Q5 of 10 Page 97

While appointing the Prime Minister, the President selects

The office of the Prime Minister is the most powerful office in India. In India he is the head of the government, he has the real custody of all executive authority. Our constitution simply says that the Prime Minister is to be appointed by the President. For this function the President has to abide to the rules of the parliamentary system. He appoints the leader who has the majority of votes in the Lok Sabha as the Nation’s Prime Minister. Whenever a party gets clear majority in Lok Sabha elections, then the President just needs to clearly appoint the leader of the party or in a coalition group as the Prime Minister. However if no party gets majority and some party are able to elect a common candidate as their leader then the President can play real role in the appointment of the Prime Minister.

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3

Match the following

i. Works within the particular State in which recruited A. Indian Foreign Service


ii. Works in any central government office located either at the national Services capital or elsewhere in the country B. State Civil Services


iii. Works in a particular State to which allotted; can also be sent on deputation to the centre C. All India Services


iv. Works in Indian missions abroad D. Central Services

 4

Identify the ministry which may have released the following news items. Would this be a ministry of the central government or the State government? Why?

A. An official release said that in 2004-05 the Tamil Nadu Textbooks Corporation would release new versions for standards VII, X and XI.


B. A new railway loop line bypassing the crowded Tiruvallur- Chennai section to help iron ore exporters. The new line, likely to be about 80 km long, will branch off at Puttur and then reach Athipattu near the port.


C. The three-member sub-divisional committee formed to verify suicide by farmers in Ramayampetmandal has found that the two farmers who committed suicide this month have had economic problems due to failure of crops.

 6

Read this discussion and say which of these statements applies most to India.

Alok: Prime Minister is like a king, he decides everything in our country.


Shekhar: Prime Minister is only ‘first among equals’, he does not have any special powers. All ministers and the PM have similar powers.


Bobby: Prime Minister has to consider the expectations of the party members and other supporters of the government. But after all, the Prime Minister has a greater say in policy making and in choosing the ministers.

 7

Why do you think is the advice of the Council of Ministers binding on the President? Give your answer in not more than 100 words.