The President (Indian Polity and Governance) Part-II

Total Questions: 40

11. Who among the following can call the joint session of Indian Parliament? [Uttarakhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2003]

Correct Answer: (a) President
Solution:The joint sitting of the House of the People and the Council of States can be summoned by the President in certain cases prescribed in Article 108 of the Constitution. Under Article 118(4), the speaker of the Lok Sabha presides the joint- session of the Parliament.

The legislative powers of the President of India enable significant influence over the functioning of the Parliament. These powers include summoning and proroguing sessions, addressing the Parliament, and granting permission for the introduction of bills.
Summoning and Proroguing Parliament: The President can summon and prorogue the Parliament and dissolve the Lok Sabha on the advice of the CoM headed by the Prime Minister.

  • Summoning Joint Sitting: He summons a joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament, which is presided over by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha.
  • Nomination to Rajya Sabha (Article 80): The President nominates 12 members to the Rajya Sabha with special expertise in literature, science, art, and social service.
  • Sending Messages to Parliament (Article 86): The President can send messages to the Houses of Parliament, either concerning a bill or other matters.
  • Addressing Parliament (Article 87): The President addresses the Parliament at the commencement of the first session after each general election and the first session of each year, Appointment of Presiding
  • Officer (Article 93): The President appoints a member of the Lok Sabha to preside over proceedings when both the Speaker and Deputy Speaker's offices are vacant.
  • Disqualification of Members (Article 103): The President decides on questions related to the disqualification of members of Parliament in consultation with the Election Commission.
  • Recommendation for Certain Bills (Article 117): The President's prior recommendation or permission is required to introduce money bills in Parliament.
  • Promulgating Ordinances (Article 123): The President can promulgate ordinances when Parliament is not in session.

12. Which of the following expression is appropriate regarding the message to call joint sitting of both houses under Article 108 of the Constitution of India? [M.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2020]

Correct Answer: (a) Intention of President
Solution:Article 108-Joint sitting of the both Houses in certain cases- If after a Bill has been passed by one House and transmitted to the other House-

(a) the Bill is rejected by the other House; or

(b) the Houses have finally disagreed as to the amendments to be made in the Bill; or

(c) more than six months elapse from the date of the reception of the Bill by the other House without the Bill being passed by it, the President may, unless the Bill has elapsed by reason of a dissolution of the House of the People, notify to the Houses by message if they are sitting or by public notification if they are not sitting, his intention to summon them to meet in a joint sitting for the purpose of deliberating and voting on the Bill.

Hence option (a) is correct.

13. Which of the following is required under Article 108 of the Constitution of India to summon a joint sitting of the two houses of Parliament? [M.P.P.C.S. (Pre), 2021]

Correct Answer: (a) Intention of the President
Solution:Article 108-Joint sitting of the both Houses in certain cases- If after a Bill has been passed by one House and transmitted to the other House-

(a) the Bill is rejected by the other House; or

(b) the Houses have finally disagreed as to the amendments to be made in the Bill; or

(c) more than six months elapse from the date of the reception of the Bill by the other House without the Bill being passed by it, the President may, unless the Bill has elapsed by reason of a dissolution of the House of the People, notify to the Houses by message if they are sitting or by public notification if they are not sitting, his intention to summon them to meet in a joint sitting for the purpose of deliberating and voting on the Bill.

Hence option (a) is correct.

14. Which one of the following statements about the President of India is not correct? [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2010]

Correct Answer: (b) He participates in the discussions in the both Houses.
Solution:According to Article 79 of the Constitution, the President of India is a constituent part of the Parliament. He addresses the two Houses at a joint meeting every year. He can promulgate Ordinances (according to Article 123) during the recess of Parliament. He does not participate in the Parliamentary discussions.

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.

15. Given below are two statements: [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2007]

Assertion (A): The President is the part of the Parliament

Reason (R): A Bill passed by the two Houses of Parliament cannot become law without the assent of the President.

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

Correct Answer: (a) Both (A) and (R) are true, and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
Solution:According to Article 79, the Parliament included the President and both the Houses (Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha), and under Article 111, a Bill becomes law only when it gets the President's assent. So both (A) and (R) are correct statement and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).

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.

16. Given below are two statements, one is labelled as Assertion (A) and other as Reason (R): [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2023]

Assertion (A): The President is a part of the Parliament.

Reason (R): A bill passed by the two Houses of the Parliament cannot become a law without the assent of the President.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Correct Answer: (d) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is correct explanation of (A)
Solution:As per Article 79, there shall be a Parliament for the Union, which shall consist of the President and two Houses, to be known respectively as the Council of States (Rajya Sabha) and the House of the People (Lok Sabha). As per Article 111. when a Bill has been passed by the Houses of Parliament, it shall be presented to the President, and the President shall declare either that he assents to the Bill or that he withholds assent. Hence, option (d) is correct answer.

17. A Bill presented in Parliament becomes an Act after- [48th to 52th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2008]

Correct Answer: (b) The President has given his Assent.
Solution:A bill presented in and passed by the Parliament becomes an Act after the assent of the President. (under Article 111).

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.

18. The only instance when the President of India exercised his power of veto, is related to- [I.A.S. (Pre) 1993]

Correct Answer: (c) The Indian Post Office (Amendment) Bill
Solution:President Dr. Rajendra Prasad applied an absolute Veto on the advice of the Council of Ministers over the PEPSU Appropriation Bill 1954, Whereas President Gyani Zail Singh exercised a the pocket veto in Indian Post Office (Amendment) Bill in 1986. Hence, pocket veto can be regarded as the veto power used by the President at his discretion. Whereas absolute veto is subject to the discretion of the union council of ministers. Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

19. Who among the following Presidents exercised a power which is 'Pocket veto' in Constitutional terminology? [Chhattisgarh P.C.S. (Pre) 2015]

Correct Answer: (c) Gyani Zail Singh
Solution:A Pocket Veto is a legislative manoeuvre that allows a president to exercise that power over a Bill by taking no action (instead of affirmatively voting it or sending it back for reconsideration). To date 'Pocket Veto' has been exercised only once in India by the President Gyani Zail Singh in 1986 on the Indian Post Office (Amendment) Bill.

20. Under which Article of the Indian Constitution, the President of India enjoys the power to withhold his assent to any Bill passed by both the Houses of the Parliament? [U.P. Lower Sub. (Pre) 2004, U.P. P.C.S. (Pre) 2008]

Correct Answer: (d) Article 111
Solution:According to Article 111 of the Indian Constitution, when a Bill has Bill has passed by both the Houses of Parliament, it shall be presented to the President and the President shall declare that either he assents to the Bill or that he withholds assent therefrom.

The President of India exercises veto powers to influence the legislative process, which includes absolute veto, suspensive veto, and pocket veto. Unlike the American President, the Indian President does not have a qualified veto. The veto power enjoyed by the executive in modern states can be classified into the following four types:

  • Absolute veto: withholding of assent to the bill passed by the legislature.
  • Qualified veto: which can be overridden by the legislature with a higher majority.
  • Suspensive veto: which can be overridden by the legislature with an ordinary majority.
  • Pocket veto: taking no action on the bill passed by the legislature.

President's Alternatives on a Bill (Article 111): A bill can become an act only if it receives the assent of the President. When such a bill is presented to the President for his assent, he has three alternatives

  • Give his/her assent
  • Withhold his/her assent
  • Return the bill for reconsideration.