For how long a person can serve as a minister without being a member of either House of Parliament of India?
- A.6 consecutive months
- B.3 consecutive months
- C.12 consecutive months
- D.2 consecutive month
Correct answer
Explanation
The correct answer is 6 consecutive months. Article 75(5) says a minister who for any period of six consecutive months is not a member of either House of Parliament shall, at the end of that period, cease to be a minister. So a person can be appointed a minister, or even Prime Minister, without being an MP, but must win a seat in the Lok Sabha or the Rajya Sabha within six months. P.V. Narasimha Rao became Prime Minister in 1991 this way and then won a Lok Sabha by-election.
The other durations are made up, and three months is the most tempting because people half-remember the "three months" in other rules. The same six-month rule applies in the States under Article 164(4): a Chief Minister or State minister who is not a member of the State legislature must become one within six months. The rule lets a government bring in talent from outside politics, but only for a limited time, after which the minister must face the voters or be chosen by a legislature.
Read the full article: Prime Minister and Council of Ministers: Notes, Articles and PYQs
Practice Questions
View allArticle 74 of the Constitution elaborates on which of the following?
- A.Appointment of Chief Justice by President
- B.Appointment of Vice President by President
- C.Council of Ministers to aid and advise President
- D.Appointment of Chairman of Finance Commission
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Article 74(1) says there shall be a Council of Ministers with the Prime Minister at its head to aid and advise the President, who shall act in accordance with that advice.
Read the full explanation →The Prime Minister and the other Ministers of the Indian Union are appointed by the President under ______ of the Constitution of India.
- A.Article 70
- B.Article 79
- C.Article 75
- D.Article 85
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Article 75(1) says 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.
Read the full explanation →Article 77 of the Indian Constitution deals with the ________.
- A.term of office of the Vice-President
- B.Vice-President of India
- C.oath of office by the Vice-President
- D.conduct of business of the Government of India
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Article 77 says all executive action of the Government of India shall be expressed to be taken in the name of the President, and that the President shall make rules for the more convenient transaction of the government's business and for allocating it among ministers.
Read the full explanation →Which of the following is dealt in Article 78 of the Constitution?
- A.President's power to send advisory messages to the Parliament
- B.Emergency powers of the President
- C.President's power to get information from the Council of Ministers
- D.Prime Minister's duty regarding keeping the President informed about the government's decisions and policies
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Article 78 makes it the duty of the Prime Minister to communicate to the President all decisions of the Council of Ministers relating to the administration of the Union and proposals for legislation; to furnish such information about them as the President may call for; and, if the President so…
Read the full explanation →Who administers the oath of office and secrecy to the Union Ministers under Article 75(4) of the Constitution of India?
- A.Chief Justice of India
- B.Prime Minister
- C.Vice President
- D.President of India
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Article 75(4) says that before a minister enters office, the President shall administer to him or her the oaths of office and of secrecy according to the forms set out in the Third Schedule.
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