140. Under which article does the Prime Minister lead the Council of Ministers advising the President?
[MP Police Sub-Inspector, 21 January 2026]
(A) Article 80
(B) Article 75
(C) Article 79
(D) Article 74
Answer: (D) Article 74
Explanation: Article 74 describes the Prime Minister-headed Council of Ministers. Article 75 then explains appointment of ministers and collective responsibility. Together these provisions underpin India’s parliamentary executive at the Union level.
139. Who appoints the Union Council of Ministers, as the Governor appoints a state’s ministers?
[DSSSB Court Attendant, 18 June 2026]
(A) President of India
(B) All Governors collectively
(C) Chief Justice of India
(D) Prime Minister of India
Answer: (A) President of India
Explanation: The President appoints the Prime Minister and, on that leader’s advice, the other Union ministers under Article 75. The Prime Minister recommends the team but does not personally issue constitutional appointment warrants.
138. Who was India’s Prime Minister during the Eighth Five-Year Plan?
[SSC CHSL Tier-I, 27 November 2025]
(A) Morarji Desai
(B) Indira Gandhi
(C) Charan Singh
(D) P. V. Narasimha Rao
Answer: (D) P. V. Narasimha Rao
Explanation: The Eighth Plan covered 1992–1997, beginning during P. V. Narasimha Rao’s premiership. His government initiated economic reforms in 1991. The plan period later extended beyond his term, so the question refers to its commencement and principal early phase.
137. Sanjaya Baru’s book The Accidental Prime Minister concerns which Indian leader?
[SSC Selection Post, 1 August 2025]
(A) Indira Gandhi
(B) Atal Bihari Vajpayee
(C) Rajiv Gandhi
(D) Manmohan Singh
Answer: (D) Manmohan Singh
Explanation: Sanjaya Baru wrote about Manmohan Singh’s premiership after serving as his media adviser. The book chiefly examines the Prime Minister’s office and political functioning during the first UPA administration beginning in 2004.
136. A person appointed Prime Minister while not an MP must become a member of Parliament within how many months?
[SSC Selection Post, 31 July 2025]
(A) Three
(B) Six
(C) Nine
(D) Eight
Answer: (B) Six
Explanation: Article 75(5) allows someone outside Parliament to become a minister, including Prime Minister, for a limited period. Membership of either House must be obtained within six consecutive months or the ministerial office ceases.
135. Which is NOT a normal consideration for selecting Union ministers?
[RRB NTPC Graduate CBT-I, 24 June 2025]
(A) Representation of foreign communities
(B) Personal capability
(C) Geographical representation
(D) Representation of disadvantaged groups
Answer: (A) Representation of foreign communities
Explanation: Ministerial selection may balance political experience, competence, regions and social representation. Representation of foreign communities is not a recognised domestic basis for composing India’s Union Council of Ministers. Actual selection also depends on coalition arrangements.
134. Which of these is not a standard category in the Union Council of Ministers?
[RRB NTPC Graduate CBT-I, 23 June 2025 Shift 3]
(A) Deputy Ministers
(B) Ministers of State
(C) Cabinet Ministers
(D) Parliamentary Secretaries
Answer: (D) Parliamentary Secretaries
Explanation: Cabinet Ministers and Ministers of State are recognised ministerial categories; Deputy Ministers have also historically formed part of the ministry. Parliamentary Secretaries are not a standard constitutional category of Union ministers under Articles 74–75.
133. Which ministerial rank normally stands immediately below the Prime Minister?
[RRB NTPC Graduate CBT-I, 23 June 2025 Shift 2]
(A) Deputy Minister
(B) Parliamentary Secretary
(C) Minister of State
(D) Cabinet Minister
Answer: (D) Cabinet Minister
Explanation: Cabinet Ministers occupy the senior political tier under the Prime Minister, usually leading important ministries and participating in Cabinet decisions. Ministers of State may assist them or hold independent charge of specified portfolios.
132. Who advises the President on appointing members of the Union Council of Ministers?
[OSSSC CRE Preliminary, 9 November 2025]
(A) Chief Justice of India
(B) Prime Minister of India
(C) Lok Sabha Speaker
(D) Rajya Sabha Chairman
Answer: (B) Prime Minister of India
Explanation: Under Article 75(1), the President appoints other ministers on the Prime Minister’s advice. This places political responsibility for assembling the team with the head of government rather than the judiciary or presiding officers.
131. What position did the Prime Minister hold in the former Planning Commission?
[SSC GD Constable, 5 February 2025]
(A) Ex-officio member
(B) Dialogue partner
(C) Ex-officio chairman
(D) Secretary
Answer: (C) Ex-officio chairman
Explanation: From its establishment in 1950 until its replacement, the Planning Commission was chaired ex officio by the Prime Minister. The body coordinated national development planning and Five-Year Plans; NITI Aayog took its place in 2015.
