Union Executive – NDA Polity PYQs

Practice NDA Polity previous-year questions with detailed solutions and explanations.

Chapter-wise PYQs • Concept-based explanations • Exam insights

NDA 2024-II

Q. 1. Consider the following statements:

The duties of the Attorney General of India are to give advice to the Government of India upon such legal matters, and to perform such other duties of a legal character, as may from time to time be referred to or assigned to him by the President of India
The Solicitor General of India is the secondary Law Officer of the country, who assists the Attorney General, and is himself assisted by several Additional Solicitor Generals of India

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2

Explanation: Both statements are correct. Statement 1 accurately describes the AG’s duties under Article 76(2): to give advice to the Government on legal matters referred by the President, and to perform such other duties of a legal character. Statement 2 accurately describes the Solicitor General of India: the second law officer of the country, who assists the Attorney General and is himself assisted by several Additional Solicitor Generals.
Concept Tested: Attorney General: duties under Article 76(2); Solicitor General as secondary law officer assisting the AG

NDA 2023-II

Q. 2. Consider the following statements about Attorney-General in India:

She/he is the first law officer of the Government of India
She/he has a right to speak in any House of Parliament without any right to vote
She/he is appointed by the President of India
She/he is a whole-time counsel for the Government in the court of law

How many of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1

(b) 2

(d) 4

Answer: (c) 3

Explanation: Three of the four statements are correct. Statement 1 is correct: the Attorney General is the first law officer of the Government of India. Statement 2 is correct: the AG has the right to speak in any House of Parliament without any right to vote: as provided in Article 76(4). Statement 3 is correct: the AG is appointed by the President of India. Statement 4 is NOT correct: the Attorney General is not a whole-time counsel for the Government. The AG may engage in private legal practice, subject to not advising or appearing against the Government of India.
Concept Tested: Attorney General: first law officer, appointed by President, parliamentary participation without vote, NOT whole-time counsel

★ JOVIK Exam Insight: The AG’s status as ‘not whole-time’ is a precise constitutional fact. Unlike a salaried government employee, the AG may practise privately: subject only to not acting against the Government.

NDA 2021-II

Q. 3. Which one of the following statements about the Attorney General of India is not correct?

(a) He has the right of audience only in the Supreme Court of India.

(b) He shall receive such remuneration as the President may determine.

(d) He shall give advice to the Government of India on all legal matters.

Answer: (a) He has the right of audience only in the Supreme Court of India.

Explanation: This is a negation question. Options (b), (c), and (d) are all correct statements about the Attorney General. Option (b) is correct: the AG’s remuneration is determined by the President. Option (c) is correct: the AG must be qualified to be appointed as a judge of the Supreme Court. Option (d) is correct: the AG advises the Government of India on legal matters. Option (a) is NOT correct. The Attorney General has the right of audience in all courts in India: the Supreme Court, all High Courts, and any other court throughout the territory of India. The restriction to the Supreme Court alone is false. Concept Tested: Attorney General: right of audience in ALL courts in India, not only the Supreme Court

★ JOVIK Exam Insight: The AG’s court access is unrestricted geographically: all courts in India, not only the Supreme Court.

NDA 2017-II

Q. 4. Who among the following can attend the meetings of both Houses of Parliament while not being a member of either House?

(a) The Solicitor General of India

(b) The Vice-President of India

(d) The Attorney General of India

Answer: (d) The Attorney General of India

Explanation: The Attorney General of India has the right to speak and otherwise take part in the proceedings of either House of Parliament and to be a member of any parliamentary committee, but has no right to vote. This right is provided in Article 76(4) of the Constitution. The Attorney General is not a Member of Parliament. The Solicitor General, the CAG, and the Chief Election Commissioner have no such right to participate in parliamentary proceedings.
Concept Tested: Attorney General: Article 76(4): participates in either House of Parliament, cannot vote

NDA 2016-II

Q. 5. Which one of the following statements about the Union Executive in India is correct?

(a) According to the Constitution of India, the total number of members of the Council of Ministers cannot exceed 20% of the total number of Members of the House of the People

(b) The rank of the different Ministers is determined by the President

(d) Only a member of either House of Parliament can be appointed as a Minister

Answer: (c) The Ministers are appointed by the President on the advice of the Prime Minister

Explanation: Option (c) is correct. Ministers are appointed by the President on the advice of the Prime Minister: this is provided in Article 75(1). Option (a) is incorrect. The constitutional ceiling is 15% of the total membership of the Lok Sabha: not 20%. This was inserted by the 91st Constitutional Amendment Act, 2003. Option (b) is incorrect. The rank and portfolio of Ministers is determined by the Prime Minister, not the President. Option (d) is incorrect. A non-MP can be appointed as a Minister but must become a member of either House within six months of appointment.
Concept Tested: Council of Ministers: appointment by President on PM’s advice; 15% cap (91st Amendment); rank determined by PM

★ JOVIK Exam Insight: Two precision traps in this question: 20% vs 15% (the correct ceiling is 15% per the 91st Amendment), and President vs PM determines rank (the PM determines rank, not the President).

