 only
(C) 1, 2 and 3
(D) 3 only
Answer: (C) 1, 2 and 3
Explanation: Article 58 specifies the minimum age as 35 and generally bars disqualifying offices of profit. Article 57 permits re-election without a fixed constitutional term limit. Certain offices, including ministers, are specifically excluded from the office-of-profit bar.
Q13. Consider the President’s information rights:
1. May seek information concerning ministerial decisions.
2. May call for information on legislative proposals.
3. Cabinet decisions on Union administration must be communicated to the President.
Which statements are correct?
[UPSC CDS-I 2016, General Knowledge (14 February 2016)]
(A) 1 and 3 only
(B) 2 and 3 only
(C) 1 and 2 only
(D) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (D) 1, 2 and 3
Explanation: Article 78 obliges the Prime Minister to inform the President about Cabinet decisions and legislative proposals and to furnish requested information. These duties preserve the head of State’s constitutional awareness without displacing ministerial responsibility.
Q12. Without whose recommendation can a Money Bill not be introduced in the Lok Sabha?
[WBCS Preliminary Examination 2016]
(A) Prime Minister
(B) Lok Sabha Speaker
(C) President of India
(D) Union Finance Secretary
Answer: (C) President of India
Explanation: Article 117 and the Money Bill procedure require the President’s recommendation for introducing specified financial legislation. This recommendation is formally presidential but operates within the Council of Ministers’ advice under the parliamentary system.
Q11. Who chaired the Fourteenth Finance Commission appointed by the President?
[UPSC CDS-II 2016, General Knowledge (23 October 2016)]
(A) C. Rangarajan
(B) Vijay Kelkar
(C) Y. V. Reddy
(D) Rakesh Mohan
Answer: (C) Y. V. Reddy
Explanation: Y. V. Reddy chaired the Fourteenth Finance Commission, constituted in 2013 under Article 280. The Commission examined Centre–State fiscal relations and recommended major changes in the States’ share of divisible central tax proceeds.
