Q70. Who is the constitutional head of the Union Executive?
[RRB Group D, 1 September 2022]
(A) Prime Minister
(B) Speaker of Lok Sabha
(C) Vice-President
(D) President of India
Answer: (D) President of India
Explanation: Articles 52 and 53 establish the President as the formal head of the Union Executive. The Prime Minister and Council of Ministers exercise day-to-day governmental authority, reflecting the distinction between constitutional headship and political executive leadership.
Q69. Who was elected President of the Constituent Assembly of India?
[RRB Group D, 19 September 2022]
(A) Jawaharlal Nehru
(B) B. R. Ambedkar
(C) Rajendra Prasad
(D) Lal Bahadur Shastri
Answer: (C) Rajendra Prasad
Explanation: Dr Rajendra Prasad was elected permanent President of the Constituent Assembly in December 1946. Following commencement of the Constitution, he became the first President of India in 1950. These were distinct offices in different constitutional phases.
Q68. Under which Article does the President exercise assent and veto powers over ordinary parliamentary Bills?
[RRB Group D, 14 September 2022]
(A) Article 145
(B) Article 111
(C) Article 114
(D) Article 122
Answer: (B) Article 111
Explanation: Article 111 governs presidential assent to Bills passed by Parliament. For a non-Money Bill, the President may return it once for reconsideration; if repassed, assent cannot be withheld. Constitutional amendment Bills follow a different procedure.
Q67. Which Article provides for a Finance Commission appointed by the President?
[RRB Group D, 22 September 2022]
(A) Article 281
(B) Article 280
(C) Article 282
(D) Article 283
Answer: (B) Article 280
Explanation: Under Article 280 the President constitutes the Finance Commission normally every five years. Article 281 then requires its recommendations and the explanatory memorandum on action taken to be laid before each House of Parliament.
Q66. Under which Article does the President appoint judges of the Supreme Court?
[RRB Group D, 6 October 2022]
(A) Article 127
(B) Article 121
(C) Article 124
(D) Article 118
Answer: (C) Article 124
Explanation: Article 124 governs establishment and composition of the Supreme Court and presidential appointment of its judges. The constitutional and judicially evolved consultation process applies, with the collegium system playing an important practical role in recommendations.
Q65. In relation to a joint sitting under Article 108, what does the President communicate to summon both Houses?
[MPPSC State Service 2021, held 19 June 2022]
(A) Intention
(B) Satisfaction
(C) Instruction
(D) Consent
Answer: (A) Intention
Explanation: Article 108 permits the President, after certain deadlocks between parliamentary Houses, to notify the intention to summon a joint sitting. The joint session mechanism is meant for specified Bills and does not extend to Money Bills or constitutional amendment Bills.
Q64. Which of the following Presidents of India did NOT serve as Vice-President before becoming President?
[UPPSC Combined State Examination, 12 June 2022]
(A) Shankar Dayal Sharma
(B) Neelam Sanjiva Reddy
(C) Zakir Hussain
(D) R. Venkataraman
Answer: (B) Neelam Sanjiva Reddy
Explanation: Neelam Sanjiva Reddy served as Lok Sabha Speaker and later became President, but was never Vice-President. Shankar Dayal Sharma, Zakir Hussain and R. Venkataraman all held the vice-presidency before ascending to the presidency.
Q63. How many proposers and seconders are required for a valid nomination in a presidential election?
[UPPSC Polytechnic Lecturer Examination, 22 March 2022]
(A) Ten proposers and ten seconders
(B) Fifty proposers and fifty seconders
(C) Twenty-five proposers and twenty-five seconders
(D) Fifteen proposers and fifteen seconders
Answer: (B) Fifty proposers and fifty seconders
Explanation: Under the Presidential and Vice-Presidential Elections Act, a presidential nomination requires at least fifty electors as proposers and fifty as seconders. These requirements discourage frivolous nominations and accompany a prescribed security deposit.
Q62. Whom does a judge of the Supreme Court address when resigning from office?
[SSC CHSL 2021, held in 2022]
(A) Prime Minister
(B) President of India
(C) Chief Justice of India
(D) Union Law Minister
Answer: (B) President of India
Explanation: A Supreme Court judge can resign through a written communication addressed to the President under Article 124(2). This rule is constitutionally fixed and is separate from the judicial process for removal on proved misbehaviour or incapacity.
Q61. Who has the constitutional power to establish an Inter-State Council?
[SSC CHSL 2021, held 6 June 2022]
(A) President of India
(B) President and Governors jointly
(C) Prime Minister and Chief Ministers jointly
(D) Prime Minister alone
Answer: (A) President of India
Explanation: Article 263 allows the President to set up an Inter-State Council to investigate and discuss matters of common inter-State concern. The body promotes coordination and may recommend policies, but it is not a substitute for the Supreme Court.
