The President (Indian Polity and Governance) Part-II

Total Questions: 40

21. The President holds office for a term of 5 years from date on- [R.A.S.\R.T.S. (Pre) 1996]

Correct Answer: (c) Which he enters upon his office\hold his office
Solution:According to Article 56(1), the President holds ;office for a term of 5 years from the date on which he enters upon his office.

Term: The President serves a term of five years from the date they take office. However, they can resign anytime by sending a resignation letter to the Vice-President. Additionally, they can be removed from office through the process of impeachment before the completion of their term.

  • The President can remain in office until their successor takes over and is eligible for re-election for any number of terms. However, in the United States, a person cannot be elected as President more than twice.

Vacancy: A vacancy in the office of the President can happen in the following ways:

  • On the expiry of his tenure of five years.
  • By his resignation.
  • On his removal by the process of impeachment.
  • By his death.
  • Otherwise, for example, when he becomes disqualified to hold office or his election is declared void.

22. To whom does the President of India address hi resignation? [I.A.S. (Pre) 2009]

Correct Answer: (b) Vice-President of India
Solution:According to Article 56(1)(a), the President addresses his resignation to the Vice-President of India and then under Article 56(2), the vice-President shall immediately communicate the same to the Speaker of the House of the People [Art 56(2)].

Office can be vacant in the following ways:
1. When the President of india completes his term of five years in the office
2. If the President resigns by putting forward his resignation to the Vice-President of India
3. If Lok Sabha/Rajya Sabha initiates an impeachment charge and they stand valid, he is removed
4. If he dies in the office
5. If the Supreme Court declares his election invalid
Note: Vice-President discharges the duties as President, if the latter's office falls vacant in the circumstances mentioned above, except by the expiry of the term. As per the President's Act 1969; if the Vice-President office is vacant too, Chief Justice of India (CJI) (or in his absence); Supreme Court's senior-most judge, discharge the functions of the President (till new President is elected.)

23. To whom does the President of India submit his resignation? [Jharkhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2013]

Correct Answer: (b) The Vice-President of India
Solution:According to Article 56(1)(a), the President addresses his resignation to the Vice-President of India and then under Article 56(2), the vice-President shall immediately communicate the same to the Speaker of the House of the People [Art 56(2)].

Office can be vacant in the following ways:
1. When the President of india completes his term of five years in the office
2. If the President resigns by putting forward his resignation to the Vice-President of India
3. If Lok Sabha/Rajya Sabha initiates an impeachment charge and they stand valid, he is removed
4. If he dies in the office
5. If the Supreme Court declares his election invalid
Note: Vice-President discharges the duties as President, if the latter's office falls vacant in the circumstances mentioned above, except by the expiry of the term. As per the President's Act 1969; if the Vice-President office is vacant too, Chief Justice of India (CJI) (or in his absence); Supreme Court's senior-most judge, discharge the functions of the President (till new President is elected.)

24. The President of India can be removed from his post by- [39th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 1994, 47thB.P.S.C. (Pre) 2005]

Correct Answer: (d) Parliament
Solution:According to Article 56(1)(b), the President can be removed from his/her office by impeachment for the violation of the Constitution, and the process of impeachment can be started by either House of the Parliament in accordance with provisions of Article 61.

The President can be removed from office through a process of impeachment for "violation of the Constitution," although the Constitution does not specify what constitutes such a violation.

  • Impeachment proceedings can be initiated by either House of Parliament, with the charges being signed by one-fourth of the members of the House.
  • The President is given 14 days' notice before the proceedings begin and has the right to appear and be represented during the investigation. If a resolution is passed by a two-thirds majority of both Houses, the President is removed from office.
  • An impeachment is a semi-judicial process in Parliament. Nominated members of either House of Parliament can participate in impeachment proceedings, even though they cannot vote in the presidential election.
  • Members of state legislative assemblies and the Union Territories of Delhi and Puducherry, who can vote in the presidential election, do not participate in impeachment proceedings.
  • To date, no President has ever been impeached.

