Indian Polity Topics
Postgraduate level — Indian Polity
Choose question count and time — session stays in your browser only.
filter_alt Topics
President
Vice-Precident
Prime Minister & Council of Ministers
The Parliament
Constitution & Preamble
Fundamental Rights
Directive Principles
Parliament & Legislature
Judiciary & Federalism
quiz Questions
Q111
When a State Bill is reserved by the Governor for the consideration of the President under Article 200, what is the nature and extent of the President's power over the bill under Article 201?
The President is bound to give assent if the State Legislative Assembly passes the bill a second time after legislative reconsideration.
There is no time limit fixed for the President's decision, and the state legislature cannot compel assent even if the bill is repassed.
The state legislature can override the presidential veto on a reserved bill by passing it with a two-thirds special majority.
The President must declare assent or withholding within a strict constitutional time frame of three months from reservation.
Explanation
Under Article 201, when a bill is reserved for the President's consideration, the President may either give assent, withhold assent, or direct the Governor to return it for reconsideration. The Constitution prescribes no time limit for the President's decision, and the state legislature cannot override a presidential veto even if they repass the bill.
Q112
Which specific term used in the President's pardoning power under Article 72 denotes substituting the character or form of a punishment with a lighter form (e.g., converting a death sentence to rigorous imprisonment)?
Commutation
Remission
Respite
Reprieve
Explanation
Commutation means substituting one form of punishment for a lighter character (e.g., death sentence to rigorous imprisonment). Remission reduces the period of sentence without changing its character, Respite awards a lesser sentence due to special facts like pregnancy, and Repieve stays execution temporarily.
Q113
Prior recommendation or permission of the President of India is NOT required for introducing which of the following legislative proposals in Parliament?
A Money Bill under Article 110.
A Bill for the formation of new states or alteration of existing boundaries under Article 3.
A Constitution Amendment Bill under Article 368.
A Bill affecting taxation in which states are interested under Article 274.
Explanation
A Constitution Amendment Bill under Article 368 can be introduced in either House of Parliament without the prior recommendation or permission of the President. Money Bills (Article 110), bills altering state boundaries (Article 3), and bills affecting taxation in which states are interested (Article 274) all strictly require presidential recommendation.
Q114
Consider the following statements regarding the President's power to grant pardons under Article 72 versus the Governor's power under Article 161: 1. The President is the sole constitutional authority who can grant a complete pardon in respect of a death sentence. 2. Both the President and the Governor possess concurrent powers to suspend, remit, or commute a sentence of death. 3. The Governor cannot grant any form of relief, including suspension or remission, against a punishment sentenced by a Court Martial. Which of the statements given above are correct?
1 and 2 only
2 and 3 only
1 and 3 only
1, 2 and 3
Explanation
All statements are correct. Under Article 72 and 161, only the President can completely pardon a death sentence, but both authorities have concurrent powers to suspend, remit, or commute a death sentence. Furthermore, the President has exclusive jurisdiction over punishments given by a Court Martial, meaning the Governor cannot intervene in military court sentences at all.
Q115
Which of the following parameters represents a correct constitutional application of the 'Pocket Veto' by the President of India over ordinary bills?
The President formally rejects the bill and sends an official written message of disapproval to the Parliament.
The President keeps the bill pending indefinitely by neither granting assent, withholding assent, nor returning it for legislative reconsideration.
The President uses their powers to refer the ordinary legislative proposal directly to the Supreme Court under Article 143.
The President returns the bill to the Lok Sabha within a mandatory, constitutionally fixed 14-day window.
Explanation
The Pocket Veto is an informal term used when the President simply keeps a bill pending on their desk indefinitely by neither granting assent, withholding assent, nor returning it for reconsideration. Unlike the USA, where the President must act within 10 days, the Indian Constitution prescribes no time limit for the President to give assent.
Q116
Under Article 356 of the Constitution of India, commonly known as President's Rule, which of the following grounds allows the President to declare a state of constitutional breakdown in a state? 1. Receipt of a formal report from the Governor indicating that the government of the State cannot be carried on in accordance with the Constitution. 2. When a state fails to comply with or give effect to any operational direction given by the Union Executive under Article 365. Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
1 only
2 only
Both 1 and 2
Neither 1 nor 2
Explanation
Both grounds are constitutionally valid. Article 356 can be invoked either upon receiving a report from the Governor or otherwise if the President is satisfied that a state's governance has broken down. Additionally, Article 365 explicitly states that if a state fails to comply with Union directions, it shall be lawful for the President to hold that a situation has arisen in which the government of the state cannot be carried on in accordance with the Constitution.
Q117
If the Lok Sabha stands dissolved, or its dissolution takes place during the mandatory timeline required to approve an executive ordinance issued by the President under Article 123, what parameter tracks its operational lifespan?
The ordinance automatically becomes a permanent Act of Parliament through presidential decree.
The ordinance lapses immediately upon the date of dissolution of the lower house.
The ordinance continues to operate until 30 days from the date of the reassembly of the Lok Sabha, provided it is approved within that window.
The ordinance must be verified and repassed exclusively by the state assemblies within six months.
Explanation
If the Lok Sabha is dissolved without approving the ordinance, the ordinance remains operational until the newly elected Lok Sabha reassembles. It must then be approved within 30 days from the date of the reassembly of the Lok Sabha, provided the Rajya Sabha has already approved it within its standard timelines.
Q118
Which of the following constitutional assertions holds true regarding the President's power over the Union Council of Ministers as outlined in Article 74 and Article 75?
The President can individually dismiss any Minister from the Union Council of Ministers at absolute personal whim without prime ministerial advice.
The Ministers shall hold office during the pleasure of the President, which is exercised operationally under the structural advice of the Prime Minister.
The advice tendered by the Council of Ministers to the President can be comprehensively scrutinized and audited by a Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court.
The President appoints the Prime Minister and all other Ministers strictly based on a competitive merit examination index framework.
Explanation
Article 75(2) explicitly states that Ministers shall hold office during the pleasure of the President. However, this pleasure is exercised in accordance with prime ministerial advice because the Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to the House of the People (Lok Sabha).
Q119
Consider the following statements regarding the President's veto power over state legislations reserved by the Governor under Article 201 of the Constitution: 1. If the President returns a state bill for reconsideration, the state legislature must reconsider it within a period of six months. 2. If the bill is passed again by the state legislature with or without amendments, the President is constitutionally bound to give his assent. 3. The Constitution does not prescribe any time limit within which the President must declare his decision on a reserved state bill. Which of the statements given above are correct?
1 and 2 only
1 and 3 only
2 and 3 only
1, 2 and 3
Explanation
Statements 1 and 3 are correct. Under Article 201, when a reserved state bill is returned by the President, the state legislature must reconsider it within six months. The Constitution prescribes no time frame for the President to make a final decision. Statement 2 is incorrect because unlike an ordinary Parliament bill, the President is NOT bound to give assent to a state bill even if it is repassed by the state legislature.
Q120
Which of the following constitutional provisions states that the advice tendered by the Union Council of Ministers to the President of India shall not be inquired into in any court of law?
Article 74(1)
Article 74(2)
Article 75(2)
Article 75(3)
Explanation
Article 74(2) of the Constitution of India explicitly mandates that the question whether any, and if so what, advice was tendered by Ministers to the President shall not be inquired into in any court. This bars courts from looking into the confidential communications between the Cabinet and the President.