Q. 6. Which one of the following powers of the Prime Minister of India is codified in the Constitution of India itself?

(a) The power of advising the President as regards the appointment of other Ministers

(b) The power to allocate business amongst the Ministers

(d) The power to transfer a Minister from one Department to another

Answer: (a) The power of advising the President as regards the appointment of other Ministers

Explanation: The only power of the Prime Minister expressly codified in the Constitution of India is the power to advise the President regarding the appointment of other Ministers. This is provided in Article 75(1): the Prime Minister shall be appointed by the President, and the other Ministers shall be appointed by the President on the advice of the Prime Minister. The powers to allocate portfolios, summon Cabinet meetings, and transfer Ministers are all conventional powers: derived from established parliamentary practice, not from constitutional text.
Concept Tested: Prime Minister’s constitutionally codified power: advising President on ministerial appointments (Article 75(1))

★ JOVIK Exam Insight: Most PM powers derive from constitutional convention, not express constitutional text. The one exception is the advisory power on ministerial appointments: explicitly stated in Article 75(1).

NDA 2016-I

Q. 7. Which of the following statements relating to election as the President of India is/are correct?

• A person above the age of thirty-five years is eligible for election as the President of India.

• The President of India is eligible for re-election for more than one term.

• A person is not eligible for election as the President of India if the person holds an office of profit.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 only

(d) 3 only

Answer: (c) 1, 2 and 3

Explanation: All three statements are correct. Statement 1: A candidate must have completed the age of thirty-five years to be eligible for the Presidential election. Statement 2: The President of India is eligible for re-election. There is no constitutional limit on the number of terms. Article 57 explicitly provides for re-election eligibility. Statement 3: A person holding an office of profit under any government is disqualified. However, the sitting President, Vice President, State Governor, and Union or State Ministers do not hold ‘offices of profit’ for this purpose: they are specifically excluded from disqualification.
Concept Tested: Presidential election eligibility: age 35, re-election permitted, office of profit disqualification applies

NDA 2014-II

Q. 8. The President of India can issue proclamation of Emergency

(a) on the advice of the Prime Minister

(b) on the advice of the Council of Ministers

(d) when the decision of the Union Cabinet for the issue of such proclamation has been communicated to him in writing

Answer: (d) when the decision of the Union Cabinet for the issue of such proclamation has been communicated to him in writing

Explanation: The President of India can issue a Proclamation of National Emergency only after the Union Cabinet: the full Cabinet, not merely the Prime Minister or Council of Ministers broadly: has taken a decision and communicated it to the President in writing. This requirement of a written Cabinet communication was introduced by the 44th Constitutional Amendment Act, 1978, as a safeguard against the misuse of emergency powers. The President cannot proclaim Emergency on the Prime Minister’s advice alone, on a general Council of Ministers resolution, or in personal discretion.
Concept Tested: Emergency proclamation: requires written Cabinet decision communicated to President (44th Amendment safeguard)

★ JOVIK Exam Insight: Two specific words are constitutionally essential: ‘Cabinet’ (not just PM or CoM) and ‘in writing’. Both were introduced by the 44th Amendment to prevent Emergency from being proclaimed informally.

NDA 2013-I

Q. 9. The President of India is elected by proportional representative system by a single transferable vote. This implies that

(a) elected MPs and MLAs of States have different number of votes

(b) all MPs and MLAs of States have one vote each

(d) MPs of the Lok Sabha have equal number of votes

Answer: (a) elected MPs and MLAs of States have different number of votes

Explanation: In the Presidential election, elected MPs and elected MLAs do not have equal vote values. Each elected MLA’s vote value is determined by a formula based on the population of the State they represent. Each elected MP’s vote value is determined separately. The system is designed so that the total value of all MLA votes equals the total value of all MP votes: maintaining balance between popular and legislative representation. But the individual vote values for MPs and MLAs differ. Option (c): equal votes for all: is incorrect. The system is specifically designed with weighted, differentiated vote values. Concept Tested: Presidential election: vote values differ between elected MPs and elected MLAs due to population-based formula

NDA 2012-II

Q. 10. Vice-President of India is elected by an electoral college consisting of

(a) members of both Houses of Parliament

(b) members of Rajya Sabha only

(d) elected members of Lok Sabha only

Answer: (a) members of both Houses of Parliament

Explanation: The Vice President of India is elected by an electoral college consisting of all members of both Houses of Parliament: both elected and nominated members. This is the critical distinction from the Presidential electoral college, which includes only elected members of Parliament and elected members of State Legislative Assemblies. Nominated MPs participate in the Vice Presidential election but are excluded from the Presidential election. State MLAs participate in the Presidential election but not in the Vice Presidential election.
Concept Tested: Vice President’s electoral college: ALL members of both Houses of Parliament, including nominated members

★ JOVIK Exam Insight: The word ‘all’ is constitutionally essential here. Option (c): elected members only: is the classic wrong answer that misapplies the Presidential electoral college rule to the Vice President. President: elected MPs + elected State MLAs. Vice President: ALL MPs (elected and nominated), no State MLAs.

