Who, among the following Presidents of India, sent back the Post Office (Amendment) Bill, 1986 for the reconsideration of the Parliament?
- A.R. Venkataraman
- B.Shankar Dayal Sharma
- C.Giani Zail Singh
- D.K. R. Narayanan
Correct answer
Explanation
The correct answer is C, Giani Zail Singh. He was President when Parliament passed the Indian Post Office (Amendment) Bill, 1986, and he did not give it his assent.
The Bill would have let the government intercept postal articles, and it drew wide criticism as a threat to privacy and press freedom. Article 111 lets the President give assent, withhold it, or return a non-money Bill for reconsideration, but sets no time limit for the decision. Zail Singh simply kept the Bill pending without acting on it, which is why the episode is the standard example of the 'pocket veto'. The Bill never became law.
A is wrong because R. Venkataraman took office in 1987, after the Bill had been held back. B is wrong because Shankar Dayal Sharma was President from 1992 to 1997. D is wrong because K. R. Narayanan, President from 1997 to 2002, is remembered for returning proposals for President's Rule, not this Bill.
Exam tip: pocket veto = Zail Singh, Indian Post Office (Amendment) Bill, 1986; Article 111 sets no time limit.
Practice Questions
View allIn relation to the powers of the Union Government of India, which one of the following statements is NOT correct?
- A.The Government of India may undertake legislative functions of a territory outside of India by agreement with the Government of that territory
- B.The Union Government may not entrust a State Government with functions over matters where executive power of the Union extends
- C.The Union Government may direct States for construction and maintenance of means of communication of military importance
- D.The Governor may, with consent of Government of India, entrust its officers with functions on matters which fall within the executive power of the State
Show answer
It is not correct, because Article 258 expressly lets the President, with a State Government's consent, entrust to it functions on any matter to which the Union's executive power extends.
Read the full explanation →Which one of the following languages was added to the Eighth Schedule by a Constitutional Amendment in 1967?
- A.Khasi
- B.Kashmiri
- C.Sindhi
- D.Urdu
Show answer
The 21st Constitutional Amendment Act of 1967 added Sindhi to the Eighth Schedule. The Eighth Schedule lists the official languages of India recognised by the Constitution.
Read the full explanation →Which one of the following statements is not correct?
- A.Allahabad High Court has a Bench at Lucknow.
- B.Madhya Pradesh High Court has a Bench at Gwalior.
- C.Rajasthan High Court is located at Jodhpur.
- D.Guwahati High Court has no Bench.
Show answer
This statement is wrong, because the Gauhati High Court has permanent benches outside Guwahati. The Gauhati High Court at Guwahati is the common High Court for Assam, Nagaland, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh.
Read the full explanation →Which Prime Minister of India remained a member of the Rajya Sabha throughout his tenure?
- A.P. V. Narasimha Rao
- B.Manmohan Singh
- C.I. K. Gujral
- D.H. D. Deve Gowda
Show answer
He was Prime Minister from May 2004 to May 2014 and sat in the Rajya Sabha for the whole of those ten years, which is permitted because Article 75 requires only that a Minister be a member of either House within six months; he was also the first Sikh to…
Read the full explanation →By which Constitutional Amendment was the size of the Council of Ministers limited to fifteen per cent of the strength of the Lok Sabha?
- A.Seventy-third Amendment
- B.Eighty-sixth Amendment
- C.Ninety-first Amendment
- D.Ninety-seventh Amendment
Show answer
The Constitution (Ninety-first Amendment) Act of 2003 inserted Article 75(1A), which caps the total number of Ministers in the Union Council of Ministers, including the Prime Minister, at fifteen per cent of the total number of members of the Lok Sabha, and Article 164(1A) does the same for a State…
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