Prime Minister and the Central Council of Ministers - general studies MCQs

ANSWER: b) President

Explanation: Article 75 of the Constitution specifies that the appointment of the Prime Minister will always be done by the President. The President doesn't have full freedom in choosing though because he has to act according certain protocols. The President appoints the leader of the majority party in Lok Sabha. When such majority is lacking he appoints the leader of the largest party in Lok Sabha and asks him to seek a vote of confidence that must be produced within a month.

Also, in case of death of the Prime Minister, the President has to appoint a new Prime Minister.

ANSWER: b) Only 1, 3 and 4

Explanation: Article 75 of the Constitution specifies that the appointment of the Prime Minister will always be done by the President. And according to Delhi High Court's decision in 1980, a person may be appointed as Prime Minister by the President who must prove his majority later within a reasonable period. Also, in 1997 the Supreme Court declared that A person who is not a member of Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha can be appointed as Prime Minister who must get appointed (either elected or nominated) to either of the Houses within 6 months.

ANSWER: c) Only 2 and 3

Explanation: 3 Prime Ministers of India have been members of the Rajya Sabha: Indira Gandhi (1966), Deve Gowda (1996), Manmohan Singh (2004). But in UK, the Prime Minister must necessarily be a member of the Lower House (also called as House of Commons) alone.

ANSWER: a) President

Explanation: It is the President who administers oaths of office and secrecy to the Prime Minister.
Following is the text of the oath as given in the Constitution.

Oath of office: I, < name >, do swear in the name of God/solemnly affirm that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of India as by law established, that I will uphold the sovereignty and integrity of India, that I will faithfully and conscientiously discharge my duties as prime minister for the Union and that I will do right to all manner of people in accordance with the Constitution and the law, without fear or favour, affection or ill-will. (from Constitution of India, Third Schedule, Part I)

Oath of secrecy: I, < name >, do swear in the name of God/solemnly affirm that I will not directly or indirectly communicate or reveal to any person or persons any matter which shall be brought under my consideration or shall become known to me as prime minister for the Union except as may be required for the due discharge of my duties as such Minister. (from Constitution of India, Third Schedule, Part II)

ANSWER: c) Not fixed

Explanation: Prime Minister's term is not fixed in the Constitution, unlike that of the President which is 5 years. The Prime Minister remains in office as long as he has the majority in Lok Sabha, and until he enjoys this majority he cannot be removed by the President either. The Prime Minister's term ends when he loses the confidence of the Lok Sabha.

ANSWER: c) The Prime Minister directly appoints everyone in the Council of Ministers

Explanation: The Prime Minister does not “directly” appoint the Council of Ministers, but he advices the President on who should be appointed and it is the President who does the task of direct appointing.

ANSWER: c) Prime Minister

Explanation: As a leader of the Lok Sabha, the Prime Minister also enjoys the following powers:
He can advice to the President on summoning or proroguing the session of the Lok Sabha
Recommending the President to dissolve the Lok Sabha

ANSWER: a) Prime Minister

Explanation: The Prime Minister is also the chairman of the Inter-state council, National water resources council, National Integration Council.

ANSWER: b) Only 3 and 4

Explanation: The Prime Minister does not “directly” appoint the Council of Ministers, but he advices the President on who should be appointed and it is the President who does the task of direct appointing.

As per Article 75, The President can ask the Council of Ministers to reconsider the advice given to him by Council of Ministers, but has to act in accordance with the advice that is generated after such reconsideration. Article 78 makes it necessary for the Prime Minister to communicate to the President any decisions of the council of ministers that relate to the administrative affairs of the Union

ANSWER: b) Jawaharlal Nehru

Explanation: Jawaharlal Nehru was appointed as Prime Minister 3 times and has served closed to 16 years. He was also the first Prime Minister of Independent India

ANSWER: d) Lal Bahadur Shastri

Explanation: Lal Bahadur Shastri gave this slogan at Ramlia Maidan, Delhi in 1965 at a public gathering. He was the second Prime Minister of India.

ANSWER: c) cannot exceed 15% of the total members of Lok Sabha

Explanation: Article 75 (1A) states that the total number of Ministers, including the Prime Minister, in the Council of Ministers shall not exceed fifteen per cent. of the total number of members of the House of the People.

ANSWER: a) Only 2

Explanation: The Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha, not the Rajya Sabha

ANSWER: d) Only 4

Explanation: As per Article 75 of the Constitution, the President can remove the minister ONLY on the advice of the Prime Minister. And a person who is NOT a member of either Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha can also be appointed as a minister provided that he/she gets elected/nominated to either Houses of the Parliament within 6 months.

ANSWER: c) Minister of the Crown

Explanation: Minister of Crown is an old term that was used to describe ministers of the Commonwealth countries

ANSWER: a) An informal body of people who may or may not be ministers but are simply close to the Prime Minister

ANSWER: a) Cabinet Ministry

ANSWER: a) 42nd Amendment of 1976

Explanation: It was the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act of 1976 that made it necessary for the President to act according to the advice rendered to him by the council of ministers. However, by the 44th Constitutional Amendment Act of 1978 an extra provision was added which allowed the President to tender an advice for reconsideration to the Council of Ministers, but the President is then obligated to act in accordance with the advice tendered after such reconsideration.

ANSWER: c) Cabinet Committee on Administrative Affairs

Explanation: A Cabinet Committee is not a Constitutional body but it serves the purpose of solving specific tasks, as it works on the principle of labor division and effective delegation.

There are 2 types of Cabinet Committees: standing and ad hoc.

Currently, there are 10 functional Cabinet Committees. They are Cabinet Committee on Prices, Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs, Cabinet Committee on Investment, Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, Cabinet Committee on Security, Cabinet Committee on WTO matters, Cabinet Committee on UIDAI related issues, Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs, Cabinet Committee on Accommodation, Appointments Committee of the Cabinet.