In India Who among the following has the power to pardon, reprieve or commute the punishment of any criminal?
- A.Prime Minister
- B.Attorney General of India
- C.President
- D.Vice-President
Correct answer
Explanation
The correct answer is President. Article 72 gives the President the power to grant pardons, reprieves, respites or remissions of punishment, and to suspend, remit or commute a sentence. It covers every case where the punishment was given by a court martial, every offence against a law on a matter within the Union's executive power, and every sentence of death. The President uses this power on the advice of the Council of Ministers.
The Prime Minister leads that Council but has no pardoning power of his or her own. The Attorney General, appointed under Article 76, is the government's chief legal adviser and appears for it in court, but cannot pardon anyone. The Vice-President has no such power either, except while acting as President. At the State level, the Governor has a similar power under Article 161, but it does not extend to sentences passed by a court martial, which only the President can pardon.
Read the full article: President and Vice-President of India: Notes, Articles and PYQs
Practice Questions
View allWhich Article establishes the office of the President?
- A.Article 75
- B.Article 53
- C.Article 74
- D.Article 52
Show answer
The correct answer is Article 52, which says simply: "There shall be a President of India." It opens Chapter I of Part V, the chapter on the Union executive, and every other rule about the office builds on it.
Read the full explanation →Who among the following does NOT take part in the election of the President of India?
- A.Elected Member of Rajya Sabha
- B.Elected Member of Lok Sabha
- C.Elected Member of State Assembly
- D.Nominated Member of Parliament
Show answer
Under Article 54, the President is elected by an electoral college made up only of elected members: the elected members of both Houses of Parliament and the elected members of the Legislative Assemblies of the States, and, since the 70th Amendment of 1992, of the Union Territories of Delhi and…
Read the full explanation →What is the minimum age requirement to be elected as President of India?
- A.35 years
- B.34 years
- C.25 years
- D.30 years
Show answer
Article 58 lays down four qualifications for the President: the person must be a citizen of India, must have completed 35 years of age, must be qualified for election as a member of the Lok Sabha, and must not hold any office of profit under the Union, a State or…
Read the full explanation →Who conducts oath of office to the President of India?
- A.The Prime Minister
- B.The Chief Justice
- C.Lok Sabha Speaker
- D.Rajya Sabha Chairman
Show answer
Under Article 60, the President takes the oath or affirmation before the Chief Justice of India, or, in the Chief Justice's absence, before the senior-most judge of the Supreme Court.
Read the full explanation →The President may resign from his office by writing under his hand addressed to the:
- A.Prime Minister
- B.Vice President
- C.Chief Election Commissioner
- D.Speaker of the Lok Sabha
Show answer
Article 56(1)(a) says the President may resign by writing under his or her hand addressed to the Vice-President. The Vice-President must then communicate the resignation to the Speaker of the Lok Sabha without delay.
Read the full explanation →