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The Council of Ministers Part-II

📆 October 7, 2024

Total Questions: 42

1. Consider the following statements regarding a 'No- Confidence Motion in India: [I.A.S. (Pre) 2014]

1. There is no mention of a 'No-Confidence Motion in the Constitution of India.

2. A Motion of No-Confidence can be introduced in the Lok Sabha only.

Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?

Correct Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2
Solution:The No-Confidence motion may be introduced only in Lok Sabha, and No-confidence motion is not mentioned in the Constitution. The procedure for 'No-Confidence Motion' is mentioned in the Rules of Procedure and conduct of Business of Lok Sabha (Rule No-1983. Thus both the statements are correct.

2. Which one of the following statement is not correct regarding "No-Confidence Motion"? [Raj. P.C.S. (Pre) 2023]

Correct Answer: (*)
Solution:Article 75(3) of the Indian Constitution embodies the rule, which specifies that the Council of Ministers are collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha. For testing this collective responsibility, the rules of Lok Sabha provide a particular mechanism, a motion of no-confidence. The Constitution of India does not mention either a Confidence or a No Confidence Motion. A motion of "No Confidence against the Government can be introduced only in the Lok Sabha under Rule 198. According to Rule 198(1) (b), the member asking for such leave would need to give a written notice of the motion to the Secretary-General of the Lok Sabha. Any Lok Sabha MP, who can gather the support of 50 colleagues, can, at any point of time, introduce a motion of no-confidence against the Council of Ministers. It was during the third Lok Sabha in 1963 that the first motion of no-confidence was moved by Acharya J.B. Kripalani against the government headed by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. So far, 28 no-confidence motions (the 28 motion was brought on the ongoing situation in Manipur) and 11 confidence motions have been discussed (till 15 August 2023). The 50% of all confidence motions (14 out of 28) were discussed between 1965 and 1975. Of these, 12 were against governments headed by Indira Gandhi. [Note: The Commission (deleted the question).

3. Which one of the following is not a correct situation arising after the resignation of the Council of Ministers? [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2010]

Correct Answer: (a) President's Rule will be imposed.
Solution:President Rule will not be imposed on the resignation of the Council of Ministers. Rest all options are correct.

4. Which leader of Madhya Pradesh became the Defence Minister first and later Home Minister in Nehru's Cabinet? [M.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2010]

Correct Answer: (c) Kailash Nath Katju
Solution:Kailash Nath Katju was included in Nehru's Cabinet in the year 1951 as Law Minister, and in the same year, he became the third Home Minister of the country. Later, in 1955, he held the office of Defence Minister. He also served as Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh from 1957 to 1962.

5. Who was the First Finance Minister of Independent India? [Uttarakhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2010]

Correct Answer: (*)
Solution:R.K. Shanmukham Chetty served as the first Finance Minister of independent India (1947-1948) in Jawaharlal Nehru's Cabinet.

6. Who was the Law Minister in the first Cabinet of post- independence India? [Jharkhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2013 Dr. B.R.]

Correct Answer: (d) B.R. Ambedkar
Solution:Ambedkar was the first Law Minister of post- independence India, while Jogendra Nath Mandal was the Law Minister in the interim government formed in 1946.

7. Among the following given names, whose portfolio in the first cabinet of India (1947) was different from his portfolio in the Interim Government (1946)? [Chhattisgarh P.C.S. (Pre) 2020]

(1) Jagjivan Ram

(iii) C.H. Bhabha

(ii) Dr. Rajendra Prasad

(iv) Sardar Baldev Singh.

Correct Answer: (d) Only (iii).
Solution:Portfolio in the Interim Cabinet are as follows:

Food and Agriculture - Dr. Rajendra Prasad, Labour - Jagjivan Ram, Defence Sardar Baldev Singh, Works Mines and Power - C.H. Bhabha.

Portfolio in the First cabinet of Independent India are as follows: Food and Agriculture - Dr. Rajendra Prasad, Defence Sardar Baldev Singh, Labour - Jagjivan Ram, Commerce C.H. Bhabha.

Thus the Portfolio of C.H. Bhabha in the first Cabinet of Independent India was different from his Portfolio in the Interim Government. So the correct answer is the option (d).

8. Who was the 12th Prime Minister of India? [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2005]

Correct Answer: (b) Deve Gowda
Solution:Deve Gowda was the 12 Prime Minister of India (including the term of acting Prime Minister Gulzari Lal Nanda). Narendra Modi is the 15 Prime Minister of India.

