The Union Executive: President, Vice-President, Prime Minister and Attorney General
The Union Executive: President, Vice-President, Prime Minister and Attorney General
The Union executive (Part V) is headed by the President, who acts on the advice of the Council of Ministers led by the Prime Minister. NTPC asks the articles, election method, qualifications, oath, removal and powers of each office, and who holds the second-highest office.
1. President (Articles 52-62)
| Item | Facts |
|---|---|
| Election | Indirect, by an electoral college of elected MPs and elected MLAs (and of the Union Territories of Delhi, Puducherry and Jammu and Kashmir); proportional representation by single transferable vote |
| Qualification | Citizen, at least 35 years old, qualified to be a Lok Sabha member |
| Term | 5 years; can be re-elected |
| Oath | Administered by the Chief Justice of India |
| Removal | Impeachment for violation of the Constitution (Article 61) |
| Resignation | Addressed to the Vice-President |
| Powers | Ordinances (Article 123); pardons (Article 72); national emergency (352), President's rule (356), financial emergency (360) |
2. Vice-President (Articles 63-71)
| Item | Facts |
|---|---|
| Rank | Second-highest constitutional office |
| Role | Ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha |
| Election | Electoral college of all members of both Houses of Parliament |
| Qualification | At least 35 years; qualified for Rajya Sabha membership |
| Resignation | Addressed to the President |
3. Prime Minister and Council of Ministers (Articles 74-75)
Article 74: a Council of Ministers headed by the PM aids and advises the President
Article 75: the President appoints the PM; ministers hold office during the President's pleasure; collective responsibility to the Lok Sabha
Size of the Council of Ministers: not more than 15% of the Lok Sabha's strength (91st Amendment, 2003)
4. Attorney General (Article 76)
| Item | Facts |
|---|---|
| Role | Highest law officer of India; can speak in either House but cannot vote |
| Appointment | By the President; qualified to be a Supreme Court judge |
✗ The President's oath is administered by the Vice-President | ✓ The Chief Justice of India administers it
✗ The President resigns to the Prime Minister | ✓ The President writes to the Vice-President
हिंदी नोट: राष्ट्रपति का चुनाव निर्वाचित सांसदों और विधायकों का निर्वाचक मंडल करता है; शपथ भारत के मुख्य न्यायाधीश दिलाते हैं। उपराष्ट्रपति देश का दूसरा सर्वोच्च संवैधानिक पद है और राज्यसभा का पदेन सभापति होता है। महान्यायवादी (अनुच्छेद 76) संसद में बोल सकता है पर वोट नहीं दे सकता।
Exam Pointer: Verified NTPC pattern: the second-highest constitutional office (January 2021 CBT-1). President, PM and Attorney General article questions are tagged syllabus-based.
Pariksha Pattern: Every Way NTPC Asks This Topic
Pattern 1: Ranks and roles of offices
[PYQ: NTPC CBT-1 8-Jan-2021 Shift-1]
EXAM LEVEL
Q. Which is the second-highest constitutional office in India?
The Vice-President.
Answer: Vice-President
EXAMATLAS LEVEL
Q. Of which House is the Vice-President the ex-officio Chairman, and to whom does the Vice-President address a resignation?
The Rajya Sabha; the resignation is addressed to the President.
Answer: Rajya Sabha; the President
Pattern 2: Election, oath and removal of the President
[Pattern: syllabus-based, PYQ-style]
EXAM LEVEL
Q. Who administers the oath of office to the President?
The Chief Justice of India.
Answer: Chief Justice of India
EXAMATLAS LEVEL
Q. Who elects the President, and under which article can the President be impeached?
An electoral college of elected MPs and elected MLAs (including those of Delhi, Puducherry and Jammu and Kashmir). Impeachment is under Article 61.
Answer: Elected MPs and MLAs; Article 61
Pattern 3: President's powers and articles
[Pattern: syllabus-based, PYQ-style]
EXAM LEVEL
Q. Under which article can the President issue ordinances?
Article 123.
Answer: Article 123
EXAMATLAS LEVEL
Q. Under which article can the President grant pardons, and which articles deal with national emergency and financial emergency?
Article 72 (pardons), Article 352 (national emergency) and Article 360 (financial emergency).
Answer: 72; 352 and 360
Pattern 4: PM, Council of Ministers and Attorney General
[Pattern: syllabus-based, PYQ-style]
EXAM LEVEL
Q. Who is the highest law officer of India?
The Attorney General (Article 76).
Answer: Attorney General
EXAMATLAS LEVEL
Q. What is the maximum size of the Council of Ministers, which amendment fixed it, and to which House is the Council collectively responsible?
15% of the Lok Sabha's strength, fixed by the 91st Amendment (2003). It is collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha.
Answer: 15%; 91st Amendment; Lok Sabha
60-Second Revision
- President: Arts 52-62; 35 years; oath by CJI; impeachment Art 61; resigns to VP.
- VP: second-highest office; Rajya Sabha Chairman; resigns to the President.
- Art 72 pardons, 123 ordinances, 352/356/360 emergencies.
- Council of Ministers max 15% of Lok Sabha (91st Amendment).
- Attorney General: Art 76; speaks but cannot vote in Parliament.