Indian Politics Questions and Answers

Answer: D

Correct answer: The President

The Governor is appointed by the President under Article 155, by warrant under hand and seal, and holds office during the President’s pleasure for a term of five years. This is a deliberate departure from the American model, where state governors are elected. It was borrowed from Canada, and it makes the Governor an agent of the centre as well as the constitutional head of the state - a dual role that is the source of most controversy about the office. The Governor acts on the advice of the state Council of Ministers in almost all matters, but retains discretion in a few: reserving a bill for the President’s consideration, recommending President’s Rule under Article 356, and appointing a Chief Minister where no party has a clear majority. Because there is no fixed security of tenure, governors have often been replaced when the government at the centre changes. The Sarkaria and Punchhi Commissions both recommended safeguards, including consultation with the Chief Minister before appointment.

Answer: B

P.M. Sayeed had the longest tenure from one constituency among those listed, representing Lakshadweep for ten consecutive terms from 1967 to 2004.

He served as Union Power Minister and as Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha.

Answer: B

The chairman of the Public Accounts Committee is appointed by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha.

Since 1967 the post has by convention gone to a member of the opposition, which is what allows the committee to scrutinise government spending with real independence. It examines the CAG's reports.

Answer: A

Standing committee members are drawn from the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha in the ratio of two to one.

A departmentally related standing committee has 31 members, 21 from the Lok Sabha and 10 from the Rajya Sabha, reflecting the relative strength of the two Houses.

Answer: A

The chief minister's position in a state is similar to that of the prime minister at the centre.

Each heads the council of ministers, is the leader of the majority in the lower house, and advises the constitutional head - governor or president - who is bound to act on that advice.

Answer: D

Correct answer: The executive is drawn from and answerable to the legislature

In a parliamentary system the executive is drawn from the legislature and remains collectively responsible to it, so a government that loses the confidence of the House must resign. Powers are fused rather than separated. In a presidential system, as in the United States, the executive is separately elected, is not a member of the legislature, and cannot be removed by it except through impeachment for specified offences. Powers are separated and checked. The other features follow from this. A parliamentary system has a nominal head of state and a real head of government - in India the President and the Prime Minister - whereas a presidential system combines both in one office. A parliamentary executive has no fixed term; a presidential one does. The framers chose the parliamentary model chiefly because India was already familiar with it from the Government of India Acts, and because they valued day-to-day accountability over the stability a fixed term provides.

Answer: D

A candidate for president must be proposed by ten members of the Electoral College and seconded by ten more.

The requirement, along with a security deposit, was introduced to keep out frivolous candidates; it was raised to fifty proposers and fifty seconders in 1997.

Answer: D

A legislative council is created or abolished by Parliament, on a resolution of the state's legislative assembly.

Article 169 requires the assembly to pass the resolution by a majority of its total membership and two-thirds of those present and voting; Parliament then legislates. Only six states currently have a council.

Answer: B

Correct answer: War, external aggression or armed rebellion

Article 352 permits a national emergency where the security of India is threatened by war, external aggression or armed rebellion. The last of those grounds was originally internal disturbance, a much vaguer phrase under which the Emergency of 1975–77 was proclaimed. The 44th Amendment of 1978 replaced it with armed rebellion and added safeguards: the Cabinet must recommend the proclamation in writing, Parliament must approve it within a month by a special majority, and it must be renewed every six months. The Lok Sabha can revoke it by simple majority. During such an emergency the federal structure effectively becomes unitary, Parliament may legislate on state subjects, and the freedoms in Article 19 are suspended if the ground is war or external aggression. Articles 20 and 21 can never be suspended, another change made in 1978. It has been declared three times: in 1962, 1971 and 1975. Failure of state machinery falls under Article 356 and financial emergency under Article 360.

Answer: A

Correct answer: In the Lok Sabha, on the recommendation of the President

A Money Bill may be introduced only in the Lok Sabha and only on the recommendation of the President, under Article 117. It can be moved only by a minister. The requirement of presidential recommendation reflects the principle that the executive alone can propose taxation and expenditure; the legislature grants or refuses, but does not initiate. Once passed by the Lok Sabha, the Rajya Sabha may keep the bill for no more than fourteen days and may only make recommendations, which the Lok Sabha is free to reject. There can be no joint sitting on a Money Bill, since no deadlock can arise. A bill is a Money Bill only if it deals exclusively with the matters listed in Article 110 - taxation, borrowing, the Consolidated and Contingency Funds, appropriation, and related matters. The Speaker’s certificate that it is one is final, and that certification has itself become contentious, since it determines whether the Rajya Sabha has any real say.