The President of India — MCQs with Answers (Set 3)

Article 53(2) vests the supreme command of the defence forces of the Union in the President, exercised as provided by law.

A pardon fully absolves the offender, removing both the sentence and any disqualification arising from the conviction, unlike remission or commutation.

A reprieve is a temporary stay in the execution of a sentence, usually a death sentence, allowing time for the convict to seek a pardon or commutation.

Remission reduces the period of a sentence without altering its character, for example shortening a two-year sentence to one year of the same kind of punishment.

Commutation refers to the substitution of one form of punishment with a lighter form, such as converting a death sentence into life imprisonment.

The President’s ordinance-making power under Article 123 is modeled on a similar power the Governor-General held under the Government of India Act, 1935.

An ordinance ceases to operate six weeks after Parliament reassembles unless a resolution disapproving it is passed earlier or it is replaced by an Act.

Article 123 allows the President to promulgate ordinances only when Parliament, or at least one of its Houses, is not in session.

If Parliament re-passes a returned bill, with or without amendments, the President must grant assent, since the veto is only suspensive for such bills.

The pocket veto, exercised by simply not acting on a bill, is available to the Indian President since the Constitution sets no time limit for granting assent.

When both the President’s and Vice-President’s offices are vacant, the Chief Justice of India, or in their absence the senior-most Supreme Court judge, discharges presidential duties.

Under Article 61, the charge of impeachment against the President can be initiated in either House of Parliament, not just one.

Article 61 lays down the procedure for impeachment of the President on a charge of violating the Constitution.

The Constitution requires that an election to fill a vacancy in the office of President be completed within six months of the vacancy occurring.

Article 56 provides that the President holds office for a term of five years from the date of assuming office, subject to earlier resignation or removal.

Unlike the two-term limit for the US President, the Indian Constitution places no limit on how many times a person may be re-elected President.

The Constitution prescribes a minimum age of 35 years for the President but sets no maximum age limit for holding the office.

Article 58 prescribes that a person must have completed 35 years of age to be eligible for election as President of India.

The Legislative Councils of States, being the upper house in some states, are excluded from the Electoral College that elects the President.

The Electoral College for the President’s election includes elected MPs and elected members of State Legislative Assemblies, plus those of Delhi and Puducherry.

Article 53 vests the executive power of the Union in the President, who exercises it directly or through officers subordinate to him.

Article 52 establishes the office of President, who serves as the nominal Head of State, while the Prime Minister is the real Head of Government.