25. What is not true in relation to election of President? [Chhattisgarh P.C.S. (Pre) 2011 30 of 76]

Correct Answer: (d) None of the above
Solution:As per Article 55 of the Constitution of India, the election of the President shall be held in accordance with the system of proportional representation by means of a single transferable vote and the voting at such election shall be done by secret ballot. Hence option (a) is correct. The nomination of a candidate for election to the office of president must be subscribed by at least 50 electors as proposers and 50 electors as seconders. Hence option (b) is correct. The value of the vote of each MLA (Members of Legislative Assemblies) varies from state to state. It's based on 1971 census data. Hence all the option (a), (b) and (c) are true. Hence option (d) is correct answer.

26. Under which Article of the Indian Constitution can the President be impeached? [Uttarakhand P.C.S. (Mains) 2006]

Correct Answer: (d) Article 61
Solution:As per Article 55 of the Constitution of India, the election of the President shall be held in accordance with the system of proportional representation by means of a single transferable vote and the voting at such election shall be done by secret ballot. Hence option (a) is correct. The nomination of a candidate for election to the office of president must be subscribed by at least 50 electors as proposers and 50 electors as seconders. Hence option (b) is correct. The value of the vote of each MLA (Members of Legislative Assemblies) varies from state to state. It's based on 1971 census data. Hence all the option (a), (b) and (c) are true.

27. Under which one of the following Articles, the procedure for removal of the President of India through the process of impeachment has been laid down? [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) (Re. Exam) 2015]

Correct Answer: (b) Article-61
Solution:As per Article 55 of the Constitution of India, the election of the President shall be held in accordance with the system of proportional representation by means of a single transferable vote and the voting at such election shall be done by secret ballot. Hence option (a) is correct. The nomination of a candidate for election to the office of president must be subscribed by at least 50 electors as proposers and 50 electors as seconders. Hence option (b) is correct. The value of the vote of each MLA (Members of Legislative Assemblies) varies from state to state. It's based on 1971 census data. Hence all the option (a), (b) and (c) are true. Hence option (d) is correct answer.

28. The President of India can be removed from office even before the expiry of the term. [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1994]

Correct Answer: (c) Through impeachment
Solution:As per Article 55 of the Constitution of India, the election of the President shall be held in accordance with the system of proportional representation by means of a single transferable vote and the voting at such election shall be done by secret ballot. Hence option (a) is correct. The nomination of a candidate for election to the office of president must be subscribed by at least 50 electors as proposers and 50 electors as seconders. Hence option (b) is correct. The value of the vote of each MLA (Members of Legislative Assemblies) varies from state to state. It's based on 1971 census data. Hence all the option (a), (b) and (c) are true. Hence option (d) is correct answer.

29. By which House of Parliament, impeachment may be Imposed on President? [Jharkhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2003]

Correct Answer: (c) By any House of Parliament
Solution:As per Article 55 of the Constitution of India, the election of the President shall be held in accordance with the system of proportional representation by means of a single transferable vote and the voting at such election shall be done by secret ballot. Hence option (a) is correct. The nomination of a candidate for election to the office of president must be subscribed by at least 50 electors as proposers and 50 electors as seconders. Hence option (b) is correct. The value of the vote of each MLA (Members of Legislative Assemblies) varies from state to state. It's based on 1971 census data. Hence all the option (a), (b) and (c) are true.

30. Which Article of the Indian constitution provides the Provisions related to the impeachment of the President? [M.P.P.C.S. (Pre.) 2022]

Correct Answer: (c) Article 61
Solution:Article 61 of the Indian Constitution provides the procedure for impeachment of the President. As per this provision, the President can be removed from office by a process of impeachment (a quasi-judicial procedure in the Parliament) for "violation of the Constitution'. However, the Constitution does not define the meaning of the phrase "violation of the Constitution'. The impeachment charges can be initiated by either House of Parliament after giving a 14 days' Prior-notice to the President. These charges should be signed by one- fourth of the members of the House (that framed the charges). After the impeachment resolution is passed by a majority of two-thirds of the total membership of that House, it is sent to the other House, which should investigate the charges. If the other House also sustains the charges and passes the impeachment resolution by a majority of two-thirds of the total membership, then the President stands removed from his office from the date on which the resolution is so passed. However, no President has so far been impeached.