70. Which constitutional amendment fixed a 15% ceiling for the Council of Ministers at Union and state levels?
[UPSC CDS General Knowledge, 4 February 2018]
(A) 91st Amendment
(B) 87th Amendment
(C) 97th Amendment
(D) 90th Amendment
Answer: (A) 91st Amendment
Explanation: The Ninety-first Constitutional Amendment Act, 2003 introduced Article 75(1A) at Union level and Article 164(1A) for the states. The state provision also safeguards a minimum of twelve ministers, subject to special constitutional arrangements.
69. What is the constitutional retirement age for India’s Prime Minister?
[SSC CHSL, 7 January 2017 Shift 3]
(A) 60 years
(B) 70 years
(C) 80 years
(D) No specified age limit
Answer: (D) No specified age limit
Explanation: The Constitution prescribes no compulsory retirement age for the Prime Minister. Eligibility for parliamentary membership and the capacity to maintain Lok Sabha support determine continued political office, not a retirement-age ceiling.
68. What minimum age must a Rajya Sabha member meet to become Prime Minister?
[SSC CHSL, 31 January 2017 Shift 1]
(A) 18
(B) 25
(C) 30
(D) 35
Answer: (C) 30
Explanation: Rajya Sabha membership requires at least thirty years of age under Article 84. A Prime Minister can belong to either House; therefore a person entering the office via Rajya Sabha must meet that House’s eligibility age.
67. Who is ex-officio chairperson of NITI Aayog?
[SSC CHSL, 22 January 2017 Shift 3]
(A) Home Minister
(B) President
(C) Prime Minister
(D) Finance Minister
Answer: (C) Prime Minister
Explanation: The Prime Minister chairs NITI Aayog by virtue of office. Set up in 2015, the institution provides strategic policy advice and fosters coordination among state and Union governments.
66. Who makes the formal appointment of the Prime Minister?
[SSC CPO, 3 July 2017 Shift 1]
(A) Lok Sabha Speaker
(B) Council of Ministers
(C) President
(D) Chief Justice
Answer: (C) President
Explanation: Article 75(1) identifies the President as the appointing authority. The appointee must be capable of securing Lok Sabha confidence; a parliamentary vote does not directly elect the Prime Minister as a separate office.
65. Which article governs appointment of the Prime Minister and other Union ministers?
[SSC CPO, 5 July 2017 Shift 2]
(A) Article 85
(B) Article 70
(C) Article 79
(D) Article 75
Answer: (D) Article 75
Explanation: Article 75 establishes the appointment mechanism for the Union ministry. It also addresses the pleasure principle, parliamentary membership and collective responsibility, complementing Article 74’s provisions for ministerial advice.
64. Which House can hold the Union Council of Ministers collectively responsible?
[SSC CPO, 5 July 2017 Shift 1]
(A) Both Houses jointly
(B) Rajya Sabha only
(C) President
(D) Lok Sabha
Answer: (D) Lok Sabha
Explanation: Although both Houses scrutinise ministers, Article 75(3) makes collective responsibility specific to Lok Sabha. Loss of its confidence requires resignation of the whole ministry, not merely one minister.
63. Which of these is an example of a political executive?
[SSC MTS, 22 October 2017 Shift 1]
(A) Income-tax Commissioner
(B) District Collector
(C) Prime Minister
(D) Superintendent of Police
Answer: (C) Prime Minister
Explanation: The Prime Minister is a political executive drawn from democratic leadership, unlike permanent civil servants such as district collectors and police officers. Political executives set policy and bear political accountability for government decisions.
62. Who is India’s head of government?
[SSC MTS, 13 October 2017 Shift 2]
(A) President
(B) Prime Minister
(C) Finance Minister
(D) Foreign Secretary
Answer: (B) Prime Minister
Explanation: The President is head of state, while the Prime Minister heads the government. The Prime Minister leads the Council of Ministers and coordinates implementation of Union policy in the parliamentary executive.
61. Who formerly served as chairman of India’s Planning Commission?
[SSC CHSL, 15 January 2017 Shift 1]
(A) Defence Minister
(B) Attorney General
(C) Prime Minister
(D) Finance Minister
Answer: (C) Prime Minister
Explanation: During its existence from 1950 to 2014, the Planning Commission was headed by the Prime Minister ex officio. This institutional role differed from the ministry’s constitutional responsibility to Lok Sabha.