9. Match the Prime Ministers with their tenure. [Chhattisgarh P.C.S. (Pre) 2014]

List-IList-II
A. Deve Gowdai. 1999-2004
B. Chandra Shekharii. 1989-90
C. Atal Bihari Vajpayeeiii. 1990-91
D. Inder Kumar Gujraliv. 1996-97
E. Vishwanath Pratap Singhv. 1997-98

 

Code :
ABCDE
(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)
(b)(v)(iv)(iii)(ii)(i)
(c)(iii)(i)(ii)(v)(iv)
(d)(iv)(iii)(i)(v)(ii)
(e)(ii)(i)(iii)(v)(iv)
Correct Answer: (d)
Solution:
List-IList-II
Vishwanath Pratap Singh1989-90
Chandra Shekhar1990-91
H.D. Deve Gowda1996-97
Inder Kumar Gujral1997-98
Atal Bihari Vajpayee1999-2004

Significantly, the tenure of Atal Bihari Vajpayee as Prime is as follows:

He took charge as Prime Minister of India on May 16-1996, to June 1, and from match 19, 1998 to April 26, 1999 and from October 13, 1999 to May 22, 2004.

10. Who among the following held the office of the Prime Minister of India more than once? [Uttarakhand U.D.A./L.D.A. (Pre) 2003]

1. Jawaharlal Nehru

2. Indira Gandhi

3. Gulzari Lal Nanda

4. Atal Bihari Vajpayee

Choose the correct code:

Correct Answer: (d) All of above
Solution:All the persons mentioned above have held the office of the Prime Minister of India more than once, and Gulzari Lal Nanda was the Acting Prime Minister twice.

11. Who among the following occupied the office of the Prime Minister of India more than once with gaps in between their political career ? [U.P. U.D.A./L.D.A. (Mains) 2010]

1. Jawaharlal Nehru

2. Lal Bahadur Shastri

3. Gulzari Lal Nanda

4. Indira Gandhi

5. Atal Bihari Vajpayee

Correct Answer: (c) 3, 4 and 5 only
Solution:Except for Jawaharlal Nehru and Lal Bahadur Shastri, the other rest three have held the office of the Prime Minister of India more than once with gaps in between their tenure.
Gulzarilal Nanda (27 May 1964-9 June 1964, 11 Jan 1966- 24 January 1966).
Indira Gandhi (24 May 1966-24 March 1977, 14 Jan 1980- 31 Oct 1984).
Atal Bihari Vajpayee (16 May 1996-1 June 1996), 19 March 1998-22 May 2004).

12. Which Prime Minister died outside India? [M.PP.CS. (Pre) 1995]

Correct Answer: (c) Lal Bahadur Shashtri
Solution:The second Prime Minister of India, Lal Bahadur Shashtri died, outside India, in Tashkent (the Capital city of Uzbekistan) on 11 January, 1966.

13. Match the following States and their respective Chief Ministers, who became Prime Minister of India. [M.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2020]

List-IList-II
A. P.V. Narasimha Raoi. Undivided Uttar Pradesh
B. Morarji Desaiii. Undivided Andhra Pradesh
C. H.D. Devegowdaiii. Gujarat
D. Charan Singhiv. Karnataka
E. Narendra Modiv. Bombay

 

Code:
ABCDE
(a)(iv)(v)(ii)(i)(iii)
(b)(iv)(ii)(v)(i)(iii)
(c)(ii)(i)(iv)(v)(iii)
(d)(ii)(v)(iv)(i)(iii)
Correct Answer: (d)
Solution:Chief Minister who became Prime Ministers:
List-IList-II
P.V. Narasimha RaoUndivided Andhra Pradesh
Morarji DesaiBombay
H.D. DevegowdaKarnataka
Charan SinghUndivided Uttar Pradesh
Narendra ModiGujarat

14. Who amongst the following had never been the Chief Minister of any State before becoming the Prime Minister of India? [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2011]

Correct Answer: (c) Chandra Shekhar
Solution:Chandra Shekhar had never been the Chief Minister of any State before becoming the Prime Minister of India.

15. Which of the following person was not a Chief Minister of any state before holding the office of Prime Minister? [I.A.S. (Pre) 1994]

Correct Answer: (d) Chandra Shekhar
Solution:Except for Chandra Shekhar, all the three had served as Chief Minister of a State, before holding the office of Prime Minister.

