The President (Indian Polity and Governance) Part-III

Total Questions: 45

11. The single instance of the unanimous election of the President of India so far was the election of- [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2004]

Correct Answer: (d) Neelam Sanjiva Reddy
Solution:Neelam Sanjiva Reddy was elected the President of India unanimously (unopposed). His tenure was from 1977 to 1982.

About Neelam Sanjiva Reddy

  • He was one of the foremost political leaders from Andhra Pradesh. He participated in various freedom struggles against the British and was imprisoned several times.
  • He was elected to the Constituent Assembly in India.
  • The chief minister of Andhra Pradesh:
    When the Andhra Province was separated from Madras and T.                  Prakasam became the Chief Minister of Andhra, Sanjeeva Reddy               was appointed Deputy Chief Minister.
    When the new state of Andhra Pradesh was constituted Sanjeeva Reddy became its first Chief Minister and served in that capacity from 1956 to 1959. He again became the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh in 1962 for one year.
  • Lok sabha speaker: Sanjeeva was the speaker of the Lok Sabha from 1967 to 1969.
  • Presidential election against VV Giri:
    ∗ He then contested for the office of the President as the official                 Congress candidate against V. V. Giri who was then the Vice-                    President.
    ∗  The Presidential resulted in the split of the Congress with an                    overwhelming section siding with Indira Gandhi, who had                        rebelled against the old guard, headed by Shri Nijalingappa, which  came to be known as the Congress (0).
    ∗ Thus Congress came to be divided into the Congress (0) and                    Congress (R) parties. The Presidential election went in favour of             Mr. V. V. Giri.
  • President of India (25 July 1977 to 25 July 1982): After the defeat of the Congress (R) in the Lok Sabha elections of 1977, Sanjeeva Reddy was elected with the backing of the Janata Party as the sixth President of India. As president, Reddy worked with Prime Ministers Morarji Desai, Charan Singh and Indira Gandhi.
  • Reddy authored a book, Without Fear or Favour: Reminiscences and Reflections of a President, published in 1989

12. Match List-1 with List-II and select the correct answer using the code given below the list: [U.P. Lover Sub. (Mains) 2013]

List-I (President)List-II (Term)
A. Fakhruddhin Ali Ahmed1. 1969-1974
B. N. Sanjiva Reddy2. 1974-1977
C. Dr. Zakir Hussain3. 1977-1982
D. V.V. Giri4. 1967-1969

 

Code :
ABCD
(a)3214
(b)2314
(c)2341
(d)4321
Correct Answer: (c)
Solution:The Match List-I and List-II is as follows:
List-I (President)List-II (Term)
Fakhruddhin Ali Ahmed1974-1977
N. Sanjiva Reddy1977-1982
Dr. Zakir Hussain1967-1969
V.V. Giri1969-1974

13. Who of the following before becoming the President of India did not hold the office of Vice-President? [U.P. Lower Sub. (Pre) 2002]

Correct Answer: (c) Neelam Sanjiva Reddy
Solution:In the given options, Neelam Sanjiva Reddy was the President who had not held the office of Vice-President before the appointment as a President.

About Neelam Sanjiva Reddy

  • He was one of the foremost political leaders from Andhra Pradesh. He participated in various freedom struggles against the British and was imprisoned several times.
  • He was elected to the Constituent Assembly in India.
  • The chief minister of Andhra Pradesh:
    When the Andhra Province was separated from Madras and T.                  Prakasam became the Chief Minister of Andhra, Sanjeeva Reddy               was appointed Deputy Chief Minister.
    When the new state of Andhra Pradesh was constituted Sanjeeva Reddy became its first Chief Minister and served in that capacity from 1956 to 1959. He again became the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh in 1962 for one year.
  • Lok sabha speaker: Sanjeeva was the speaker of the Lok Sabha from 1967 to 1969.
  • Presidential election against VV Giri:
    ∗ He then contested for the office of the President as the official                 Congress candidate against V. V. Giri who was then the Vice-                    President.
    ∗  The Presidential resulted in the split of the Congress with an                    overwhelming section siding with Indira Gandhi, who had                        rebelled against the old guard, headed by Shri Nijalingappa, which  came to be known as the Congress (0).
    ∗ Thus Congress came to be divided into the Congress (0) and                    Congress (R) parties. The Presidential election went in favour of             Mr. V. V. Giri.
  • President of India (25 July 1977 to 25 July 1982): After the defeat of the Congress (R) in the Lok Sabha elections of 1977, Sanjeeva Reddy was elected with the backing of the Janata Party as the sixth President of India. As president, Reddy worked with Prime Ministers Morarji Desai, Charan Singh and Indira Gandhi.
  • Reddy authored a book, Without Fear or Favour: Reminiscences and Reflections of a President, published in 1989

