📑 Topics on this page (Jump to Topic):
📌 1. Prime Minister
- The PM is the real (de facto) executive head; the President is nominal (de jure). No special procedure — Art. 75: the President shall appoint the PM.
- The PM may belong to either House; a non-member can be PM for up to 6 months.
- Art. 78: duty of the PM to communicate Cabinet decisions and proposals to the President.
- The PM chairs NITI Aayog, National Integration Council, Inter-State Council, National Water Resources Council etc.
| Fact | Person |
|---|---|
| First PM; longest tenure | Jawaharlal Nehru |
| First woman PM | Indira Gandhi |
| First acting PM | Gulzarilal Nanda |
| PM of first non-Congress govt | Morarji Desai (1977) |
| PM who never faced Lok Sabha | Charan Singh |
| Youngest PM | Rajiv Gandhi (40) |
| PM since 2014; third straight term (2024) | Narendra Modi |
📌 2. Council of Ministers
- Art. 74: a Council of Ministers headed by the PM to aid and advise the President; courts cannot inquire into the advice.
- Art. 75(3): Council collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha; Art. 75(2): ministers hold office during the President's pleasure — individual responsibility.
- Art. 75(1A) (91st, 2003): total ministers incl. PM not to exceed 15% of Lok Sabha strength.
- A non-member minister must become an MP within 6 months; a minister may speak in both Houses but votes only in his own.
- Ranks: Cabinet ministers, Ministers of State (independent charge/regular), Deputy ministers. "Cabinet" appears only in Art. 352 (44th Amendment).
- Art. 77: conduct of business — all executive action in the President's name.
⚠️ Exam Traps:
- The Council is responsible only to the Lok Sabha — not the Rajya Sabha. No-confidence motion only in LS.
- Council of Ministers (constitutional, larger) ≠ Cabinet (smaller, decision-making core).
📌 3. Attorney General of India (Art. 76)
- Highest law officer of the Government; appointed by the President; qualification: qualified to be a SC judge.
- No fixed tenure — holds office during the President's pleasure; remuneration fixed by the President.
- Art. 88: may speak and take part in both Houses and committees but cannot vote. Right of audience in all courts in India.
- AG is not a Cabinet member; assisted by the Solicitor General and Additional SGs (not constitutional). First AG: M.C. Setalvad; current: R. Venkataramani (since 2022).
- State counterpart: Advocate General, Art. 165.
📌 4. Practice MCQs
📝 Practice MCQs (prepared by SF Prep — not PYQs)
Q1. The Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to: Practice
Correct answer: (C)
Art. 75(3) — collective responsibility to the Lok Sabha.
Art. 75(3) — collective responsibility to the Lok Sabha.
Q2. Which Article provides for a Council of Ministers to aid and advise the President? Practice
Correct answer: (C)
Art. 74.
Art. 74.
Q3. The PM's duty to inform the President of Cabinet decisions is in which Article? Practice
Correct answer: (D)
Art. 78 — duties of the PM.
Art. 78 — duties of the PM.
Q4. Under the 91st Amendment, the maximum size of the Union Council of Ministers is: Practice
Correct answer: (A)
Art. 75(1A) — up to 15% of Lok Sabha including the PM.
Art. 75(1A) — up to 15% of Lok Sabha including the PM.
Q5. Who is the highest law officer of India? Practice
Correct answer: (B)
Art. 76 — the Attorney General.
Art. 76 — the Attorney General.
Q6. Which statement about the Attorney General is correct? Practice
Correct answer: (A)
Art. 88 — may speak but not vote; tenure at the President's pleasure.
Art. 88 — may speak but not vote; tenure at the President's pleasure.
Q7. What qualification is required to be Attorney General? Practice
Correct answer: (C)
The AG must be qualified to be a SC judge.
The AG must be qualified to be a SC judge.
Q8. Who was the first Attorney General of India? Practice
Correct answer: (D)
M.C. Setalvad (1950–63).
M.C. Setalvad (1950–63).
Q9. What is the state-level counterpart of the Attorney General? Practice
Correct answer: (B)
Art. 165 — Advocate General.
Art. 165 — Advocate General.
Q10. Who was India's first woman Prime Minister? Practice
Correct answer: (B)
Indira Gandhi became PM in 1966 (Sucheta Kripalani was the first woman CM).
Indira Gandhi became PM in 1966 (Sucheta Kripalani was the first woman CM).
Q11. Which PM resigned without ever facing the Lok Sabha? Practice
Correct answer: (C)
Charan Singh (1979) resigned before the confidence vote.
Charan Singh (1979) resigned before the confidence vote.
Q12. Who was India's first acting Prime Minister? Practice
Correct answer: (D)
Gulzarilal Nanda acted as PM on the deaths of Nehru (1964) and Shastri (1966).
Gulzarilal Nanda acted as PM on the deaths of Nehru (1964) and Shastri (1966).
Q13. Who was the PM of the first non-Congress Union government? Practice
Correct answer: (A)
Janata Party government in 1977 — Morarji Desai.
Janata Party government in 1977 — Morarji Desai.
Q14. The word "Cabinet" appears in the Constitution only in which Article? Practice
Correct answer: (D)
The 44th Amendment inserted written advice of the "Cabinet" in Art. 352.
The 44th Amendment inserted written advice of the "Cabinet" in Art. 352.
Q15. Ministers hold office during the pleasure of: Practice
Correct answer: (A)
Art. 75(2) — in practice on the PM's advice.
Art. 75(2) — in practice on the PM's advice.
Q16. For how long can a non-MP remain a minister at most? Practice
Correct answer: (B)
Must become an MP within 6 months.
Must become an MP within 6 months.
Q17. In whose name is all executive action of the Government of India taken? Practice
Correct answer: (C)
Art. 77.
Art. 77.
Q18. In which House can a minister vote? Practice
Correct answer: (C)
A minister may speak in both but votes only in his own House.
A minister may speak in both but votes only in his own House.
Q19. The Prime Minister is the ex-officio chairperson of: Practice
Correct answer: (D)
The PM chairs NITI Aayog.
The PM chairs NITI Aayog.
Q20. Who became Prime Minister at the youngest age? Practice
Correct answer: (A)
Rajiv Gandhi became PM at 40 in 1984.
Rajiv Gandhi became PM at 40 in 1984.