Static Quiz 24 January 2025 (Polity)

Q1.c
Explanation:
Statement 1 is not correct:
◦ Article 356 of the Constitution of India gives the President of India the power to impose President’s rule on a state on the advice of the Union Council of Ministers.
◦ It is not a discretionary power of the President.

Statement 2 is correct:
◦ In a parliamentary system, the President appoints the Prime Minister based on the leader who commands the majority in the Lok Sabha.
◦ If no clear majority emerges after an election, the President must exercise discretion to determine which leader is most likely to secure and maintain support in the Lok Sabha.

Statement 3 is correct:
◦ The President can ask the Council of Ministers to reconsider their advice, exercising discretion in the process.
◦ Although the Council can resend the same advice, the President’s request for reconsideration carries significant weight.

Statement 4 is correct:
◦ If the Lok Sabha is to be dissolved before the full term of five years, then a formal order by the President to this effect is essential.
◦ The President’s power to dissolve the Lok Sabha is to be exercised on the advice of the Council of Ministers.
◦ If the Council of Ministers has lost majority in the Lok Sabha, it becomes a situational discretion of the President of India to dissolve the Lok Sabha.

Q2.b
Explanation:
• Option (b) is the correct answer:
◦ The writ of Quo Warranto allows the Supreme Court or High Courts to inquire into the legality of a person’s claim to a public office.
◦ It is issued against the holder of a public office calling upon them to show with what authority they hold such office.

Q3.b
Explanation:
• Option (b) is the correct answer:
◦ Article 50 of Part IV (Directive Principles of State Policy) talks about the separation of judiciary from the executive.
◦ It states that the State shall take steps to separate the judiciary from the executive in the public services of the State.

Q4.a
Explanation:
Statement I is correct:
◦ Under the principle of collective responsibility, all ministers are bound by the decisions of the Cabinet.
◦ If a minister disagrees with a decision, they must either accept the decision publicly or resign from their position.
◦ This principle ensures that the Cabinet presents a unified front and maintains accountability to the legislature.

Statement II is correct and correctly explains Statement I:
◦ The principle of collective responsibility is based on the solidarity of the Cabinet.
◦ All ministers are collectively responsible for the decisions made by the Cabinet and must stand united in support of those decisions, even if they had personal reservations.

Q5.c
Explanation:
Statement 1 is correct:
◦ The Constitution of India does not mandate that the individual to be appointed as Prime Minister must prove his/her majority before the appointment.
◦ The appointed Prime Minister must prove their majority in the Lok Sabha within a specified time.

Statement 2 is not correct:
◦ The Prime Minister does not have a fixed tenure and holds office during the pleasure of the president.
◦ Practically, they continue in power so long as they enjoy a majority in the Lok Sabha.

Statement 3 is correct:
◦ Since the Prime Minister is the leader of the Council of Ministers, the other ministers cannot function if the Prime Minister resigns or dies.
◦ When the Prime Minister dies or resigns, the entire council is dissolved and a new council of ministers needs to be appointed.