14. Which one of the following did not serve as Vice President before assuming the office of the President of India? [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2022]

Correct Answer: (a) Neelam Sanjiva Reddy
Solution:In the given options, Neelam Sanjiva Reddy was the President who had not held the office of Vice-President before the appointment as a President.\

About Neelam Sanjiva Reddy

  • He was one of the foremost political leaders from Andhra Pradesh. He participated in various freedom struggles against the British and was imprisoned several times.
  • He was elected to the Constituent Assembly in India.
  • The chief minister of Andhra Pradesh:
    When the Andhra Province was separated from Madras and T.                  Prakasam became the Chief Minister of Andhra, Sanjeeva Reddy               was appointed Deputy Chief Minister.
    When the new state of Andhra Pradesh was constituted Sanjeeva Reddy became its first Chief Minister and served in that capacity from 1956 to 1959. He again became the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh in 1962 for one year.
  • Lok sabha speaker: Sanjeeva was the speaker of the Lok Sabha from 1967 to 1969.
  • Presidential election against VV Giri:
    ∗ He then contested for the office of the President as the official                 Congress candidate against V. V. Giri who was then the Vice-                    President.
    ∗  The Presidential resulted in the split of the Congress with an                    overwhelming section siding with Indira Gandhi, who had                        rebelled against the old guard, headed by Shri Nijalingappa, which  came to be known as the Congress (0).
    ∗ Thus Congress came to be divided into the Congress (0) and                    Congress (R) parties. The Presidential election went in favour of             Mr. V. V. Giri.
  • President of India (25 July 1977 to 25 July 1982): After the defeat of the Congress (R) in the Lok Sabha elections of 1977, Sanjeeva Reddy was elected with the backing of the Janata Party as the sixth President of India. As president, Reddy worked with Prime Ministers Morarji Desai, Charan Singh and Indira Gandhi.
  • Reddy authored a book, Without Fear or Favour: Reminiscences and Reflections of a President, published in 1989

15. Which of the following Indian President also served as Speaker of Lok Sabha? [U.P.R.O/A.R.O. (Pre) 2021]

Correct Answer: (d) Neelam Sanjiva Reddy
Solution:Neelam Sanjiva Reddy as the sixth President of India, served as a two-time speaker of Lok Sabha from 17 March, 1967 to 19 July, 1969 and from 26 March, 1977 to 13 July, 1977.

About Neelam Sanjiva Reddy

  • He was one of the foremost political leaders from Andhra Pradesh. He participated in various freedom struggles against the British and was imprisoned several times.
  • He was elected to the Constituent Assembly in India.
  • The chief minister of Andhra Pradesh:
    When the Andhra Province was separated from Madras and T.                  Prakasam became the Chief Minister of Andhra, Sanjeeva Reddy               was appointed Deputy Chief Minister.
    When the new state of Andhra Pradesh was constituted Sanjeeva Reddy became its first Chief Minister and served in that capacity from 1956 to 1959. He again became the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh in 1962 for one year.
  • Lok sabha speaker: Sanjeeva was the speaker of the Lok Sabha from 1967 to 1969.
  • Presidential election against VV Giri:
    ∗ He then contested for the office of the President as the official                 Congress candidate against V. V. Giri who was then the Vice-                    President.
    ∗  The Presidential resulted in the split of the Congress with an                    overwhelming section siding with Indira Gandhi, who had                        rebelled against the old guard, headed by Shri Nijalingappa, which  came to be known as the Congress (0).
    ∗ Thus Congress came to be divided into the Congress (0) and                    Congress (R) parties. The Presidential election went in favour of             Mr. V. V. Giri.
  • President of India (25 July 1977 to 25 July 1982): After the defeat of the Congress (R) in the Lok Sabha elections of 1977, Sanjeeva Reddy was elected with the backing of the Janata Party as the sixth President of India. As president, Reddy worked with Prime Ministers Morarji Desai, Charan Singh and Indira Gandhi.
  • Reddy authored a book, Without Fear or Favour: Reminiscences and Reflections of a President, published in 1989

