22 multiple-choice (MCQ / objective) questions from this chapter, in every exam-style shape used in the paper. Every question comes with an explanation along with the answer, so you remember why the option is correct, not just which one it is.
1 Direct Questions
Direct Questions
- 1 markThe organ of government primarily responsible for implementing laws and running day-to-day administration is called:
(A) the legislature(B) the judiciary(C) the bureaucracy alone(D) the executive - 1 markOfficials who stay in place even when the government changes belong to the:
(A) permanent executive(B) political executive(C) judiciary(D) legislature - 1 markIn which system is the President both Head of State and Head of Government?
(A) Parliamentary(B) Semi-presidential(C) Presidential(D) Constitutional monarchy - 1 markIn which country is the Prime Minister appointed by the President and cannot be dismissed by the President because the PM is responsible to Parliament instead?
(A) USA(B) Canada(C) France(D) Germany - 1 markSri Lanka introduced its Executive Presidency by amending its constitution in:
(A) 1948(B) 1972(C) 1978(D) 1989 - 1 markThe ‘danger of personality cult’ mentioned in the chapter is most associated with which system?
(A) Parliamentary(B) Presidential(C) Semi-presidential(D) Monarchical - 1 markThe President of India is elected by:
(A) elected MLAs and MPs, by proportional representation with single transferable vote(B) direct vote of all citizens(C) the Prime Minister and Cabinet(D) the Chief Justice of India - 1 markArticle 74(1) provides that the President:
(A) may ignore the Council of Ministers’ advice at will(B) shall act in accordance with the Council of Ministers’ advice(C) is not bound by any advice at all(D) must consult only the Chief Justice - 1 markA ‘pocket veto’ arises because the Constitution:
(A) gives the President an absolute veto(B) sets no time limit for the President to act on a Bill(C) requires a two-thirds majority to override a veto(D) allows only Money Bills to be vetoed - 1 markWho was the President when the 1986 Indian Post Office (Amendment) Bill was passed, and what did he do?
(A) Venkataraman, gave assent immediately(B) Gyani Zail Singh, took no decision on it(C) K.R. Narayanan, rejected it outright(D) Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed, sent it back at once - 1 markIn March 1998, President Narayanan advised Vajpayee to secure a vote of confidence within:
(A) 5 days(B) 30 days(C) 6 months(D) 10 days - 1 markThe Vice President’s electoral college differs from the President’s in that it excludes:
(A) Members of the Lok Sabha(B) Members of the Rajya Sabha(C) members of State legislative assemblies(D) the Prime Minister - 1 markB.D. Jatti acted as President after the death of:
(A) Zakir Husain(B) Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed(C) Gyani Zail Singh(D) Sanjiva Reddy
2 Assertion-Reason
Assertion-Reason
- 1 markAssertion (A): A no-confidence motion against a single minister can bring down the entire Council of Ministers.
Reason (R): Collective responsibility rests on the principle of cabinet solidarity.
(A) Both A and R are true, and R correctly explains A(B) Both A and R are true, but R does not explain A(C) A is true, R is false(D) A is false, R is true
3 Match the Following
Match the Following
- 1 markMatch the service with its correct description:
(A) Indian Foreign Service (B) State Civil Services (C) All-India Services (D) Central Services
(i) Works within the particular State in which recruited (ii) Works in any central government office anywhere in the country (iii) Works in a particular State, but can be sent on deputation to the centre (iv) Works in Indian missions abroad
(A) A-iv, B-i, C-iii, D-ii(B) A-i, B-ii, C-iii, D-iv(C) A-iii, B-iv, C-i, D-ii(D) A-ii, B-iii, C-iv, D-i - 1 markMatch the country with its executive system:
(A) USA (B) France (C) Germany (D) Sri Lanka
(i) Parliamentary (ii) Presidential (iii) Semi-presidential, President can remove PM (iv) Semi-presidential, President cannot dismiss PM
(A) A-i, B-ii, C-iii, D-iv(B) A-ii, B-iv, C-i, D-iii(C) A-iii, B-i, C-ii, D-iv(D) A-iv, B-iii, C-ii, D-i
4 Statement-Based Questions
Statement-Based Questions
- 1 markStatement I: The President can be impeached for losing popularity in opinion polls.
Statement II: The only ground for impeaching the President is violation of the Constitution.