16. Who among the following was the member of Lok Sabha during his Prime Ministership? [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2015]

Correct Answer: (c) Chandrashekhar
Solution:Deve Gowda, L.K. Gujral, and Dr. Manmohan Singh were not the members of the Lok Sabha during their Prime Ministership, while Chandra Shekhar was the Prime Minister of India from 1990 to 1991 and also the Member of Parliament from Balia Lok Sabha Constituency.

17. Which one of the following Prime Ministers of India, never attended the Parliament during his tenure? [Uttarakhand U.D.A./L.D.A. (Pre) 200)]

Correct Answer: (d) Chaudhari Charan Singh
Solution:Chaudhari Charan Singh was the Prime Minister of India from 28 July, 1979 to 14 January, 1980. During his tenure, he never attended the Lok Sabha as Indian National Congress withdrew its support before the sitting of Lok Sabha.

18. Who among the following have been the Union Finance Ministers of India? [I.A.S. (Pre) 2007]

1. V. P. Singh

2. R. Venkataraman .

3. Y. B. Chavan

4. Pranab Mukherjee

Select the correct answer by using the code given below:

Correct Answer: (d) 1,2,3 and 4
Solution:All the persons mentioned in the above options have been the Union Finance Ministers of India.
List-IList-II
V.P. Singh(1984-87)
R. Venkataraman(1980-82)
Y.B. Chavan(1971-75)
Pranab Mukherjee(2009-2012).

19. The Policy of Liberalisation, Privatisation, and Globalisation was announced as New Economic Policy by Prime Minister- [U.P. Lower Sub. (Pre) 2013]

Correct Answer: (c) P.V. Narsimha Rao
Solution:The policy of liberalisation, privatisation, and globalisation was announced as New Economic Policy by Prime Minister Narasimha Rao on 24 July, 1991.

20. Which of the following statements is not true for Dr. Manmohan Singh? [U.P. Lower Sub. (Pre) 2004]

Correct Answer: (c) Former Chairman of Finance Commission
Solution:Dr. Manmohan Singh has served in all the above posts except as a Chairman of the Finance Commission.

21. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is a - [M.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2010]

Correct Answer: (d) Member of Rajya Sabha from Assam
Solution:Dr. Manmohan Singh served as Prime Minister from 2004 to 2014. He was first elected as a member of Rajya Sabha from Assam in 1991. Later, he again became a member of Rajya Sabha from Assam in the years 1996, 2001, 2007 and 2013. In 2019, he again got elected as a Rajya Sabha member representing Rajasthan.

22. Assertion : (A) Ministers make policy and civil servants adhere to that policy. Reason : (R) Parliamentary form of government works on the Principle of "Cabinet Collective Responsibility". [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1993]

Correct Answer: (a) Both (A) and (R) are true, and (A) is correct explanation of (R).
Solution:Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A) as the Parliamentary form of government works on the principle of "Cabinet's Collective Responsibility and policies made by the Cabinet are adhered to by civil servants.

23. Consider the following statements and choose the correct answer from the code given below: [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2004]

Assertion (A): Describing a person as Deputy Prime Minister is a political decision.

Reason (R): It does not confer on him any power of the Prime Minister.

Correct Answer: (b) Both (A) and (8) are true, but (R) is not a correct explanation of (A).
Solution:In the Constitution of India, the duty and office of the Deputy Prime Minister are not mentioned, but conventionally, a Cabinet Minister can be declared as a Deputy Prime Minister. It does not confer on him any power of the Prime Minister. So, both statements (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not a correct explanation of (A).

24. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister- [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2009]

Correct Answer: (b) Is an extra-Constitutional growth.
Solution:The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is not mentioned anywhere in the Constitution of India. The post was created due to political necessity and is purely a non-Constitutional post.

25. Consider the following statements: [I.A.S. (Pre) 2015]

1. The Executive Power of the Union of India is vested in the Prime Minister.

2. The Prime Minister is the ex-officio Chairman of the Civil Services Board.

Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?

Correct Answer: (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Solution:The executive power of the Union of India is not vested in the Prime Minister but in the President (Art. 53(1) The Constitutional head of the executive of the Union is the President. Article 74(1) of the Constitution provides that there shall be a Council of Ministers with the Prime Minister as its head to aid and advice the President, who shall, in the exercise of his/her functions, act in accordance with such advice. The Cabinet Secretariat is under the direct charge of the Prime Minister. The administrative head of the Secretariat is the Cabinet Secretary, who is also the ex-officio Chairman of the Civil Services Board. Thus, neither 1" nor 2 statement is correct.

