Quiz Questions 1 February 2023

#1. The Union Council of Ministers in India is collectively responsible to which of the following?

The Prime Minister

The President

The Lok Sabha

The Rajya Sabha

Explanation: Under the prevalent parliamentary dispensation in India and as per the provisions enumerated in the Article 75 (3) of the Constitution of India, the Council of Ministers headed by the Prime Minister is collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha

#2. Consider the following statements about various provisions related to the rela President and Council of Ministers: 1.The council of ministers has been provided to aid and advise the pres exercising his / her powers 2.The President can ask the Council of Ministers to reconsider the advice 3.President is bound to act in accordance with the advice of Council of Minister Which among the above statements is/ are correct?

1 only

1 and 2 only

1, 2 and 3

2 and 3 only

Explanation:

Via Constitution (Forty-fourth Amendment) Act, 1978, it was inserted in Constitution of India that : President may require the Council of Ministers to reconsider such advice, either generally or otherwise, and the President shall act in accordance with the advice tendered after such reconsideration. (This is article 74)

#3. That the advice tendered by the Council of Ministers is binding on the President is a

Constitutional provision

Statutory provision

Convention

Executive resolution

Explanation:

The President is the nominal executive (de jure executive or titular executive) while the Prime Minister is the real executive (de facto executive). Thus, the President is head of the State, while the Prime Minister is head of the government. Article 74 provides for a council of ministers headed by the Prime Minister to aid and advise the President in the exercise of his functions. The advice so tendered is binding on the President.

#4. The ministers operate on the oath of secrecy after entering office. Consider the following about it. 1.It implies that Ministers cannot divulge information on any important matter to the public. 2.This oath of secrecy is administered to the Ministers by the Prime Minister. Which of the above is/are correct?

1 only

2 only

Both 1 and 2

None

Explanation:

The Constitution in Third Schedule provides the form of oath — “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 a minister for the Union except as may be required for the due discharge of my duties as such minister.”

Statement 1: The ministers operate on the principle of secrecy of procedure and cannot divulge information about their proceedings,policies and decisions. However, they may discuss important matters with the public. So, 1 is incorrect.

Statement 2: They take the oath of secrecy before entering their office. The oath of secrecy to the ministers is administered by the President. So, 2 is incorrect.

#5. Consider the following statements regarding the members of the Union Council of Ministers: 1. Cabinet Ministers subscribe to the same oath/affirmation as the Ministers of State. 2. Cabinet Ministers’ salary is same as that of the Ministers of State. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1 only

2 only

Both 1 and 2

Neither 1 nor 2

Explanation:

Before a minister enters upon his office, the President administers him the oaths of office and secrecy. In 1990 the Supreme Court ruled that the oaths for Cabinet Minister, Minister of State and Deputy Prime Minister are same.

A minister gets the salary and allowances that are payable to a Member of the Parliament.

Additionally, he gets a sumptuary allowance according to his rank. Thus, salary of all ministers is

same though allowances may differ according to their ranks.

#6. Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding the office of Prime Minister of India? 1.So far, only 14 persons have been appointed as Prime Ministers. 2.The Prime Minister is given a term of five years. 3.The Prime Minister must be an elected member from either House of the Parliament or shall become so within six months of appointment. Select the correct answer using the code given below:

1 only

1 and 3 only

2 and 3 only

3 only

Explanation:

Shri Narendra Modi is the 14th Prime Minister. Shri G.L. Nanda was appointed only as the acting Prime Minister.

(1) There is no term prescribed for the Prime Minister. It depends on the majority enjoyed in Lok Sabha and the term of the Lok Sabha.

(2) The Prime Minister must become a member of either House of Parliament within six months of appointment. Nomination can be a way to gain membership and election is not necessary.

#7. . In India, the Prime Minister enjoys a pre-eminent place in the government. Consider the following with reference to this. 1. The Council of Ministers comes into existence only after the Prime Minister has taken the oath of office. 2. The resignation of the Prime Minister automatically brings about the dissolution of the Council of Ministers. Which of the above is/are correct?

1 only

2 only

Both 1 and 2

None

Explanation:

Statement 1: This is because the Council of Ministers cannot exist without the Prime Minister. He advises the appointment of all the ministers and heads the cabinet meetings. He can also advise the President to dismiss ministers from the CoM.

Statement 2: The death or resignation of the Prime Minister automatically brings about the dissolution of the Council of Ministers but the demise, dismissal or resignation of a minister only creates a ministerial vacancy. This is because the entire CoM is de facto appointed by the PM, and after his resignation a new CoM is constituted.

#8. Which of the Constitutional provision(s) ensure impartiality and independence of the Speaker? 1.A Constitutional Amendment is required to fix the salary and allowances of the Speaker. 2.Except on a substantive motion the work and conduct of the Speaker cannot be discussed and criticized in the Lok Sabha. 3.The Speaker cannot be removed from office except by a resolution passed by the effective majority in the Lok Sabha. Select the correct answer using the code given below:

1 only

2 and 3 only

1 and 3 only

1, 2 and 3

Explanation:

Since, a Speaker is also a member of the Parliament, he or she comes under the Salary, Allowances and Pension of Parliament Act of 1954, which was amended in December 2010.

#9. Consider the following statements: 1. Dissolution of the Council of Ministers leads to the dissolution of the House of People. 2. Dissolution of the House of People leads to the dissolution of the Council of Ministers. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1 only

2 only

Both 1 and 2

Neither 1 nor 2

Explanation:

Statement 1 is incorrect as dissolution of Council of Ministers has no impact on the duration of the Lok Sabha that is House of People.

Dissolution of the House of People does lead to the dissolution of the Council of Ministers but the outgoing Council of Ministers continues as care-taker government. In 1971, the Supreme Court held that even after the dissolution of the Lok Sabha, the Council of Ministers does not cease to hold office. Article 74 is mandatory and therefore, the President cannot exercise the executive power without the aid and advise of the Council of Ministers. Any exercise of executive power without the aid and advice will be unconstitutional as being violative of Article 74.

#10. As per the principle of Collective Responsibility in the Indian parliamentary government 1.The council of Ministers must not be divided on major issues and work as a team. 2.Lok Sabha can remove the council of ministers from office by passing a vote of no confidence. Which of the above is/are correct?

1 only

2 only

Both 1 and 2

None

Explanation:

This is the bedrock principle of parliamentary government. The ministers are collectively responsible to the Parliament in general and to the Lok Sabha in particular (Article 75). They act as a team, and swim and sink together. So, 1 is correct.The principle of collective responsibility implies that the Lok Sabha can remove the ministry (i.e., council of ministers headed by the prime minister) from office by passing a vote of no confidence.Moreover, usually members of the council of ministers belong to the same political party, and hence they share the same political ideology. In case of coalition government, the ministers are bound by consensus.

Finish