1. Who forms the electoral college for electing the President of India?
A Elected MPs together with nominated members of State Legislative Assemblies
B All MPs and all MLAs, including nominated members
C Only elected members of the Lok Sabha
D Elected MPs of both Houses and elected MLAs of States, Delhi, and Puducherry
Article 54 names elected members of both Houses of Parliament and elected members of State Legislative Assemblies. Delhi and Puducherry are also included; nominated members do not vote in this election.
2. How is the President of India elected?
A By a direct vote of all citizens
B By the Lok Sabha alone through an open ballot
C By a simple majority vote in a joint sitting
D By proportional representation using the single transferable vote and secret ballot
Article 55 provides for proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote. Voting is by secret ballot.
3. On what ground can the President of India be impeached?
A Loss of confidence in the Lok Sabha
B A vote by State Legislatures
C Violation of the Constitution
D A disagreement with the Supreme Court
Article 61 allows impeachment of the President for violation of the Constitution. The Constitution does not list ordinary political disagreement as a ground.
4. What is required before a House may move a resolution to impeach the President?
A Seven days’ notice signed by one-tenth of its members
B At least 14 days’ written notice signed by at least one-fourth of that House’s total members
C Prior approval from every State Legislature
D A 30-day notice signed by half of both Houses
Article 61 requires written notice of at least 14 days, signed by not less than one-fourth of the total members of the House that prefers the charge.
5. Can a person who has served one term as President of India be elected again?
A Yes, the Constitution does not set a limit on the number of terms
B No, only one term is allowed
C Yes, only after a gap of ten years
D Yes, but only for one additional term
Article 57 says a person who holds or has held the office of President is eligible for re-election. It sets no maximum number of terms.
6. Who administers the oath of office to the President of India?
A The Chief Justice of India, or the senior-most available Supreme Court judge if the Chief Justice is absent
B The Prime Minister in every case
C The Attorney General for India
D The Speaker of the Lok Sabha
Under Article 60, the President takes the oath before the Chief Justice of India. If the Chief Justice is absent, the senior-most available Supreme Court judge administers it.
7. Who votes in the election of the Vice-President of India?
A Only elected MPs of both Houses
B Only members of the Rajya Sabha
C Members of both Houses of Parliament, including nominated members
D Members of Parliament and elected MLAs
Article 66 provides that members of both Houses of Parliament elect the Vice-President. Unlike the President’s election, nominated MPs are included and State MLAs do not vote.
8. How can the Vice-President be removed from office?
A The Supreme Court removes the Vice-President after an inquiry
B The President removes the Vice-President alone
C A joint sitting removes the Vice-President by two-thirds vote
D The Rajya Sabha passes a resolution by a majority of all its then members and the Lok Sabha agrees to it
Article 67(b) provides this removal process. The resolution must begin in the Rajya Sabha and be agreed to by the Lok Sabha.
9. What special right does the Attorney General for India have in Parliament under Article 88?
A The right to speak and take part in proceedings, but not to vote
B The right to introduce a Money Bill
C The right to vote in both Houses
D The right to preside over a joint sitting
Article 88 gives the Attorney General the right to speak and participate in either House and its committees where named. It does not give a vote.
10. Who decides whether a Bill is a Money Bill for Parliament?
A The Finance Commission
B The President alone
C The Speaker of the Lok Sabha
D The Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha
Article 110(3) says that if a question arises whether a Bill is a Money Bill, the decision of the Speaker of the Lok Sabha is final.
11. How long may the Rajya Sabha keep a Money Bill before returning it to the Lok Sabha?
A Up to 14 days
B It may keep it until the next session
C Up to 30 days
D Up to six months
Under Article 109, the Rajya Sabha must return a Money Bill within 14 days, with or without recommendations. The Lok Sabha may accept or reject those recommendations.
12. What may the President summon when the Houses disagree on an ordinary Bill in the situations listed in Article 108?
A A joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament
B A special session of State Governors
C A joint sitting of Parliament and State Legislatures
D A meeting of the Supreme Court and Parliament
Article 108 provides for a joint sitting in specified cases of disagreement or delay on an ordinary Bill. It is presided over by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha.
13. What is the quorum needed to conduct a sitting of either House of Parliament?
A One-third of the total members
B Two-thirds of the members present
C Half of the total members
D One-tenth of the total number of members of that House
Article 100(3) fixes the quorum for a House at one-tenth of its total membership, unless Parliament provides otherwise by law.
14. What is the maximum gap allowed between the last sitting of one Parliament session and the first sitting of the next?
A Three months
B One year
C Six months
D Nine months
Article 85 requires that six months must not intervene between the last sitting in one session and the first sitting in the next session.