(A) Both statements are true(B) Statement I is true, Statement II is false(C) Statement I is false, Statement II is true(D) Both statements are false
5 Chronological Ordering
Chronological Ordering
- 1 markArrange these events about the 1986 Indian Post Office (Amendment) Bill in the correct order:
(i) A new coalition government is elected and never reintroduces the Bill
(ii) Parliament passes the Bill
(iii) President Zail Singh takes no decision on the Bill
(iv) President Venkataraman returns the Bill to Parliament for reconsideration
(A) ii, iii, iv, i(B) ii, iv, iii, i(C) iii, ii, iv, i(D) ii, iii, i, iv
6 Fill in the Blanks
Fill in the Blanks
- 1 markThe informal power of the President to keep a Bill pending indefinitely, since no time limit is fixed for returning it, is called a _______.
(A) formal veto(B) pocket veto(C) absolute veto(D) suspensive veto
7 Odd One Out
Odd One Out
- 1 markWhich of these is NOT an example of a semi-presidential system?
(A) France(B) Russia(C) Sri Lanka(D) Italy
8 Passage-Based Questions
Passage-Based Questions
- 1 markAccording to the passage, how many seats short of a majority were the BJP and its allies in March 1998?
(A) 11 seats(B) 21 seats(C) 31 seats(D) 41 seats
9 True / False
True / False
- 1 markConsider the following statements.
(i) The bureaucracy is expected to remain politically neutral, faithfully implementing even a new government’s changed policies.
(ii) IAS and IPS officers can be removed from service by the State government they are posted in.
(A) Both are true(B) Only (i) is true(C) Only (ii) is true(D) Both are false
Answer Key and Explanations
Direct Questions1. (घ): The executive implements laws and policies made by the legislature and runs the administration; the bureaucracy is only its permanent wing, not the whole executive. · 2. (क): The permanent executive (bureaucracy) continues regardless of which party is in power; the political executive changes with elections. · 3. (ग): In a presidential system like the USA or Brazil, the President combines both roles in one office. · 4. (ग): In France’s semi-presidential system, the President appoints the Prime Minister and ministers but cannot dismiss them, since they are answerable to Parliament. · 5. (ग): The 1978 amendment to Sri Lanka’s constitution introduced the system of Executive Presidency. · 6. (ख): In a presidential system the President becomes the sole source of all executive power, which the chapter says creates a danger of personality cult. · 7. (क): The President is elected indirectly, by elected members of Parliament and State legislative assemblies, using proportional representation with the single transferable vote. · 8. (ख): Article 74(1) makes the Council of Ministers’ advice binding on the President, who acts in accordance with it. · 9. (ख): Since no time limit is fixed for the President to return a Bill, the President can keep it pending indefinitely, an informal but effective veto. · 10. (ख): President Gyani Zail Singh took no decision on the Bill for the rest of his term. · 11. (घ): President Narayanan advised Vajpayee to prove his majority through a confidence vote within ten days of being sworn in. · 12. (ग): Members of State legislative assemblies, who are part of the President’s electoral college, are not part of the Vice President’s. · 13. (ख): B.D. Jatti became acting President after Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed’s death in office, until a new President was elected.
Assertion-Reason1. (क): Cabinet solidarity is the principle underlying why one minister’s loss of confidence brings the whole Council down, so R is a correct explanation of A.
Match the Following1. (क): Indian Foreign Service officers work abroad (iv); State Civil Services stay within their recruiting State (i); All-India Services can be sent to the centre on deputation (iii); Central Services work in central government offices (ii). · 2. (ख): USA is presidential (ii); France is semi-presidential where the President cannot dismiss the PM (iv); Germany is parliamentary (i); Sri Lanka is semi-presidential where the President can remove the PM (iii).
Statement-Based Questions1. (ग): Statement I is false, popularity has nothing to do with impeachment. Statement II is true, violation of the Constitution is the sole ground.
Chronological Ordering1. (क): Parliament first passes the Bill (ii), Zail Singh takes no decision (iii), his successor Venkataraman later returns it (iv), and the new 1989 government never reintroduces it (i).
Fill in the Blanks1. (ख): This informal, indefinite delay is called a ‘pocket veto’, mentioned by name in the chapter.
Odd One Out1. (घ): Italy is a parliamentary system with a ceremonial President; France, Russia and Sri Lanka are all semi-presidential.
Passage-Based Questions1. (ख): The passage states the BJP and its allies won 251 seats, 21 short of a majority.
True / False1. (ख): Statement (i) is true, political neutrality means exactly this. Statement (ii) is false, only the Union government, not the State government, can take disciplinary action against IAS/IPS officers.
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