The President (Indian Polity and Governance) Part-I

Total Questions: 40

21. Who among the following is the head of Indian Republic? [U.P.R.O.\A.R.O. (Mains) 2013]

Correct Answer: (a) President of India
Solution:The President of India is the head of the Indian state, the first citizen, and acts as the symbol of unity, integrity and solidarity of the nation. According to Article 52, There shall be a President of India'. According to Article 53, the executive power of the Union Shall be vested in the President and shall be exercise by him either directly of through officers subordinate to him in accordance with this Constitution.

22. Consider the following statements- [U.P. Lower Sub. (Pre.) 1998]

Assertion (A): President of India is different from the British King.

Reason (R): Office of Indian President is similar to that of America.

Correct Answer: (c) (A) is true but (R) is false.
Solution:The President of India is indirectly elected whereas the British King is hereditary. The U.S. President has more power than the Indian President, so they are not similar. Thus option (c) is the correct answer.
  • Query successful
ParametersUSAIndia
Composition of electoral members• The Electoral College consists of 538 electors (Senate 100 plus 3 for District of Columbia and 435 members of the House of Representatives).

• The Electoral College is an intermediary body or process that chooses the U.S. President. In this system, voters of each State cast their ballots to choose members (or electors) of the electoral college who then vote to select the President.

• States have varying numbers of electors based on their representation in Congress.

• A majority of 270 electoral votes is required to elect the President of USA.

• Members of an Electoral College consisting of

• The elected members of both the Houses of Parliament, and

 • The elected members of the Legislative Assemblies of the States [including National Capital Territory of Delhi and the Union Territory of Puducherry vide the Constitution (Seventieth Amendment) Act, 1992 (Article 54)].

Note: The nominated members of either House of Parliament or the Legislative Assemblies of State are not eligible to be included in the Electoral College.

Governing Act/RulesEach state establishes its own election rules, reflecting the U.S.'s decentralized system, where individual states oversee and manage their electoral processes.The Presidential and Vice-Presidential Elections Act, 1952.
Nomination ProcessCandidates secure party nominations through primaries and caucuses.A prospective Presidential candidate should get his/her nomination paper subscribed by at least fifty electors as proposers and at least fifty electors as seconders.
Election MethodsMost states follow a winner-take-all approach, where the candidate with the majority in a state wins all its electoral votes, except in Maine and Nebraska.

• Candidates can win the presidency without winning the popular vote.  • Like Donald Trump win in 2016.

System of Proportional Representation by means of single transferable vote and the voting at such election shall be by secret ballot.

• The candidate needs to secure 50% of the total votes cast + 1 to win.

Vote-Counting ProcessSignificantly prolonged largely due to reliance on paper ballots and the handling of mail-in votes (like our postal ballots).Use of EVMs (Electronic Voting Machines).
Frequency of electionEvery 4 years on a fixed schedule.Every 5 years (except in exceptional cases).
Running MateThe Presidential candidate chooses a Running Mate (Vice Presidential Candidate).Separate election takes place for Vice President of India.

23. Given below are two statements: [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2012]

Assertion (A): The Union Executive is headed by the President of India.

Reason (R): There is no limitation on the power of the President.

In the context of the above which of the following is correct?

Correct Answer: (c) (A) is true, but (R) is false.
Solution:According to Article 53 of the Constitution, the Executive power of the Union shall be vested in the President, so Assertion (A) is correct whereas Reason (R) is false because the President shall exercise this power either directly or through officers subordinate to him in accordance with the Constitution of India.

Executive Powers of President
1. For every executive action that the Indian government takes, is to be taken in his name
2. He may/may not make rules to simplify the transaction of business of the central government
3. He appoints the attorney general of India and determines his remuneration
4. He appoints the following people:

  •  Comptroller and Auditor General of india (CAG)
  •  Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners
    ∗ Chairman and members of the Union Public Service Commission
    ∗ State Governors
  •  Finance Commission of India chairman and members
    5. He seeks administrative information from the Union government
    6. He requires PM to submit, for consideration of the council of ministers, any matter on which a decision has been taken by a minister but, which has not been considered by the council
    7. He appoints National Commissions of:
    1. Scheduled Castes (Read about National Commission for                              Scheduled Castes in the linked article.)
    2. Scheduled Tribes Read about (National Commission for                               Scheduled Tribes in the linked article.)
    3. Other Backward Classes (Read about National Commission for             Backward Classes in the linked article.)
    8. He appoints inter-state council
    9. He appoints administrators of union territories
    10. He can declare any area as a scheduled area and has powers with respect to the administration of s

24. President of India exercises his powers- [60th to 62nd B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2016]

Correct Answer: (a) either directly or through officers subordinate to him
Solution:Article 52 of the Indian Constitution provides that there shall be a President of India. According to Article 53(1), "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 this constitution".

