100. Who was Prime Minister of India when the Third Five-Year Plan was formulated?
[RRC Group D, 29 September 2022 Shift 1]
(A) Indira Gandhi
(B) Morarji Desai
(C) Rajiv Gandhi
(D) Jawaharlal Nehru
Answer: (D) Jawaharlal Nehru
Explanation: The Third Five-Year Plan commenced in 1961 under Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. The 1962 war, subsequent conflict and drought contributed to difficulties in reaching its economic objectives during the plan’s 1961–1966 period.
99. Who heads the Council of Ministers in the Government of India?
[RRB Group D, 15 September 2022 Shift 3]
(A) Prime Minister
(B) Lok Sabha Speaker
(C) President
(D) Vice-President
Answer: (A) Prime Minister
Explanation: Article 74 expressly states that a Council of Ministers with the Prime Minister at its head aids and advises the President. The President is the constitutional head of state; the Prime Minister directs the ministry’s political work.
98. Who became acting Prime Minister following Jawaharlal Nehru’s death in 1964?
[SSC MTS, 26 October 2021 Shift 2]
(A) Morarji Desai
(B) V. P. Singh
(C) Gulzarilal Nanda
(D) Charan Singh
Answer: (C) Gulzarilal Nanda
Explanation: Gulzarilal Nanda temporarily headed the government after Nehru’s death in May 1964. He again served as acting Prime Minister in January 1966 after Lal Bahadur Shastri’s death.
97. Which Prime Minister travelled by bus to Lahore in 1999 for a peace initiative?
[SSC MTS, 26 October 2021 Shift 1]
(A) I. K. Gujral
(B) Atal Bihari Vajpayee
(C) P. V. Narasimha Rao
(D) H. D. Deve Gowda
Answer: (B) Atal Bihari Vajpayee
Explanation: Atal Bihari Vajpayee travelled to Lahore in February 1999 and joined Pakistan’s Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in the Lahore Declaration. The initiative sought confidence-building and improved bilateral relations.
96. Who was Prime Minister of India in 1978?
[SSC MTS, 18 October 2021 Shift 1]
(A) Gulzarilal Nanda
(B) Morarji Desai
(C) Charan Singh
(D) Lal Bahadur Shastri
Answer: (B) Morarji Desai
Explanation: Morarji Desai headed the Janata Party government from March 1977 to July 1979. Charan Singh succeeded him in July 1979, so Desai was the incumbent throughout 1978.
95. Who succeeded Morarji Desai as India’s Prime Minister in 1979?
[SSC CGL, 13 August 2021 Shift 1]
(A) Jagjivan Ram
(B) Chandra Shekhar
(C) Charan Singh
(D) Devi Lal
Answer: (C) Charan Singh
Explanation: Charan Singh became Prime Minister on 28 July 1979 after Morarji Desai’s resignation. His government lost its prospective support before facing the Lok Sabha, and he subsequently resigned.
94. Who chaired both the Planning Commission and the National Integration Council?
[SSC CGL, 20 August 2021 Shift 1]
(A) President
(B) Prime Minister
(C) Vice-President
(D) Attorney General
Answer: (B) Prime Minister
Explanation: The Prime Minister chaired the Planning Commission during that institution’s existence and chairs the National Integration Council. These roles extend the head of government’s coordination across economic and social policy.
93. A no-confidence motion in Lok Sabha is moved against whom?
[UPSC CDS General Knowledge, 7 February 2021]
(A) An individual minister
(B) The Council of Ministers
(C) The Prime Minister alone
(D) A political party
Answer: (B) The Council of Ministers
Explanation: A no-confidence motion tests the confidence of Lok Sabha in the Council of Ministers as a whole. Article 75(3) makes ministers collectively responsible, so an adverse majority vote requires the government to resign.
92. Which is an incorrect description of the Union Cabinet?
[UPSC CDS General Knowledge, 7 February 2021]
(A) It is part of Parliament-based government
(B) It is answerable to Parliament
(C) Its survival depends on Lok Sabha support
(D) A person outside Parliament can never become a Cabinet member
Answer: (D) A person outside Parliament can never become a Cabinet member
Explanation: A person who is not yet an MP may become a Cabinet minister, provided parliamentary membership is obtained within six months under Article 75(5). The ministry’s collective constitutional responsibility remains specifically to Lok Sabha.
91. Which amendment imposed the Union Council of Ministers’ 15% ceiling?
[66th BPSC Prelims Re-examination, 2020]
(A) 95th Amendment
(B) 93rd Amendment
(C) 91st Amendment
(D) 90th Amendment
Answer: (C) 91st Amendment
Explanation: Article 75(1A) was introduced through the 91st Amendment. The ceiling includes the Prime Minister and is linked to total Lok Sabha strength. It aims to restrain oversized ministries and strengthen parliamentary governance.