26. With reference to Union Government, consider the following statements: [I.A.S. (Pre) 2009]

1. The Constitution of India provides that all Cabinet Ministers shall be compulsorily the sitting members of Lok Sabha only.

2. The Union Cabinet Secretariat operates under the direction of the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs. Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?

Correct Answer: (d) Neither nor 2
Solution:The Council of Ministers seldom meets as a body. It is the Cabinet, an inner body within the Council, that shapes the policies of the Government. Cabinet Ministers hold the charge of key portfolios. There is no bar on the appointment of a person from outside the legislature as a minister, but he cannot continue for more than six months unless he secures a seat in either House of the Parliament in the meantime. A minister, who is a member of one House has the right to speak and to take part in the proceedings of the other House, though he has no right to vote in the house of which he is not a member. The Union Cabinet Secretariat is not operated under the direction of the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs. Union Cabinet Secretariat is under the supervision of the Prime Minister's Office. Its administrative Chief is the Cabinet Secretary, who is the Ex-officio Chairman of the Civil Services Board. The cabinet secretary is the highest civil services officer of the central government. Hence both the statements are false.

27. Read the following statements related to Cabinet Committees and choose the correct option: [Chhattisgarh P.C.S.C. (Pre) 2020]

I: Cabinet Committees are not mentioned in the constitution.

II: Cabinet Committees are set up by the Prime Minister according to the exigencies of the time and requirements of the situation.

III: If Prime Minister is the member of Committee, he may not necessarily be the Chairman of Committee.

IV: Parliamentary Affairs Committee is chaired by the Prime Minister.

Correct Answer: (d) Statements I and II are true, but Statement III and IV are false
Solution:Cabinet Committees are not mentioned in the Constitution. So they are extra-constitutional bodies. Rules of Business Provide for their establishment. Thus, Statement I is true. Cabinet Committees are set up by the Prime minister a cording to the exigencies of the time and requirements of the situation. Thus, Statement II is true.

Cabinet Committees are mostly Chaired by the Prime Minister. Some times, other Cabinet Ministers, the Finance Minister or the Home Minister also acts as chairman but in case if the Prime Minister is the member of the Commit tee, he is necessarily the Chairman of the Committee. Thus, Statement III is false.

Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs is chaired by the Minister of Defence, not by the Prime Minister. Thus, Statement IV is false.

28. Which one of the following Constitutional Amendments states that the total number of Ministers, including the Prime Minister in the Council of Ministers, shall not exceed fifteen percent of the total number of members of the House of the People? [I.A.S. (Pre) 2009]

Correct Answer: (b) 91st 
Solution:91st Constitutional Amendment Act, 2003 says that the total number of Ministers, including Prime Minister in the Council of Ministers, shall not exceed fifteen per-cent of the total number of members of the Lok Sabha. This provision was added in Article 75(14) through the 91st Constitutional Amendment Act, 2003.

29. Which of the following Constitutional Amendment Acts restricted the sire of the Council of Ministers 15 percent of the total members of the Lok Sabha? [66th B.P.S.C. (Pre) (Re-Exam), 2020]

Correct Answer: (c) 91st Constitutional Amendment Act, 2003
Solution:91st Constitutional Amendment Act, 2003 says that the total number of Ministers, including Prime Minister in the Council of Ministers, shall not exceed fifteen per-cent of the total number of members of the Lok Sabha. This provision was added in Article 75(14) through the 91st Constitutional Amendment Act, 2003.

30. With reference to Union Government, consider the following statements: [I.A.S. (Pre) 2009]

70. With reference to Union Government, consider the following statements:

1. The number of Ministries at the Centre on 15 August, 1947 was 18.

2. The number of Ministries at the Centre at present is 36.

Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?

Correct Answer: (a) 1 only
Solution:The number of Ministries at the Centre on 15 August, 1947 was 18. At present the number of ministries at the centre is 53.

31. Recently who has been assigned the charge of the Ministry of Minority Affairs? [67th B.P.S.C. (Pre) (Re-Exam), 2021]

Correct Answer: (a) Smriti Irani
Solution:The Minister for Minority Affairs is Smriti Zubin Irani, while the minister of state minority is John Barla. The Ministry of Minority Affairs was carved out of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and created on 29 January, 2006 to ensure a more focused approach towards issues relating to the notified minority communities namely Muslim, Christian, Buddhist, Sikhs, Parsis and Jain..

