The President (Indian Polity and Governance) Part-III

Total Questions: 45

21. What is the sequence number of Ms. Pratibha Patil as the President of the Republic of India? [48th to 52nd B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2008, U.P. Lower Sub. (Pre) 2015]

Correct Answer: (c) 12
Solution:Pratibha Devi Singh Patil (25 July 2007 to 25 July 2012) took oath as the 12- President of India on 25 July 2007. She was the first woman President of India. According to the tenure- order she was the 14" President of India.

Smt. Patil started her professional career as a practicing lawyer at the Jalgaon District Court and simultaneously devoted herself to various social activities, especially, for the upliftment of poor women. At the young age of 27 years, she successfully contested her first election to the Maharashtra State Legislature from the Jalgaon Assembly constituency. Subsequently she was continuously elected four times as MLA from the Edlabad (Muktai Nagar) constituency till 1985. Thereafter, she served as a Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha from 1985 to 1990 and later elected as a Member of Parliament to the 10th Lok Sabha in the 1991 General Elections from the Amravati constituency. She enjoys the unique distinction of not having lost a single election that she contested till date.

22. Who was the candidate of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) in 15th Presidential Election in India? [67th B.P.S.C. (Pre) (Re-Exam) 2021]

Correct Answer: (e) None of the above/More than one of the above
Solution:Meera Kumar was the candidate of the United progressive alliance in the 15th Presidential election in India so option (e) is correct. However, the former Jharkhand Governor Draupadi Murmu was the official candidate of the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA), while former Union Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha was the candidate supported by the opposition parties in the 16th Presidential election.
  • The President is elected by the 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 States and the Union Territories of Delhi and Pondicherry.
  • Therefore, those nominated to both Houses of Parliament, state legislative assemblies, state legislative councils (if applicable), and the Legislative Assemblies of Delhi and Puducherry are not eligible to vote in the presidential election.
  • Members of the electoral college vote for the President in a system of proportional representation by means of a single transferable vote, where each member has a single vote that can be transferred to other candidates in a sequence of preferences. The candidate who receives the majority of votes in the electoral college is elected as the President of India.

23. Which one of the following President of India has been the Governor of Bihar? [U.P.P.C.S. (Spl) (Mains) 2004]

Correct Answer: (c) Dr. Zakir Hussain
Solution:Dr. Zakir Husain held the office of Governor (Bihar) from 6 July, 1957 to 11 May, 1962, Vice-President from 13 May, 1962 to 12 May, 1967 and the office of President from 13 May, 1967 to 3 May, 1969 (till death).
  • Dr. Zakir Husain (08 Feb 1897-03 May 1969) was an Indian statesman, and the first Muslim to hold the position of President of India in 1967.
  • He was also appointed governor of Bihar state in 1957 and was elected vice-president of India in 1962.
  • He helped found the Muslim National University in Aligarh (later moved to New Delhi) and served as its vice-chancellor from 1926 to 1948.
  • At Mahatma Gandhi's invitation, he also became chairman of the National Committee on Basic Education, established in 1937 to design a Gandhian syllabus for schools.
  • During 1956-58, he served on the executive board of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

24. Which of the following President was appeared before Supreme Court, when Supreme Court was hearing election dispute of the President? [Chhattisgarh P.C.S. (Pre) 2016]

Correct Answer: (b) V.V. Gin
Solution:Former President V.V. Giri appeared in person before the Supreme Court as an incumbent President of India following a petition filed in the Supreme Court contesting the validity of election on the ground of having used corrupt practices to influence voters. The bench headed by Justice S.M. Sikri ultimately dismissed the petition and upheld Giri's election as President. Notably, V.V. Giri had got the majority on counting the second preference votes.

25. Rashtrapati Bhavan was designed by: [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2014]

Correct Answer: (c) Edwin Lutyens
Solution:Rashtrapati Bhavan is the official home of the President of India. It was designed by the British Architect Edwin Lutyens It was known as Viceroy House till 1947. C.

Rajgopalachari became the first Indian to reside in this 'Government House' On 21 June, 1948.

On 15 August, 1947, its name was changed to Government House.

26. Who among the following has the power to withhold assent to a Bill, after it has been passed by the two Houses of Parliament? [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2011]

Correct Answer: (a) The President
Solution:According to the 111 of the Indian Constitution, when a Bill has been 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.

27. Which of the following are the discretionary power of the president? [Chhattisgarh P.C.S. (Pre) 2014]

(i) Appointment of Council of Ministers

(ii) To return a Bill with objections

(iii) To withhold a Bill

(iv) To pardon

(v) To summon joint sessions

(vi) To send message to Parliament

(vii) Appointment of Judges

Correct Answer: (c) (iii), (vi), (vi)
Solution:To return the Bill with objections and to with hold the Bill, are the discretionary powers of the President. While the power of appointment of Judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts and appointment of the Council of Ministers is the executive power, and to summon the joint session of Parliament is the legislative power of the President. Under Article 86(2), The President may send messages to either house of Parliament whether with respect to a bill then pending in parliament or otherwise, and a house to which any message is so sent shall, with all convenient dispatch, consider any matter required by the message to be taken into consideration.

28. On which matter, it is not essential for the President to take advice from the Council of Ministers? [Chhattisgarh P.C.S. (Pre) 2015]

Correct Answer: (b) To assent to Bills
Solution:According to Article 111 of the Indian Constitution, when a Bill has been passed by both the House of Parliament, it shall be presented to the President, who shall either give assent to Bill or withhold assent therefrom. It is not essential to take advice from the Council of Ministers in the case when assent to a Bill is given by the President. While in other cases given in the options, it is essential to take advice from the Council of Ministers.
Note: According to the Chhattisgarh Public Service Commission correct answer is option (b).

29. Which of this is the legislative power of the President according to constitution? [P.C.S. (Pre) 2018]

Correct Answer: (d) To promulgate ordinance Chhattisgarh
Solution:The President is an integral part of the parliament of India He can promulgate ordinances when the parliament is not in session. Thus ordinances must be approved by the Parliament with in six weeks of its reassembly. He can also withdraw an ordinance at any time. The power to promulgate an ordinance, is thus the legislative power of the President. Thee of the President to promulgate ordinances is mentioned 123 of the Constitution of India.

30. Which of the following is the discretionary powers of President? [Chhattisgarh P.C.S. (Pre) 2017]

1. To appoint Prime Minister to the leader of majority party.

ii. To summon the Parliament.

iii. To return a bill to the Parliament with objections.

iv. To appoint the members of Council of Ministers.

v. To assent the bill referred by Governor.

vi. To detain a bill.

vii. To ask the Prime Minister for such information related to any advise.

viii. To say the Council of Ministers for reconsideration on any advise.

Correct Answer: (d) iii, vi, vii, viii
Solution:Under the discretionary powers of the President, he is entitled to-

(i) Return a bill to the Parliament with objections To detain a bill.

(ii) Ask the Prime Minister for such information related to any matter.

(ii) To ask the Council of Ministers for reconsideration on any advise.