15. In what situation may the President promulgate an ordinance under Article 123?
A Only after both Houses pass a resolution
B When one or both Houses of Parliament are not in session and immediate action is needed
C Whenever a State Legislature asks for one
D Only during a joint sitting of Parliament
Article 123 permits an ordinance when Parliament is not fully in session and the President is satisfied that immediate action is necessary. It has the force of an Act while it remains in effect.
16. After Parliament reassembles, when does a presidential ordinance normally cease to operate if not approved?
A Six months after it is issued
B At the end of the financial year
C Six weeks after Parliament reassembles
D One year after the first sitting
Article 123 says an ordinance ceases six weeks after Parliament reassembles, unless it is approved earlier or ceases sooner. If the Houses reassemble on different dates, the later date is used.
17. Which three grounds can support a National Emergency under Article 352?
A War, external aggression, or armed rebellion
B Drought, inflation, or a hung Parliament
C Financial loss, internal disturbance, or an election dispute
D Failure of a State government, war, or a strike
Article 352 lists war, external aggression, and armed rebellion as the grounds. “Internal disturbance” was replaced by “armed rebellion” by the 44th Amendment.
18. What written step must precede a National Emergency proclamation under Article 352?
A The Supreme Court must first approve it
B The Rajya Sabha must pass a resolution first
C The Union Cabinet’s decision to issue it must be communicated to the President in writing
D Every State Cabinet must sign a joint request
Article 352(3) requires the Union Cabinet’s decision to issue the proclamation to be communicated to the President in writing.
19. During a National Emergency, which body may make laws on subjects in the State List under Article 250?
A The Finance Commission
B Parliament
C Only the State Legislature concerned
D The Supreme Court
Article 250 allows Parliament to legislate on State List matters while a National Emergency is in operation. The law generally stops operating six months after the emergency ends.
20. What situation is addressed by Article 356?
A A State asks to change its official language
B A State has no Legislative Council
C A State government cannot be carried on according to the Constitution
D A State government misses its annual budget deadline
Article 356 allows action when the President is satisfied that a State government cannot be carried on in accordance with the Constitution. The basis may be a Governor’s report or other information.
21. What condition may justify a Financial Emergency under Article 360?
A A delay in passing a municipal budget
B A threat to the financial stability or credit of India or any part of it
C A fall in the stock market on one trading day
D A shortfall in one State’s tax collection
Article 360 concerns a situation where the financial stability or credit of India or any part of its territory is threatened.
22. How soon must Parliament approve a Financial Emergency proclamation?
A Within one year
B Within two months
C Within one month
D Within six months
Under Article 360, a Financial Emergency proclamation must be approved by both Houses of Parliament within two months.
23. When may a Governor promulgate an ordinance under Article 213?
A Only during a National Emergency
B Only after the High Court approves a draft
C Whenever the State Cabinet asks, even while the Legislature is sitting
D When the Assembly is not in session; in a bicameral State, when both Houses are not in session together; and immediate action is needed
Article 213 bars an ordinance while the Assembly is in session or, in a bicameral State, while both Houses are in session. The Governor must also be satisfied that immediate action is necessary.
24. How often must the President normally constitute a Finance Commission?
A Every year
B Once during each President’s term
C Every fifth year, or earlier if needed
D Every ten years only
Article 280 directs the President to constitute a Finance Commission at the end of every fifth year or earlier if the President considers it necessary.
25. How are the Comptroller and Auditor-General’s Union reports placed before Parliament?
A The Prime Minister lays them before the Lok Sabha only
B The President lays them before each House of Parliament
C The Finance Commission publishes them instead
D The Speaker sends them directly to State Assemblies
Article 151 provides that the CAG’s Union reports are submitted to the President, who causes them to be laid before each House of Parliament.
26. At what age does a High Court judge normally retire?
A 62 years
B 60 years
C 70 years
D 65 years
Article 217 provides that a High Court judge holds office until the age of 62 years, unless the judge resigns or is removed earlier under the Constitution.
27. At what age does a Supreme Court judge normally retire?
A 60 years
B 65 years
C 68 years
D 62 years
Article 124(2) provides that a Supreme Court judge holds office until the age of 65 years, unless the judge resigns or is removed earlier under the Constitution.
28. Which Article makes the law declared by the Supreme Court binding on all courts in India?
A Article 136
B Article 226
C Article 143
D Article 141
Article 141 states that the law declared by the Supreme Court is binding on all courts within the territory of India.
29. Which body conducts elections to Panchayats under Article 243K?
A Election Commission of India
B Finance Commission
C Union Public Service Commission
D The State Election Commission
Article 243K vests the preparation of electoral rolls and conduct of Panchayat elections in the State Election Commission. The Election Commission of India handles elections listed in Article 324.
30. Who acts as President when the office of President becomes vacant or the President cannot perform the duties of the office?
A The Vice-President
B The Chief Election Commissioner
C The Prime Minister
D The Speaker of the Lok Sabha
Article 65 provides that the Vice-President acts as President when a vacancy occurs and discharges the President’s functions during certain periods of inability.