UPSC Static Quiz – Polity : 14 April 2026

Solution: A

• Statement I is Correct: The VP is elected by all members (elected + nominated) of both Houses of Parliament. The President is elected only by elected members of Parliament and State Assemblies.
• Statement II is Incorrect: The removal resolution must be passed by the Rajya Sabha by an Effective Majority (majority of the then members, i.e., Total Seats minus Vacancies) and agreed to by the Lok Sabha by a Simple Majority. It is not a “Special Majority” (2/3rds) as required for Presidential impeachment or Article 368 amendments.
• Statement III is Incorrect: The Constitution does not specify any ground for the removal of the Vice-President. The phrase “violation of the Constitution” applies exclusively to the impeachment of the President (Article 61).

Solution: A

• Statement 1 is Incorrect:An ordinance can be promulgated when either of the two Houses is not in session. For a law to be passed, both Houses must agree. If even one is absent, the legislative process is paralyzed, justifying an ordinance.
• Statement 2 is Incorrect:The 38th Amendment Act (1975) made the President’s satisfaction final and conclusive, but the 44th Amendment Act (1978) deleted this provision. In C. Cooper v. Union of India (1970) and D.C. Wadhwa v. State of Bihar (1987), the Supreme Court ruled that the President’s satisfaction is open to judicial review on grounds of mala fides.
• Statement 3 is Correct:An ordinance is “law” under Article 13. It has the same force as an Act but is subject to the same limitations (cannot violate Fundamental Rights). It cannot serve as a Constitutional Amendment because Article 368 requires a specific procedure in Parliament.

Solution: A

• The pardoning powers of the President under Article 72 and the Governor under Article 161 form an important part of the constitutional framework, reflecting the principle of mercy in criminal justice. In the case of death sentences, the President has the authority to grant a full pardon, whereas the Governor can only suspend, remit, or commute the sentence but cannot grant a pardon. Hence, this distinction makes the first pair correctly matched.
• With respect to Court Martial cases, the President alone has the power to grant pardon. The Governor has no jurisdiction over such cases, even if the offence relates to a subject under state law. Therefore, the second pair is incorrect.
• Regarding matters in the Concurrent List, both the President and the Governor can exercise pardoning powers depending on the extent of their respective executive powers. This creates a functional overlap, making the third pair correct.
• Finally, both authorities are subject to judicial review. The Supreme Court in Epuru Sudhakar v. Government of Andhra Pradesh clarified that clemency powers are not absolute and can be challenged on grounds like arbitrariness or mala fide intent. Hence, the fourth pair is incorrect.

Solution: C

• Statement-I is Correct:Article 74(2) explicitly bars courts from inquiring into what advice was tendered. This protects Cabinet confidentiality.
• Statement-II is Incorrect:In the R. Bommai case (1994), the Supreme Court clarified that while the advice is protected, the material (reports, data) on which the advice was based is not immune. The court can examine whether the material was relevant to the decision (e.g., imposing President’s Rule).

Solution: A

• Cabinet Committees are an essential feature of India’s executive functioning, designed to streamline decision-making within the government. They are not mentioned in the Constitution and derive their authority from the Rules of Business framed under Article 77(3). These rules enable the President to allocate business among ministers and facilitate the creation of specialized committees to handle specific policy areas efficiently. Therefore, the first statement is correct.
• The second statement is incorrect because, although the Prime Minister heads key committees such as the Cabinet Committee on Security and the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, not all Cabinet Committees are chaired by the Prime Minister. In some cases, senior Cabinet Ministers are appointed as chairpersons depending on the nature of the committee’s work.
• The third statement is also incorrect. Ministers of State with Independent Charge are not barred from being members of Cabinet Committees. Their inclusion depends on the relevance of their portfolio and administrative requirements. Hence, there is flexibility in the composition of these committees.