Indian Polity Topics

The Electoral College under Article 54 consists of the elected members of both Houses of Parliament, the elected members of the Legislative Assemblies of the States, and the elected members of the Legislative Assemblies of Delhi and Puducherry (added by the 70th Amendment Act, 1992). Nominated members of Parliament and State Legislative Assemblies do not participate in the election.

'Respite' denotes awarding a lesser sentence in place of one originally awarded due to some special fact, such as the physical disability of a convict or the pregnancy of a woman offender.

Article 53(1) of the Indian Constitution specifies that the executive power of the Union shall be vested in the President and shall be exercised by him either directly or through officers subordinate to him in accordance with the Constitution.

Statements 2 and 3 are correct. The 24th Constitutional Amendment Act of 1971 made it obligatory for the President to give assent to a Constitutional Amendment Bill, thereby eliminating any veto power (including Pocket Veto) over it. Absolute veto is traditionally exercised over private members' bills or bills of a cabinet that resigns. Statement 1 is incorrect because the President cannot return a Money Bill for reconsideration; he can either give assent or withhold assent.

Under Article 143 (Power of President to consult Supreme Court), the opinion delivered by the Supreme Court is purely advisory and consultative in nature. It is not binding on the President, nor is it classified as a judicial decree or judgment.

Article 62(2) explicitly states that an election to fill a vacancy in the office of the President occurring by reason of his death, resignation or removal, or otherwise, shall be held as soon as possible after, and in no case later than six months from, the date of occurrence of the vacancy.

Article 58 outlines that a candidate must be a citizen of India, have completed the age of 35 years, and be qualified for election as a member of the House of the People (Lok Sabha). To be eligible for Vice-President, one must be qualified for election as a member of the Rajya Sabha.

Article 60 explicitly mandates that every President, before entering upon his office, shall make and subscribe the oath or affirmation in the presence of the Chief Justice of India or, in his absence, the senior-most Judge of the Supreme Court available.

To maintain parity between the States as a whole and the Parliament, the total value of votes of all elected MPs is calculated by dividing the total value of votes of all elected MLAs of all states by the total number of elected members of both Houses of Parliament.

The 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act of 1976 amended Article 74(1) to make the advice of the Council of Ministers binding on the President. Later, the 44th Amendment Act of 1978 provided that the President could return such advice once for reconsideration, but must act in accordance with the reconsidered advice.