NDA 2011-I

Q. 11. Which one among the following features of the Constitution of India is indicative of the fact that the real executive power is vested in the Council of Ministers headed by the Prime Minister?

(a) Federalism

(b) Representative Legislature

(d) Parliamentary Democracy

Answer: (d) Parliamentary Democracy

Explanation: Parliamentary Democracy is the constitutional feature that places real executive power in the Council of Ministers headed by the Prime Minister. In a parliamentary system, the Cabinet is drawn from and responsible to the legislature. The constitutional head of state: the President: acts on the advice of the elected Cabinet. Federalism concerns Centre-State distribution of power. Representative Legislature concerns the composition of Parliament. Universal Adult Franchise concerns the right to vote. None of these locates executive power in the Cabinet.
Concept Tested: Parliamentary Democracy: real executive power vested in Council of Ministers; President is nominal head

NDA 2009-II

Q. 12. Who can initiate impeachment proceedings against the President of India?

(a) Only Lok Sabha

(b) Only Rajya Sabha

(d) Any Legislative Assembly

Answer: (c) Either House of the Parliament

Explanation: Impeachment proceedings against the President of India can be initiated by either House of Parliament: the Lok Sabha or the Rajya Sabha. The initiating House passes the charges by a two-thirds majority of its total membership. The other House then investigates the charges. If the other House also passes the charges by a two-thirds majority of its total membership, the President stands removed. State Legislative Assemblies have no role in the impeachment process. They participate only in the Presidential election: not in removal.
Concept Tested: Presidential impeachment: initiated by either House of Parliament under Article 61.

★ JOVIK Exam Insight: The analogy with Money Bills: which start only in Lok Sabha: is a common source of error here. Presidential impeachment has no such House-based restriction. Either House may initiate.

Quick Revision

Concept	Key Point
Presidential impeachment: initiation	Either House of Parliament may initiate. The initiating House passes charges by 2/3 of total membership. State Legislative Assemblies have no role.
Real executive power: constitutional feature	Parliamentary Democracy: the Cabinet (Council of Ministers headed by PM) is the real executive. The President is the nominal constitutional head.
Vice President’s electoral college	ALL members of both Houses of Parliament: elected AND nominated members. No State MLAs participate.
President’s electoral college	Elected members of both Houses of Parliament + elected members of State Legislative Assemblies (MLAs). Nominated MPs excluded.
Presidential election: vote values	Elected MPs and elected MLAs have different vote values. The value is population-based for MLAs. MPs and MLAs do NOT each have equal votes.
Emergency proclamation: procedure	Only when the Union Cabinet has decided and communicated that decision to the President in writing. The PM’s advice alone is not sufficient. President has no personal discretion. (44th Amendment, 1978)
Presidential eligibility: age	Must have completed age 35 years.
Presidential eligibility: re-election	Eligible for re-election; no limit on number of terms (Article 57).
Presidential eligibility: office of profit	Cannot hold any office of profit. Sitting President, VP, State Governor, and Ministers are specifically excluded from disqualification.
Council of Ministers: size cap	Total Ministers (including PM) ≤ 15% of total Lok Sabha membership. Inserted by 91st Constitutional Amendment Act, 2003. NOT 20%.
Ministers: appointment	Appointed by the President on the advice of the Prime Minister (Article 75(1)).
Ministers: rank	Rank and portfolio of Ministers is determined by the Prime Minister: NOT the President.
Ministers: MP requirement	A person need not be an MP at time of appointment, but must become a member of either House within 6 months.
Prime Minister: constitutionally codified power	The ONLY PM power expressly in the Constitution: advising President on appointment of other Ministers (Article 75(1)). All other powers (portfolios, Cabinet summoning, transfers) are conventional.
Attorney General: rank	First law officer of the Government of India.
Attorney General: appointment	Appointed by the President of India.
Attorney General: qualification	Same qualification as for appointment as a judge of the Supreme Court.
Attorney General: duties	Give legal advice to the Government of India on matters referred by the President; perform other legal duties assigned.
Attorney General: right of audience	ALL courts in India: Supreme Court, all High Courts, and any other court. NOT restricted to the Supreme Court only.
Attorney General: parliamentary right	Right to speak in either House of Parliament and to be a member of any parliamentary committee. No right to vote. (Article 76(4))
Attorney General: whole-time?	NOT a whole-time counsel. May engage in private legal practice subject to not advising or appearing against the Government of India.
Attorney General: remuneration	Determined by the President.
Solicitor General: rank	Second law officer of the country. Assists the Attorney General. Assisted by Additional Solicitor Generals.