GK Test - 27

Key Points

• Mamta Banerjee was the first female Railway minister of India in the Atal Bihari Government (2000–2004) for one year.
• In 2000, in her first rail budget, she introduced a lot of new express trains in West Bengal.
• She also concentrated on tourism development, allowing the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway segment to receive two more locomotives, and recommended the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation Limited (IRCTC).

Important Points

Key Points

• The Vice-President holds office for a term of five years from the date on which he enters his office. Hence statement 3 is correct.
• However, he can resign from his office at any time by addressing the resignation letter to the President.
• He can also be removed from office before the completion of his term.
• A formal impeachment is not required for his removal.
• He can be removed by a resolution passed by a majority of all the then members of the Rajya Sabha and agreed to by the Lok Sabha. Hence statement 4 is incorrect.
• This means that this resolution should be passed in the Rajya Sabha by an effective majority and in the Lok Sabha by a simple majority.
• It must be noted here that the effective majority in India is only a type of special majority and not a separate one.
• Further, this resolution can be introduced only in the Rajya Sabha and not in the Lok Sabha.
• But, no such resolution can be moved unless at least 14 days advance notice has been given.
• Notably, no ground has been mentioned in the Constitution for his removal.
• The Vice-President can hold office beyond his term of five years until his successor assumes charge.
•  Members of the State legislature do not take part in his elections. Hence statement 1 is correct.
• He is also eligible for re-election to that office.
• He may be elected for any number of terms.

Additional Information

• Important articles of Vice President:
  • ARTICLE 63: There shall be a Vice-President of India.
  • ARTICLE 64: The Vice-President shall be ex-officio Chairman of the Council of States and shall not hold any other office of profit. Hence statement 2 is correct.
  • ARTICLE 65: The Vice-President shall act as President in the event of the occurrence of any vacancy in the office of the President by reason of this death, resignation or removal, or otherwise.
  • ARTICLE 66: Election of Vice President.
  • ARTICLE 93: There will Lok Sabha speaker and deputy speaker of the house.

Key Points

• Dr. Rajendra Prasad was the 1st president of independent India, in office from 1950 to 1962.
  • He also served as the President of the constituent assembly which prepared the constitution of India.
• Two presidents Zakir Hussain and Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed died while in office.
  • Zakir Hussain was the 3rd president of India, from 13 May 1967 until his death on 3 May 1969.
  • He also served as the Governor of Bihar as well as the Vice-President of India.
• ​Ram Nath Kovind​
  • In July 2017, Ram Nath Kovind has been elected as the 14th President.
  • He was the 14th President of India.
  • He was also Governor of Bihar in 2015.
  • He succeeded Late. Pranab Mukherjee.
  • He was a lawyer in Delhi High court and Supreme court, before coming to politics.
  • He was born in Uttar Pradesh.
• Droupadi Murmu:
  • Droupadi Murmu of the BJP won the election by a margin of 296,626 votes over Yashwant Sinha of the opposition.
  • She is also the first president born after independence and the youngest leader in history.
  • The president is the nation's first citizen, the nominal head of the executive branch, and the supreme commander of the Indian Armed Forces.
  • Droupadi Murmu, the 15th and current president take office on July 25, 2022.

Key Points:

Power And Functions Of The Prime Minister

With Respect to the Council of Minister

• The PM recommends a person to the President for appointment as minister.
• The PM allocates and reshuffles the portfolios among the ministers.
• The PM can ask for the resignation of any minister.
• The Prime Minister presides over the meeting of the Council of Ministers.
• He guides, directs, controls, and coordinates the activities of all the ministers.
• If the PM resigned from his office the Council of Ministers also collapsed.

In relation to the President

• The PM acts as a principal channel of communication between the President and the Council of Ministers.
• The PM has to communicate the decision of the Council of Ministers relating to the administration of affairs of the Union and the proposal for legislation to the President.
• The PM advises the President regarding the appointment of various important officials like the Attorney General, CAG, Chairman and member of the UPSC, Chairman, and member of the Finance Commission, and so on.

With Respect to the Parliament

• The Prime Minister is the leader of the lower house.
• The PM can recommend the President about the prorogued and summoning the sessions of the Parliament. Hence statement 1 is correct.
• The PM can recommend the dissolution of the Lok Sabha at any time to the President.
• The PM announces the government policies on the floor of the houses.

Some other functions and powers of the PM

• The PM is the chairman of Niti Aayog, NDC, National Integration Council, National Water Resource Council, and Inter-state council.
• The PM also acts as chief spokesman of the Union government.​

Prime Minister - Union Executive - Constitutional Provisions

• Article 74
• Article 75
• Article 78 states that the Prime Minister communicates all decisions made by the council of members to the President. The President can also refer issues for the consideration of the council of members.

In this capacity, he enjoys the following powers:

• He advises the President with regard to summoning and proroguing the sessions of the Parliament.
• He can recommend the dissolution of the Lok Sabha to the President at any time.
• He announces government policies on the floor of the House

Key Points

• Council of Ministers of Central Government
  • Article 74(1), The Constitution provides that there shall be a Council of Ministers with the Prime Ministers as its heads to aid and advise the President who shall exercise his functions in accordance to the advice.
  •  Article 75(3): The Council of Ministers shall be collectively responsible to the House of People( Lok Sabha).
  • 91st Amendment Act of Indian Constitution provided that the total number of Council of Ministries shall not exceed 15% of the total members of the House of the People( Lok Sabha).
• Lok Sabha
  • It is a temporary body and can be dissolved after every 5 years.
  • It is also known as the House of People and the lower house of the Parliament.
  • Maximum Strength: 552(elected: 550, nominated: 0)
  • Actual Strength: 545(elected: 543, nominated: 0)
  • Speaker: Om Birla.
  • First Speaker: G.V.Mavalankar.

