90. During which years was Lal Bahadur Shastri Prime Minister?
[SSC CPO, 25 November 2020 Shift 1]
(A) 1964–1966
(B) 1977–1979
(C) 1980–1984
(D) 1966–1977
Answer: (A) 1964–1966
Explanation: Lal Bahadur Shastri succeeded Nehru in June 1964 and remained Prime Minister until his death in January 1966. His premiership included the 1965 Indo-Pakistan War and the slogan Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan.
89. Who was President of India when Rajiv Gandhi first became Prime Minister?
[SSC CPO, 23 November 2020 Shift 1]
(A) Giani Zail Singh
(B) R. Venkataraman
(C) Shankar Dayal Sharma
(D) Neelam Sanjiva Reddy
Answer: (A) Giani Zail Singh
Explanation: Rajiv Gandhi became Prime Minister after Indira Gandhi’s assassination on 31 October 1984. President Giani Zail Singh administered the oath. R. Venkataraman succeeded Zail Singh as President only in 1987.
88. Which constitutional provision describes a Council of Ministers headed by the Prime Minister?
[SSC CHSL, 15 October 2020 Shift 3]
(A) Article 74(1)
(B) Article 44
(C) Article 34
(D) Article 21(1)
Answer: (A) Article 74(1)
Explanation: Article 74(1) establishes the Prime Minister-headed Council of Ministers to aid and advise the President. The other options concern unrelated constitutional subjects, such as uniform civil code and fundamental rights.
87. The Prime Minister’s Office began using that name in 1977. Is it also headed by the Cabinet Secretary?
[UPPSC Prelims 2019]
(A) Only the second statement is true
(B) Both statements are true
(C) Only the first statement is true
(D) Neither statement is true
Answer: (C) Only the first statement is true
Explanation: The Prime Minister’s Secretariat was renamed the Prime Minister’s Office in 1977. The PMO is administratively headed by the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, not the Cabinet Secretary.
86. Which article makes the Union Council of Ministers collectively responsible to Lok Sabha?
[SSC CHSL, 11 July 2019 Shift 1]
(A) Article 302
(B) Article 29
(C) Article 75
(D) Article 35
Answer: (C) Article 75
Explanation: Article 75(3) states the collective responsibility rule explicitly. The ministry must maintain support in the House of the People and resign following loss of that support on a confidence matter.
85. Who was India’s interim Prime Minister following Nehru’s death in 1964?
[SSC CHSL, 11 July 2019 Shift 2]
(A) Morarji Desai
(B) V. P. Singh
(C) Gulzarilal Nanda
(D) Charan Singh
Answer: (C) Gulzarilal Nanda
Explanation: Gulzarilal Nanda served briefly as acting Prime Minister after Nehru’s death and again after Shastri’s death in 1966. These two interregnums ensured uninterrupted national executive leadership.
84. Which amendment restricted the size of the Union ministry to 15% of Lok Sabha?
[SSC MTS, 20 August 2019 Shift 3]
(A) 74th
(B) 91st
(C) 86th
(D) 61st
Answer: (B) 91st
Explanation: The 91st Amendment inserted Article 75(1A), limiting total Union ministers, including the Prime Minister, to 15% of Lok Sabha’s total membership. A corresponding rule applies to state ministries.
83. Which Prime Minister initially served for only thirteen days in 1996?
[SSC MTS, 13 August 2019 Shift 2]
(A) Morarji Desai
(B) Atal Bihari Vajpayee
(C) Jawaharlal Nehru
(D) Charan Singh
Answer: (B) Atal Bihari Vajpayee
Explanation: Atal Bihari Vajpayee first took office on 16 May 1996 but resigned after thirteen days when he could not secure a majority. He subsequently returned to head governments in 1998 and 1999.
82. Who was Prime Minister during India’s 1975–1977 Emergency?
[SSC CGL, 7 June 2019 Shift 2]
(A) Rajiv Gandhi
(B) Morarji Desai
(C) Charan Singh
(D) Indira Gandhi
Answer: (D) Indira Gandhi
Explanation: Indira Gandhi was Prime Minister when the national Emergency operated from June 1975 to March 1977. The Emergency ended before the 1977 election, after which Morarji Desai formed the Janata government.
81. Who hoists the national flag at the Red Fort on Independence Day?
[SSC CPO, 16 March 2019 Shift 1]
(A) Chief Justice
(B) Governor
(C) Prime Minister
(D) President
Answer: (C) Prime Minister
Explanation: India’s Prime Minister raises the national flag at the Red Fort on 15 August and addresses the nation. On Republic Day, by contrast, the President is the central constitutional figure in the ceremonial programme.
