Who among the following served the shortest tenure as the Prime Minister of India?

The correct answer is D, Original. Article 131 of the Constitution gives the Supreme Court exclusive original jurisdiction in disputes between the Government of India and one or more states, and in disputes among states themselves. Exclusive means no other court can hear such a case, and original means it starts in the Supreme Court and does not come on appeal. The article does not cover disputes arising from a treaty or agreement that was in force before the Constitution began. Option A is wrong because appellate jurisdiction, under Articles 132 to 134, is about appeals from High Court judgments in constitutional, civil and criminal cases. Option B is wrong because advisory jurisdiction under Article 143 lets the President seek the Court's opinion on a question of law, and that opinion does not bind him. Option C is wrong because writ jurisdiction under Article 32 is for enforcing fundamental rights of citizens. Exam tip: Article 131 original, 143 advisory, 32 writs.

The correct answer is B, Leaders of Opposition in Parliament. The Salary and Allowances of Leaders of Opposition in Parliament Act, 1977 gave the post statutory recognition for the first time and fixed the pay and perks of the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. The Act describes the Leader of the Opposition as the leader of the largest opposition party recognised as such by the Speaker or the Chairman, and the office carries the rank of a Cabinet minister. The holder sits on the committees that select the Director of the CBI, the Central Vigilance Commissioner, the Lokpal and the Chief Information Commissioner. Option A is wrong because the President's pay comes under a 1951 law. Option C is wrong because the Prime Minister is paid under the law on ministers' salaries of 1952. Option D is wrong because the office of Governor General ended in 1950. Exam tip: Leader of the Opposition, statutory since 1977, ranks with a Cabinet minister.

The correct answer is B, 35 years. Article 66(3) of the Constitution says a person must have completed 35 years of age to be eligible for election as Vice-President. The same article requires the candidate to be a citizen of India, to be qualified for election as a member of the Council of States, and to hold no office of profit under the Union, a State or a local authority. The Vice-President is elected for five years by an electoral college of members of both Houses of Parliament, including nominated members, through proportional representation by the single transferable vote. The same age limit of 35 years applies to the President under Article 58. Option A is wrong because 30 years is the minimum age for membership of the Rajya Sabha. Options C and D are wrong because the Constitution fixes no such limits for this post. Exam tip: 25 for Lok Sabha, 30 for Rajya Sabha, 35 for President and Vice-President.

The correct answer is C, Indira Gandhi. Fundamental Duties were inserted by the 42nd Constitutional Amendment of 1976, passed during the Emergency when Indira Gandhi was Prime Minister. The amendment followed the report of the Swaran Singh Committee, and the duties were placed in Part IVA as Article 51A, drawing on the practice of the Soviet constitution. Ten duties were listed at first; an eleventh, on providing education to children between six and fourteen years, was added by the 86th Amendment of 2002. Like the Directive Principles, these duties are not enforceable by the courts. Option A is wrong because P V Narasimha Rao became Prime Minister in 1991 and is linked with the economic reforms. Option B is wrong because Charan Singh was Prime Minister briefly in 1979-80. Option D is wrong because Lal Bahadur Shastri held office from 1964 to 1966. Exam tip: 42nd Amendment 1976 added Fundamental Duties and the words socialist, secular and integrity to the Preamble.

The correct answer is A, A is correct and B is incorrect. Statement A is right because Article 153 provides a Governor for each state, and the Governor is the constitutional head of the state, in whose name all executive action of the state is taken. Statement B is wrong on one word: the Governor is appointed by the President under Article 155, not by the state government, and holds office during the pleasure of the President for a term of five years. That is why the Governor can report to the President on the state of affairs in the state; a person appointed by the state ministry could hardly watch over it. The real work of government is done by the Chief Minister and the council of ministers, who advise the Governor. B is wrong because statement A is correct. C is wrong because statement B has the appointing authority wrong. D is wrong because statement A is correct. Exam tip: Article 153, a Governor for each state; Article 155, appointed by the President.