Indian Union Executive

Article 53 of the Constitution states that executive power of the Union is vested in the President, who is the head of the State. The Prime Minister is the head of government.

Articles 148 to 151 of the Constitution deal with the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) - covering appointment, oath, conditions of service, duties, and powers. Article 152 is a separate interpretation provision.

Article 143 of the Constitution authorizes the President to consult the Supreme Court on any question of law or fact of public importance. Article 145 deals with Supreme Court rules, Article 144 with civil/judicial authorities acting in cooperation, and Article 146 with CAG appointment.

Article 75(1) states that the President appoints the Prime Minister, and other Ministers are appointed by the President on the advice of the Prime Minister. The President acts on aid and advice of the Council of Ministers.

The President appoints the Prime Minister, other Union Ministers, the Chief Justice of India, and the Chief Election Commissioner (on Election Commission advice). The Chief Minister of a State is appointed by the respective State's Governor, not the President.

Article 118(4) and rules of procedure provide that the Speaker of the Lok Sabha (House of the People) presides over a joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament. The Speaker has the powers of both Houses combined.

The Union Cabinet consists of Cabinet Ministers only. Ministers of State (with or without independent charge) are not members of the Cabinet and do not attend Cabinet meetings unless specially invited. The President does not attend Cabinet meetings.

Article 67 states that the Vice President is elected by members of both Houses of Parliament (Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha) by proportional representation. Unlike the President, elected members of state legislatures do NOT participate in the Vice Presidential election.

The Prime Minister holds office only during the pleasure of the President (Article 75). However, by convention, the PM must enjoy majority support in Lok Sabha. Rejection of budget proposals by Lok Sabha is treated as a loss of confidence, requiring resignation.

Correct Answer: No law of a municipal board can be enforced without his assent.

Article 74 states that the President shall act on aid and advice of the Council of Ministers. If the President sends back advice for reconsideration and the Council resends the same advice, the President has NO option but to accept it. This is based on the 42nd Constitutional Amendment (ministers' advice is binding).

Indira Gandhi became Prime Minister in 1966 but was not a member of Lok Sabha initially. She was elected to Rajya Sabha in 1966 and later to Lok Sabha in 1967. Nehru, Shastri, and Morarji Desai were all Lok Sabha members when they became PM.

Under Article 217 of the Constitution, the President appoints judges to High Courts. The appointment is made after consultation with the Chief Justice of India, the Chief Justice of the concerned High Court, and the Governor of the state. The Governor does NOT have independent appointment power - they only participate in the consultation process.

Dr. Shree Nagendra Singh served as a Judge at the International Court of Justice from 1973-1988 and was elected President of the ICJ for the term 1985-1988. He was a distinguished Indian jurist and diplomat. R.S. Pathak was also an ICJ Judge but did not serve as President. P.N. Bhagwati was Chief Justice of India, and A.N. Mullah (likely referring to Fazl Ali) is not associated with the ICJ presidency.

Correct Answer: an elected President
In a republic form of government, the head of the state is an elected person and not a heredity monarch. This word denotes a government where no one holds a public power as proprietary right. As opposed to a monarchy, in which the head of state is appointed on hereditary basis for a lifetime or until he abdicates from the throne, a democratic republic is an entity in which the head of state is elected, directly or indirectly, for a fixed tenure. The President of India is elected by an electoral college for a term of five years. The post of the President of India is not hereditary. Every citizen of India is eligible to become the President of the country. The leader of the state is elected by the people.