Executive Powers of President
1. For every executive action that the Indian government takes, is to be taken in his name
2. He may/may not make rules to simplify the transaction of business of the central government
3. He appoints the attorney general of India and determines his remuneration
4. He appoints the following people:

  •  Comptroller and Auditor General of india (CAG)
  •  Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners
    ∗ Chairman and members of the Union Public Service Commission
    ∗ State Governors
  •  Finance Commission of India chairman and members
    5. He seeks administrative information from the Union government
    6. He requires PM to submit, for consideration of the council of ministers, any matter on which a decision has been taken by a minister but, which has not been considered by the council
    7. He appoints National Commissions of:
    1. Scheduled Castes (Read about National Commission for                              Scheduled Castes in the linked article.)
    2. Scheduled Tribes Read about (National Commission for                               Scheduled Tribes in the linked article.)
    3. Other Backward Classes (Read about National Commission                  for  Backward Classes in the linked article.)
    8. He appoints inter-state council
    9. He appoints administrators of union territories
    10. He can declare any area as a scheduled area and has powers with respect to the administration of s

25. Who is the Executive Head of State in India? [44th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2000]

Correct Answer: (a) President
Solution:According to Article 53 (1) 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.

The President of India, serving as the head of state and first citizen, fulfills a ceremonial role separate from the government's daily administration, which is handled by the Council of Ministers (CoM). Despite this, the President plays a crucial role in safeguarding the Indian Constitution, shaping the nation's direction, and serving as the commander-in-chief of the Indian Armed Forces. The main responsibilities of the President of India include:

  • Ensuring the smooth functioning of the Government: The President has the power to appoint and dismiss government officials, including the Prime Minister, and to summon and prorogue sessions of the Parliament.
  • Upholding the Constitution: The President is responsible for ensuring that the laws and actions of the government are in accordance with the Constitution.
  • Representing India: The President represents India at home and abroad and receives foreign diplomats and dignitaries.
  • Role in Legislative Process: The President also has a role to play in the legislative process.

26. According to the Constitution of India, the Executive Power of the Union Shall be vested on the- [U.P.R.O/A.R.O. (Mains) 2021]

1. President

2. Prime Minister

Select the correct answer from the code given below the lists:

Correct Answer: (a) Only 1
Solution:According to Article 53 (1) 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.

Executive Powers of President
1. For every executive action that the Indian government takes, is to be taken in his name
2. He may/may not make rules to simplify the transaction of business of the central government
3. He appoints the attorney general of India and determines his remuneration
4. He appoints the following people:

  •  Comptroller and Auditor General of india (CAG)
  •  Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners
    ∗ Chairman and members of the Union Public Service Commission
    ∗ State Governors
  •  Finance Commission of India chairman and members
    5. He seeks administrative information from the Union government
    6. He requires PM to submit, for consideration of the council of ministers, any matter on which a decision has been taken by a minister but, which has not been considered by the council
    7. He appoints National Commissions of:
    1. Scheduled Castes (Read about National Commission for                              Scheduled Castes in the linked article.)
    2. Scheduled Tribes Read about (National Commission for                               Scheduled Tribes in the linked article.)
    3. Other Backward Classes (Read about National Commission                  for  Backward Classes in the linked article.)
    8. He appoints inter-state council
    9. He appoints administrators of union territories
    10. He can declare any area as a scheduled area and has powers with respect to the administration of s

27. Which one of the following Articles of the Constitution vests the executive power of the Union in the President? [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2010]

Correct Answer: (c) Article 53
Solution:According to Article 53 (1) 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.