16. Among the following Presidents of India, who is known as the Philosopher King or the Philosopher Ruler? [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2014]

Correct Answer: (a) Dr. Radhakrishnan
Solution:The Second President of India (1962-1967), Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, is known as the Philosopher king or the Philosopher Ruler.

Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, a leader, politician, philosopher, and academic from India. He first served as India's vice president before becoming the nation's second president. Writing about, defending, and promoting his beliefs-which he referred to as Hinduism, Vedanta, and the religion of the Spirit was Radhakrishnan's life's work. He made an effort to show how his Hinduism was both morally and intellectually sound. His prose contains both Western and Indian components, and he seems at home in both Indian and Western intellectual traditions. As a result, Radhakrishnan has received appreciation in academic circles as a representation of Hinduism in the West.

17. Who among the following Presidents of India was associated with Trade Union Movement? [U.P.P.C.S.(Pre) 2012]

Correct Answer: (a) V. V. Giri
Solution:The fourth president of India, V.V. Giri (1969-1974) was associated with trade union movements. He was also the chairman of the All India Trade Union Congress for two terms.
  • After independence, V V Giri served in various capacities in the government. He was the High Commissioner to Ceylon, the Union Minister for Labour and the governor of Kerala, Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka.
  • He was elected the Vice President of the country in 1967 till 1969 when he became the Acting President upon the death of the then President Zakir Hussain.
  • He contested as an independent candidate in the presidential elections of 1969 which he won. Thus, he became India's fourth president.
  • He was the President of India from 1969 to 1974.
  • After the end of his term, he was awarded the Bharat Ratna in 1975.
  • Giri died in 1980 in Chennai aged 85.

18. Which President of India was called the ''Missile Man"? [U.D.A./L.D.A. (Pre) 2007]

Correct Answer: (b) Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam
Solution:The 11-Indian President (as an individual) Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, whose term of office was from 2002 to 2007, was also known as 'the Missile Man" for his work on the development of Ballistic Missile and Satellite Launch Vehicle technology.

Glimpse of Dr. Kalam's Life

  • Kalam, a recipient of the Bharat Ratna award, was born in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu.
  • Throughout his career, Kalam held prominent positions as an administrator in the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) and the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO).
  • In 2002, this esteemed aerospace scientist became the 11th President of India, serving in office until 2007. Following his presidency, he continued to devote himself to teaching.
  • He took on roles as a visiting professor at the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) in Ahmedabad, IIM Shillong, and IIM-Indore.
  • For his contributions as a scientific advisor to the government of India, Kalam was honoured with the Padma Vibhushan and the Padma Bhushan awards.
  • Nevertheless, the significant contributions of Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam to scientific and technological advancements in the country are still remembered tod

19. Who among the following Chief Justices of India also acted as the President of India? [UP.P.C.S. (Mains) 2003, U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2004]

Correct Answer: (b) Justice M. Hidayatullah
Solution:Former Chief Justice of India M. Hidayatullah served as acting President of India from 20 July, 1969 to 24 August, 1969.

Office of President 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.)

20. Who was the principal leader of the Indian nationalist movement in the 1930s and 1940s. [M.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1991]

Correct Answer: (d) Jawaharlal Nehru
Solution:Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru was the Prime Minister of India, while the rest of others were Presidents.

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.