Additional Information 

• President
  • Article 52: There shall be a President of India.
  • He is the constitutional head of the executive of India.
  • The term of the office of the President is 5 years.
  • He is the first citizen of India.
  • He is an integral part of the Indian Parliament.
  • He can submit his resignation to the Vice President of India.
  • He is the supreme commander of the Indian Armed Forces.
  • First President of India: Dr. Rajendra Prasad.
  • Current President: Draupadi Murmu.
• Parliament
  • It is the supreme legislative body of India.
  • It is bicameral in nature.
  • It has three parts: Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, President.
  • There are three sessions of Parliament: Budget Session, Monsoon Session, Winter Session.
• Rajya Sabha
  • It is a permanent body and can not be dissolved.
  • It is also known as the Council of States and the Upper House of the Parliament.
  • One-Third of members of the Rajya Sabha retire every 2 years.
  • Members of the Rajya Sabha are elected for 6 years.
  • Maximum Strength: 250( elected- 238, nominated- 12).
  • Actual Strength: 245( elected- 233, nominated- 12).
  • Chairman: Jagdeep Dhankar(Vice President).

1. The Vice President of India is the ex-officio chairman of Rajya Sabha. 

• Vice-Chairman: Harivansh Narayan Singh.

Key Points

• The executive is the government branch responsible for implementing laws and policies. 
• This branch of government has the sole authority and responsibility for administration.
• This branch is headed by the president.
• The Prime Ministers, Chief Ministers, and President are part of this branch.

Additional Information

• There are three branches of the government in India:
  • The executive
  • The legislature
  • The judiciary
• The main functions of these:
  • Executive - This branch implements laws enacted by the legislature.
  • Legislature -  The main function of this is to enact laws.
  • Judiciary - This form settles disputes and provides justice to all citizens.

Key Points

Pardoning Power of President

• Article 72 empowers the President the power to grant pardons, reprieves, respites, or remissions of punishment or to suspend, remit or commute the sentence of any person convicted of any offence.
• The meaning of these terms is as follows:
  • Pardon: It removes both the sentence and the conviction and completely absolves the convict from all sentences, punishments, and disqualifications.
  • Commutation: It denotes the substitution of one form of punishment with a lighter form of punishment. For example, a death sentence may be commuted to rigorous imprisonment.
  • Remission: It implies reducing the period of the sentence without changing its character. For example, a sentence of rigorous imprisonment for five years may be remitted to rigorous imprisonment for one year.
  • Respite: It denotes awarding a lesser sentence in place of one originally awarded due to some special fact, such as the physical disability of a convict or the pregnancy of a woman offender.
  • Reprieve: It implies a stay of the execution of a sentence (especially that of death) for a temporary period. Its purpose is to enable the convict to have time to seek pardon or commutation from the President.

Additional Information

Key Points

• Lok Sabha:-
  • It​ is the lower house of the Indian Parliament.
  • The first Lok Sabha was constituted on 17th April 1952, after the first general elections held from 25th October 1951 to 21st February 1952.
  • The first Session of the Lok Sabha of independent India held on 13th May 1952.
  • The Lok Sabha is the lower house of the Parliament of India. It is one of the two houses of the Indian Parliament, the other being the Rajya Sabha (Council of States).
  • The Lok Sabha is the lower house of the Parliament of India.
  • It is one of the two houses of the Indian Parliament, the other being the Rajya Sabha (Council of States). 
  • The term of the Lok Sabha is five years, unless it is dissolved earlier.

Key Points

• The Council of Ministers shall be collectively responsible to the Legislative Assembly of the State.
• Before a Minister enters upon his office, the Governor shall administer to him the oaths of office and of secrecy according to the forms set out for the purpose in the Third Schedule.
• The Prime Minister and his Council of Ministers take oaths of office and confidentiality before taking up their respective positions.
• The President of India administers the oath to them. The explanation for the Prime Minister of India's oath is not specified in the Indian constitution.
• However, after reading the wordings of the oaths of office and confidentiality, it appears that they are both legitimate and moral activities.
• An oath of office is an oath or pledge taken before taking on the responsibilities of a post, commonly in government or within a religious entity, though such oaths are also expected of officers of other organisations.

Additional Information

• Article 52: There shall be a President of India.
• He is the constitutional head of the executive of India.
• The term of the office of the President is 5 years.
• He is the first citizen of India.
• He is an integral part of the Indian Parliament.
• He can submit his resignation to the Vice President of India.
• He is the supreme commander of the Indian Armed Forces
• First President of India: Dr Rajendra Prasad
• Current President: Droupadi Murmu

Key Points

• The idea of a council of ministers in the Indian Constitution is taken from the British parliamentary form of government which was introduced by Lord Canning in the Indian Council Act 1861.
• The key role in the execution of the Indian Union is played by the council of ministers under the leadership of the Prime Minister.
• It is under article 74 of the Indian constitution that states that there shall be a council of ministers with the PM to aid and advice the President on various matters.
• It is under article 75 of the Indian Constitution that the no.of the council of ministers shall not exceed 15% of the total no. of people in Lok Sabha.
• The Council of Ministers is always recommended by the Prime Minister and accepted by the president.