The question asks to identify the Prime Minister who was a member of the Rajya Sabha (the Upper House of the Indian Parliament) at the time of their appointment to the Prime Minister's office. This requires knowledge of the parliamentary background of various Indian Prime Ministers.
Correct Option: C) Manmohan Singh was a member of the Rajya Sabha when he was appointed Prime Minister in 2004. He represented the state of Assam in the Rajya Sabha.
The question asks about the eligibility criteria for the Prime Minister of India at the time of appointment. This requires knowledge of the constitutional provisions regarding the appointment of the Prime Minister.
Constitutional Provision: Article 75 of the Indian Constitution states that the Prime Minister shall be appointed by the President. It does not explicitly state that the person must be a member of Parliament at the time of appointment.
Requirement for Membership: However, Article 75(5) clearly specifies that a minister (which includes the Prime Minister) who is not a member of either House of Parliament for any period of six consecutive months shall at the expiration of that period cease to be a minister.
Interpretation: This implies that a person can be appointed as Prime Minister even if they are not a member of Parliament at the time of appointment, but they must secure membership in either the Lok Sabha or the Rajya Sabha within six months from the date of their appointment. If they fail to do so, they lose their position.
Conclusion: Therefore, the Prime Minister need not necessarily be a member of one of the Houses of Parliament at the time of appointment, but must become a member within six months.
Correct Option: A) Need not necessarily be a member of one of the Houses of the Parliament but must become a member within six months. This statement accurately reflects the constitutional position as per Article 75(5).
The question asks about the constitutional provision regarding the administration of the oath of office to the Prime Minister of India. This is a direct question based on the Indian Constitution.
Correct Option: C) President administers the oath of office to the Prime Minister, as per Article 75(4) of the Indian Constitution.
The question asks to identify which statement is NOT a part of the Prime Minister's oath of office. This requires knowledge of the specific wording of the oaths for constitutional functionaries in India, as outlined in the Third Schedule of the Constitution.
C) To serve the President faithfully — The Prime Minister's oath of office, as prescribed in the Third Schedule of the Constitution of India, does not include a pledge to serve the President faithfully. The oath is taken to the Constitution and the people of India, emphasizing duties towards the nation and its laws, not personal service to the President.
The question asks about the tenure of the Prime Minister of India. Understanding the Indian parliamentary system and the role of the Prime Minister is crucial to answering this question. The Prime Minister's tenure is not fixed but is dependent on maintaining the confidence of the Lok Sabha.
B) Till majority support in Lok Sabha exists — This is the correct answer. The Prime Minister remains in office as long as they command the confidence of the majority of members in the Lok Sabha. If they lose this support, they must resign.
The question asks about the authority responsible for allocating and reshuffling portfolios among ministers in the Indian parliamentary system. This is a fundamental aspect of the executive branch's functioning, particularly concerning the Council of Ministers.
Correct Option: C) The Prime Minister has the exclusive power to allocate and reshuffle portfolios among ministers. This power is central to the Prime Minister's role as the head of the Council of Ministers and the government.