32. Which of the following official documents is related with India? [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2008]

Correct Answer: (b) White Paper
Solution:A White Paper is an official document issued by the Government of India or by its Ministry which explains the Government policies on a particular subject and allows the Government to collect feedback before a bill is prepared.

33. The Reorganization of Union Cabinet is based on the Report of- [U.P.P.C.S. (GIC) 2010]

Correct Answer: (a) Gopalaswami Ayyangar
Solution:The Reorganization of the Union Cabinet is based on the Report of N. Gopalaswami Ayyangar.

34. Who is the highest Civil Services Officers of the Central Government? [63rd B. P.S.C. (Pre) 2017]

Correct Answer: (b) The Cabinet Secretary
Solution:The Reorganization of the Union Cabinet is based on the Report of N. Gopalaswami Ayyangar.

35. Consider the following statements about the Cabinet Secretariat. [Chhattisgarh P.C.S. (Pre) 2023]

1. The Cabinet Secretariat functions directly under the Vice-President of India.

2. The administrative head of the Secretariat is the Cabinet Secretary who is also the ex-officio Chairman of the Civil Services Board.

Which of the statements/s given above is/are correct?

Correct Answer: (b) 2 Only
Solution:The Cabinet Secretariat functions directly under the Prime Minister. Significantly, the administrative head of the secretariat is the cabinet secretary who is also the ex-officio chairman of the civil services board.

36. Which of the following is/are the function/functions of the Cabinet Secretariat? [Chhattisgarh P.C.S. (Pre) 2013]

1. Preparation of agenda for Cabinet Meetings

2. Secretariat assistance to Cabinet Committees

3. Allocation of financial resources to the Ministries

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

Correct Answer: (c) 1 and 2 only
Solution:The 'Cabinet Secretariat' has been given a place in the 1" Schedule of the rules made under the Government of India (Allocation of Business) Rules, 1961.

The Subjects allotted to the Secretariat are :

(i) Secretariat assistance to the Cabinet and the Cabinet Committees

(ii) The administration of the Rules of Business The Secretariat assistance provided by the Cabinet Secretariat to the Cabinet and Cabinet Committees are:

1. Convening of the meeting of the Cabinet on the orders of the Prime Minister.

2. Preparation and circulation of the agenda.

3. Circulating papers related to cases on the agenda.

4. Preparing a record of discussions taken.

5. Circulation of the record after obtaining the approval of the Prime Minister.

6. Watching implementation of the decisions taken by the Cabinet.

(iii) Promotion of Inter-Ministerial Coordination. The coordination is required for removing difficulties, removing differences, overcoming delays, coordination in administrative actions and coordination of policies.

37. The split system in the Indian administration relates to- [67th B.P.S.C. (Pre), 2021]

Correct Answer: (c) Policy/Implementation
Solution:The split system in the Indian administration relates to policy implementation. This system is required to ensure the efficiency of policy making and implementation. The Ex-Secretariat system is based on these ideas so that policy implementation can be done efficiently.

38. Who is the President of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research? [Uttarakhand Lower Sub. (Pre) 2010]

Correct Answer: (c) Prime Minister of India
Solution:The President of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research is the Prime Minister of India.

39. Who is the head of the National Defence Committee? [53rd to 55th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2011]

Correct Answer: (b) Prime Minister
Solution:The National Defence Committer is headed by the Prime Minister.

40. In which year was the Office of the Parliamentary Secretary created first time in Independent India? [M.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2018]

Correct Answer: (b) 1952
Solution:The Office of the Parliamentary Secretary was created in 1952.

41. Which one of the following is NOT correctly matched? [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1996]

List-IList-II
(a) J.L. NehruShanti Van
(b) L.B. ShastriVijaya Ghat
(c) Indira GandhiShakti Sthal
(d) Rajiv GandhiKaram Bhumi
Correct Answer: (d)
Solution:"Karma Bhumi (Land of Duty) is a memorial of the ninth President of India Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma, while the name of the memorial of Rajiv Gandhi is "Veer Bhumi" (Land of Brave).

42. Who gave the slogan "Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan?" [M.P. P.C.S. (Pre) 1998]

Correct Answer: (b) Lal Bahadur Shastri
Solution:"Jai Jawan Jai Kisan" was a slogan given by the second Prime Minister of India, Lal Bahadur Shastri, in 1965 at a public gathering at Ramlila Maidan, Delhi. The slogan was for the Indian Farmers and Soldiers during the Indo-Pak War.
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