Q110. Which is NOT an essential constitutional qualification for the President of India?
[RRB Junior Engineer CBT-I, 17 December (Shift 1)]
(A) Qualification for election to Lok Sabha
(B) Being highly educated
(C) Having completed 35 years
(D) Indian citizenship
Answer: (B) Being highly educated
Explanation: India’s Constitution specifies citizenship, age and Lok Sabha eligibility, but imposes no formal university-degree or higher-education requirement on presidential candidates. The qualification test therefore concerns legal eligibility and office-of-profit restrictions, not academic credentials.
Q109. Consider:
1. The Attorney-General advises the Government on legal matters assigned by the President.
2. The Solicitor-General is the second law officer and is assisted by Additional Solicitors-General.
Which statements are correct?
[UPSC NDA-II 2024, General Ability Test (1 September 2024)]
(A) 1 only
(B) 2 only
(C) Both 1 and 2
(D) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (C) Both 1 and 2
Explanation: Article 76 provides for the Attorney-General, appointed by the President, to perform legal duties referred or assigned by the President. The Solicitor-General and Additional Solicitors-General are supporting law officers arranged through executive appointments, so both statements are correct.
Q108. Who appoints the Acting Chief Justice of India when the Chief Justice cannot perform the duties of office?
[SSC MTS 2024, 23 October (Shift 3)]
(A) President of India
(B) Senior-most Supreme Court judge automatically
(C) Prime Minister
(D) Council of Ministers
Answer: (A) President of India
Explanation: Article 126 authorises the President to appoint a Supreme Court judge to perform the Chief Justice of India’s duties when that office is vacant or its holder cannot act. Seniority is a convention, not automatic appointment by itself.
Q107. Under Article 280, the President should normally constitute a Finance Commission every ______.
[SSC MTS 2024, 12 November (Shift 3)]
(A) Two years
(B) Five years
(C) One year
(D) Three years
Answer: (B) Five years
Explanation: The President normally constitutes a Finance Commission every five years under Article 280, though earlier constitution is possible when considered necessary. The Commission recommends sharing of divisible Union taxes and other specified fiscal transfers.
Q106. Which leader inaugurated the first Akhil Bharatiya Kalidas Samman Samaroh at Ujjain in 1958?
[SSC MTS 2024, 11 November (Shift 3)]
(A) Jawaharlal Nehru
(B) Lal Bahadur Shastri
(C) Rajendra Prasad
(D) Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
Answer: (C) Rajendra Prasad
Explanation: India’s first President, Dr Rajendra Prasad, inaugurated the inaugural Kalidas cultural gathering at Ujjain in 1958. The programme celebrated the literary legacy of Sanskrit poet and playwright Kalidasa, closely associated with the cultural history of Ujjain.
Q105. Which constitutional Articles primarily cover the election, qualifications and removal of the Vice-President of India?
[RRB Junior Engineer CBT-I, 16 December 2024 (Shift 1)]
(A) Articles 224–245
(B) Articles 68–75
(C) Articles 78–80
(D) Articles 63–71
Answer: (D) Articles 63–71
Explanation: Articles 63 through 71 address establishment, duties, election, term, vacancies, oath and election disputes related to the Vice-President. Article 65 specifically provides for acting as President when the presidential office is vacant or its duties cannot be performed.
Q104. An amendment to the Constitution of India can be initiated by
1. Lok Sabha;
2. Rajya Sabha;
3. State Legislatures;
4. President.
Which are correct?
[UPPSC PCS Preliminary Examination 2024]
(A) 1 and 2
(B) 1 only
(C) 1, 2 and 3
(D) 2, 3 and 4
Answer: (A) 1 and 2
Explanation: Under Article 368 a constitutional amendment Bill can originate in either House of Parliament. The President does not initiate such Bills and must give assent once duly passed. Some amendments additionally require ratification by at least half the States.
2023
Q103. With reference to the election of the President of India, consider:
1. Nominated MPs are in the electoral college.
2. More Assembly seats always make an MLA vote worth more.
3. Each MLA of Madhya Pradesh has a greater vote value than an MLA of Kerala.
4. The value of a Puducherry MLA vote is greater than an Arunachal Pradesh MLA vote.
How many statements are correct?
[UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2023]
(A) Only one
(B) Only two
(C) Only three
(D) All four
Answer: (A) Only one
Explanation: Nominated legislators do not vote in presidential elections. MLA vote value depends on the 1971 population figure divided by elected Assembly seats, not seats alone. The Puducherry-versus-Arunachal statement is correct, while the other three are incorrect.
Q102. Consider:
1. If the Supreme Court invalidates the presidential election, all prior presidential acts are invalid.
2. Presidential election can be postponed because some State Assemblies are dissolved.
3. The Constitution specifies a time limit for presidential assent to Bills.
How many statements are correct?
[UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2023]
(A) One
(B) Two
(C) Three
(D) None
Answer: (D) None
Explanation: Article 71 protects presidential acts performed before an election is declared void. Vacancies in electoral colleges arising from dissolved State Assemblies do not necessarily halt presidential elections. The Constitution also specifies no general deadline for presidential assent to ordinary Bills.
Q101. Which statement about the presidential election is NOT correct?
[UPSC CDS-I 2023, General Knowledge (16 April 2023)]
(A) A Union Minister is ineligible to be elected President
(B) Elected members of Parliament and eligible Legislative Assemblies form the electoral college
(C) Legislative Council members are excluded from the electoral college
(D) Proportional representation with single transferable vote is used
Answer: (A) A Union Minister is ineligible to be elected President
Explanation: Union ministers are not automatically disqualified from contesting the presidential election merely because they are ministers; Article 58 expressly exempts specified ministerial offices from the office-of-profit bar. Elected MPs and designated Assembly members vote through proportional representation.
