30. To whom is the Union Council of Ministers collectively responsible?
[UPPSC Prelims 2012]
(A) Prime Minister
(B) President
(C) Rajya Sabha
(D) Lok Sabha
Answer: (D) Lok Sabha
Explanation: Article 75(3) makes the ministry collectively responsible to Lok Sabha. The lower House can withdraw confidence, requiring all ministers to resign together rather than continue individually.
29. Who makes the constitutional appointment of India’s Prime Minister?
[Jharkhand PCS Prelims 2011]
(A) Lok Sabha directly
(B) Parliament collectively
(C) President
(D) Majority party as a constitutional appointing body
Answer: (C) President
Explanation: Article 75(1) gives the President the appointment power. A party or coalition majority makes the leader politically eligible, but the formal appointment is a presidential constitutional act.
28. Which statement about Union Cabinet membership is incorrect?
[UPPSC Prelims 2011]
(A) India follows parliamentary government
(B) A Cabinet operates within Parliament-based government
(C) Only Lok Sabha members may be Cabinet ministers
(D) The Cabinet depends on Lok Sabha confidence
Answer: (C) Only Lok Sabha members may be Cabinet ministers
Explanation: Cabinet ministers may be MPs from either House. A non-member may also serve briefly subject to the six-month membership rule. Restricting the Cabinet entirely to Lok Sabha would therefore be unconstitutional.
27. Who heads the National Defence Committee?
[BPSC 53rd–55th Prelims 2011]
(A) Home Minister
(B) Prime Minister
(C) President
(D) Vice-President
Answer: (B) Prime Minister
Explanation: The Prime Minister chairs important high-level executive defence coordination bodies. The President is Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces constitutionally, while defence policy is politically directed through the Union ministry.
26. Which Prime Minister was the first among these to visit Siachen?
[SSC CGL 2011]
(A) Rajiv Gandhi
(B) I. K. Gujral
(C) Manmohan Singh
(D) None
Answer: (C) Manmohan Singh
Explanation: Manmohan Singh visited the Siachen Glacier in 2005, becoming the first Indian Prime Minister to visit that high-altitude military area. The visit highlighted service conditions and border security issues.
25. Place these Prime Ministers chronologically: Indira Gandhi, Nehru, Morarji Desai, Charan Singh.
[SSC CHSL 2011]
(A) Indira, Nehru, Desai, Charan
(B) Nehru, Desai, Indira, Charan
(C) Nehru, Indira, Desai, Charan
(D) Desai, Nehru, Charan, Indira
Answer: (C) Nehru, Indira, Desai, Charan
Explanation: Nehru governed from independence to 1964, Indira Gandhi first came to office in 1966, Morarji Desai began in 1977 and Charan Singh followed in 1979. Thus the third sequence is chronological.
24. Manmohan Singh represented which state in Rajya Sabha while serving as Prime Minister?
[MPPSC Prelims 2010]
(A) Punjab
(B) Punjab as a Lok Sabha MP
(C) Rajasthan
(D) Assam
Answer: (D) Assam
Explanation: Manmohan Singh was a Rajya Sabha member representing Assam during his premiership from 2004 to 2014. He represented Rajasthan only later, after his years as Prime Minister.
23. The Union Council of Ministers is collectively answerable to which House?
[MPPSC Prelims 2010]
(A) Prime Minister
(B) President
(C) Rajya Sabha
(D) Lok Sabha
Answer: (D) Lok Sabha
Explanation: The Lok Sabha is the constitutionally specified forum for collective responsibility under Article 75(3). Ministers from Rajya Sabha also share responsibility for retaining the lower House’s confidence.
22. Who presides over the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research?
[Uttarakhand Lower Subordinate Prelims 2010]
(A) President
(B) Vice-President
(C) Prime Minister
(D) Science and Technology Minister
Answer: (C) Prime Minister
Explanation: The Prime Minister is ex-officio President of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research. This institutional position links national scientific research administration to the highest level of elected executive leadership.
21. How does a person formally become Prime Minister of India?
[SSC CGL 2010]
(A) Direct election
(B) Presidential appointment
(C) Presidential nomination without appointment
(D) Selection by civil service
Answer: (B) Presidential appointment
Explanation: Article 75(1) provides presidential appointment. In practice the person invited must be able to command Lok Sabha majority confidence, usually as the leader of a majority party or coalition.
