Who among the following had the shortest span in office as the Prime Minister of India?
- A.Lal Bahadur Shastri
- B.Chaudhary Charan Singh
- C.Chandra Shekhar
- D.H. D. Deve Gowda
Correct answer
Explanation
The correct answer is B, Chaudhary Charan Singh. Among the four, Charan Singh held office for the shortest time, about 170 days. He became Prime Minister on 28 July 1979 after the Janata government of Morarji Desai fell, but resigned on 20 August 1979 without ever facing Parliament, when the Congress withdrew its support. He stayed on as caretaker until January 1980, and he remains the only Prime Minister who never faced the Lok Sabha as Prime Minister. Option A is wrong because Lal Bahadur Shastri served about nineteen months, from June 1964 until his death at Tashkent in January 1966. Option C is wrong because Chandra Shekhar served from November 1990 to June 1991, about seven months. Option D is wrong because H. D. Deve Gowda served from June 1996 to April 1997, close to eleven months. Note that the question asks about full Prime Ministers; Gulzarilal Nanda's two short terms were as acting Prime Minister. Exam tip: Charan Singh, about 170 days; Chandra Shekhar, about 7 months; Deve Gowda, about 11 months.
Practice Questions
View allWhich one of the following does not fall under the jurisdiction of the apex court of India?
- A.Original Jurisdiction
- B.Appellate Jurisdiction
- C.Collegiate Jurisdiction
- D.Advisory Jurisdiction
Show answer
The Constitution gives the Supreme Court no such jurisdiction; the collegium is only the system by which senior judges recommend appointments.
Read the full explanation →Who among the following was the Chairman of the National Commission for Review of the Working of the Constitution (2000)?
- A.Justice M.N. Venkatachaliah
- B.Justice J.S. Verma
- C.Justice Ranganath Mishra
- D.Justice Y.K. Sabharwal
Show answer
Venkatachaliah. The National Commission to Review the Working of the Constitution was set up by the Union government in February 2000 under Justice M.N.
Read the full explanation →Which one of the following Articles of the Constitution of India requires the Prime Minister of India to furnish information related to decisions of the Council of Ministers to the President of India ?
- A.Article 78
- B.Article 74
- C.Article 75
- D.Article 81
Show answer
Article 78 sets out the duties of the Prime Minister towards the President, chief among them keeping the President informed.
Read the full explanation →Consider the following statements :
1. In India, the Special Marriage Act protects an individual if one enters into an interreligious marriage.
2. Right to marry a person of one's choice is an integral aspect of one's Fundamental Rights under Article 21 of the Constitution of India.
3. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights also resonates marital rights of every adult consenting individuals.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- A.2 and 3 only
- B.1 and 3 only
- C.1,2 and 3
- D.1 only
Show answer
All three statements are correct. The Special Marriage Act, 1954 lets any two Indians marry by civil registration whatever their religion, without either partner having to convert, so it is the law that covers inter-religious marriages.
Read the full explanation →Which one of the following terms was used for the States in the Draft Constitution presented by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar on 4th November, 1948?
- A.Union of States
- B.Federation of States
- C.Autonomous States
- D.Subsidiary States
Show answer
Article 1 of the Draft Constitution described India as a 'Union of States', and the same words survive in Article 1 of the Constitution today.
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