Prime Minister MCQ: Deputy Ministers, Portfolio Allocation & Hung Assembly

Attempt the quiz above first, then review every question with its correct answer and a short explanation below.

1. Q1.Deputy Ministers perform which of the following functions?

   • A.Attend Cabinet meetings regularly
   • B.Head independent ministries
   • C.Assist Cabinet Ministers or Ministers of State✓ Correct Answer
   • D.Have no administrative duties

   Explanation: Deputy Ministers are not given independent charge of ministries; they are attached to Cabinet Ministers or Ministers of State to assist them.

2. Q2.Can the Courts inquire into the nature of advice tendered by Ministers to the President?

   • A.Yes
   • B.No✓ Correct Answer
   • C.Only if permitted by President
   • D.Only in cases of corruption

   Explanation: Article 74(2) explicitly bars courts from inquiring into whether any, and if so what, advice was tendered by Ministers to the President.

3. Q3.The total number of ministers, including the Prime Minister, in the Central Council of Ministers shall not be less than:

   • A.12
   • B.15
   • C.10
   • D.No such minimum limit for Center✓ Correct Answer

   Explanation: The 91st Amendment prescribes a maximum limit (15% of Lok Sabha) for the Center, but unlike the states (min 12), there is no specific minimum number mentioned for the Central Council of Ministers.

4. Q4.Who enjoys the position of 'first among equals' (primus inter pares) in the Council of Ministers?

   • A.President
   • B.Prime Minister✓ Correct Answer
   • C.Cabinet Secretary
   • D.Home Minister

   Explanation: This phrase describes the Prime Minister's position relative to other ministers, though in practice, the PM is much more powerful.

5. Q5.The President can call for any information relating to the administration of the affairs of the Union and proposals for legislation from:

   • A.The Speaker
   • B.The Prime Minister✓ Correct Answer
   • C.The Chief Justice
   • D.The Attorney General

   Explanation: Article 78(b) empowers the President to call for such information from the Prime Minister.

6. Q6.Which one of the following is NOT a role of the Prime Minister?

   • A.Chairman of NITI Aayog
   • B.Leader of the Lower House
   • C.Guardian of the Public Purse✓ Correct Answer
   • D.Chief Spokesman of the Union Government

   Explanation: The 'Guardian of the Public Purse' is the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), not the Prime Minister.

7. Q7.If the Prime Minister belongs to the Upper House (Rajya Sabha), he:

   • A.Cannot vote in No-Confidence Motion✓ Correct Answer
   • B.Cannot speak in Lok Sabha
   • C.Must resign within 6 months
   • D.Cannot become Finance Minister

   Explanation: He can speak in the Lok Sabha but can vote only in the House of which he is a member. Thus, he cannot vote in a No-Confidence Motion which takes place in the Lok Sabha.

8. Q8.Which of the following statements about the 'Kitchen Cabinet' is correct?

   • A.It is mentioned in the Constitution
   • B.It consists of 50-60 ministers
   • C.It consists of the PM and 2-4 influential colleagues/friends✓ Correct Answer
   • D.It is the highest statutory body

   Explanation: The Kitchen Cabinet is an informal body consisting of the Prime Minister and 2-4 influential colleagues or friends whom he consults.

9. Q9.The salaries and allowances of Ministers are determined by:

   • A.President
   • B.Parliament✓ Correct Answer
   • C.Prime Minister
   • D.Cabinet Secretary

   Explanation: Article 75(6) states that salaries and allowances of Ministers shall be such as Parliament may from time to time determine.

10. Q10.Who stated 'The Prime Minister is the captain of the ship of the state'?

    • A.Munro✓ Correct Answer
    • B.Ramsay Muir
    • C.H.R.G. Greaves
    • D.Laski

    Explanation: Munro described the Prime Minister as 'the captain of the ship of the state'.

11. Q11.The 'Council of Ministers' is collectively responsible to:

    • A.Parliament
    • B.Lok Sabha✓ Correct Answer
    • C.Rajya Sabha
    • D.President

    Explanation: Article 75 explicitly states collective responsibility to the House of the People (Lok Sabha).

12. Q12.If a No-Confidence Motion is passed in the Lok Sabha, what happens?

    • A.Only the PM resigns
    • B.Only Cabinet Ministers resign
    • C.The entire Council of Ministers must resign✓ Correct Answer
    • D.The President dissolves Parliament immediately

    Explanation: The Council of Ministers must resign if a vote of no confidence is passed against it by the Lok Sabha.

13. Q13.Who can be a member of a Cabinet Committee?

    • A.Only Cabinet Ministers
    • B.Only Ministers of State
    • C.Both Cabinet Ministers and Non-Cabinet Ministers✓ Correct Answer
    • D.Only senior bureaucrats

    Explanation: Membership is not strictly restricted to Cabinet Ministers; Ministers of State can also be members.

14. Q14.Which schedule of the Constitution contains the forms of oath or affirmation for Union Ministers?

    • A.First Schedule
    • B.Second Schedule
    • C.Third Schedule✓ Correct Answer
    • D.Fourth Schedule

    Explanation: The Third Schedule contains the forms of oaths or affirmations for various constitutional offices, including Union Ministers.

15. Q15.Who allocates the portfolios to the ministers?

    • A.President at his discretion
    • B.Speaker of Lok Sabha
    • C.President on advice of Prime Minister✓ Correct Answer
    • D.Vice-President

    Explanation: The President allocates portfolios to ministers on the advice of the Prime Minister. The PM's advice is binding.

16. Q16.Who called the Prime Minister 'The steersman of the steering wheel of the ship of the State'?

    • A.Ramsay Muir✓ Correct Answer
    • B.H.J. Laski
    • C.Lord Morley
    • D.Sir Ivor Jennings

    Explanation: Ramsay Muir described the Prime Minister as 'The steersman of the steering wheel of the ship of the State'.

17. Q17.Which amendment limited the size of the Council of Ministers to 15% of the Lok Sabha strength?

    • A.86th Amendment Act, 2002
    • B.91st Amendment Act, 2003✓ Correct Answer
    • C.97th Amendment Act, 2011
    • D.100th Amendment Act, 2015

    Explanation: The 91st Constitutional Amendment Act of 2003 imposed this limit to check the size of jumbo cabinets.

18. Q18.Is the Prime Minister the Head of the State or the Head of the Government?

    • A.Head of the State
    • B.Head of the Government✓ Correct Answer
    • C.Head of both
    • D.Neither

    Explanation: The President is the Head of the State, while the Prime Minister is the Head of the Government.

19. Q19.The President acts on the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers. Can he ask the Council to reconsider such advice?

    • A.No, never
    • B.Yes, once✓ Correct Answer
    • C.Yes, unlimited times
    • D.Only if Supreme Court permits

    Explanation: According to the 44th Amendment Act (1978), the President can require the Council of Ministers to reconsider such advice, but only once.

20. Q20.In the event of a hung assembly (no party has a clear majority), the President's role in appointing the PM becomes:

    • A.Ceremonial
    • B.Discretionary✓ Correct Answer
    • C.Binding by outgoing PM
    • D.Dictated by Speaker

    Explanation: In such a situation, the President exercises his personal discretion in the selection and appointment of the Prime Minister.