Executive Powers of President
1. For every executive action that the Indian government takes, is to be taken in his name
2. He may/may not make rules to simplify the transaction of business of the central government
3. He appoints the attorney general of India and determines his remuneration
4. He appoints the following people:

  •  Comptroller and Auditor General of india (CAG)
  •  Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners
    ∗ Chairman and members of the Union Public Service Commission
    ∗ State Governors
  •  Finance Commission of India chairman and members
    5. He seeks administrative information from the Union government
    6. He requires PM to submit, for consideration of the council of ministers, any matter on which a decision has been taken by a minister but, which has not been considered by the council
    7. He appoints National Commissions of:
    1. Scheduled Castes (Read about National Commission for                              Scheduled Castes in the linked article.)
    2. Scheduled Tribes Read about (National Commission for                               Scheduled Tribes in the linked article.)
    3. Other Backward Classes (Read about National Commission                  for  Backward Classes in the linked article.)
    8. He appoints inter-state council
    9. He appoints administrators of union territories
    10. He can declare any area as a scheduled area and has powers with respect to the administration of s

28. All the executive power in Indian Constitution are vested in- [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2008, U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) (Re. Exam) 2015]

Correct Answer: (c) President
Solution:According to Article 53 (1) 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.

Executive Powers of President
1. For every executive action that the Indian government takes, is to be taken in his name
2. He may/may not make rules to simplify the transaction of business of the central government
3. He appoints the attorney general of India and determines his remuneration
4. He appoints the following people:

  •  Comptroller and Auditor General of india (CAG)
  •  Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners
    ∗ Chairman and members of the Union Public Service Commission
    ∗ State Governors
  •  Finance Commission of India chairman and members
    5. He seeks administrative information from the Union government
    6. He requires PM to submit, for consideration of the council of ministers, any matter on which a decision has been taken by a minister but, which has not been considered by the council
    7. He appoints National Commissions of:
    1. Scheduled Castes (Read about National Commission for                              Scheduled Castes in the linked article.)
    2. Scheduled Tribes Read about (National Commission for                               Scheduled Tribes in the linked article.)
    3. Other Backward Classes (Read about National Commission                  for  Backward Classes in the linked article.)
    8. He appoints inter-state council
    9. He appoints administrators of union territories
    10. He can declare any area as a scheduled area and has powers with respect to the administration of s

29. Who of the following has been vested with the executive powers of the central government under the constitution of India? [42th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 1997]

Correct Answer: (a) President of India
Solution:According to Article 53 (1) 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.

Executive Powers of President
1. For every executive action that the Indian government takes, is to be taken in his name
2. He may/may not make rules to simplify the transaction of business of the central government
3. He appoints the attorney general of India and determines his remuneration
4. He appoints the following people:

  •  Comptroller and Auditor General of india (CAG)
  •  Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners
    ∗ Chairman and members of the Union Public Service Commission
    ∗ State Governors
  •  Finance Commission of India chairman and members
    5. He seeks administrative information from the Union government
    6. He requires PM to submit, for consideration of the council of ministers, any matter on which a decision has been taken by a minister but, which has not been considered by the council
    7. He appoints National Commissions of:
    1. Scheduled Castes (Read about National Commission for                              Scheduled Castes in the linked article.)
    2. Scheduled Tribes Read about (National Commission for                               Scheduled Tribes in the linked article.)
    3. Other Backward Classes (Read about National Commission                  for  Backward Classes in the linked article.)
    8. He appoints inter-state council
    9. He appoints administrators of union territories
    10. He can declare any area as a scheduled area and has powers with respect to the administration of s

30. Given below are two statements, in which one is labelled as Assertion (A) and the other as Reason (R). [U.P R.O./A.R.O. (Pre) 2023]

Assertion (A): The constitution vests the Executive Power of the Union in the President of India.

Reason (R): The President of India is the constitutional Head of the State.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Correct Answer: (c) Both (A) and (R) are true, and (R) is correct explanation of (A).
Solution:Article 53 of the Indian Constitution deals with the Executive power of the Union. Significantly, the executive power of the Union shall be vested in the President. Notably, the constitutional head of the Executive of the Union is the President.

The President of India, serving as the head of state and first citizen, fulfills a ceremonial role separate from the government's daily administration, which is handled by the Council of Ministers (CoM). Despite this, the President plays a crucial role in safeguarding the Indian Constitution, shaping the nation's direction, and serving as the commander-in-chief of the Indian Armed Forces. The main responsibilities of the President of India include:

  • Ensuring the smooth functioning of the Government: The President has the power to appoint and dismiss government officials, including the Prime Minister, and to summon and prorogue sessions of the Parliament.
  • Upholding the Constitution: The President is responsible for ensuring that the laws and actions of the government are in accordance with the Constitution.
  • Representing India: The President represents India at home and abroad and receives foreign diplomats and dignitaries.
  • Role in Legislative Process: The President also has a role to play in the legislative process.