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Prime Minister & Council of Ministers: 46 previous year questions

UPSC has asked 46 questions on Prime Minister & Council of Ministers between 1980 and 2025: CSE 28 · CDS 10 · CAPF 7 · NDA 1. 18 of them came after 2015, so this is a live topic examiners keep returning to. 28 were set in Civil Services Prelims; the rest come from UPSC's other papers, which draw on the same question bank.

Practise these 46, one at a timeRead the questions

Tap an option to check yourself. Answers follow the official UPSC key; where the key was dropped or disputed the question is not shown.

CAPF2025Prime Minister & Council of MinistersOn card POL 5·2

From amongst the following, identify the correct option that captures the changes made in Article 74(1) of the Constitution of India through the 42nd Amendment Act, 1976.

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Answer C (official UPSC key)42nd CAA 1976 → Art 74(1): President SHALL exercise functions on advice of CoM headed by PM
CDS2025 · 2Prime Minister & Council of MinistersOn card POL 5·6

Which one of the following statements about „Motions‟ in the Parliament of India is correct?

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Answer C (official UPSC key)Rajya Sabha NOT empowered to entertain a No-Confidence Motion
CAPF2022Prime Minister & Council of MinistersOn card POL 5·6

Which one of the following statements is not correct?

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Answer C (official UPSC key)Censure motion CAN be moved against the entire CoM
CSE2022Prime Minister & Council of MinistersOn card POL 5·5

Consider the following statements: 1. The Constitution of India classifies the ministers into four ranks viz. Cabinet Minister, Minister of State with Independent Charge, Minister of State and Deputy Minister. 2. The total number of ministers in the Union Government, including the Prime Minister, shall not exceed 15 percent of the total number of members in the Lok Sabha. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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Answer B (official UPSC key)Total Ministers incl. PM ≤15% of total members of Lok Sabha | NOT: Constitution classifies ministers into 4 ranks (Cabinet, MoS-IC, MoS, Deputy)
CSE2022Prime Minister & Council of MinistersOn card POL 5·6

Which of the following is/are the exclusive power(s) of Lok Sabha? 1. To ratify the declaration of Emergency 2. To pass a motion of no-confidence against the Council of Ministers 3. To impeach the President of India Select the correct answer using the code given below:

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Answer B (official UPSC key)Exclusive Lok Sabha power → no-confidence motion against CoM | NOT exclusive to LS: ratifying Emergency declaration; impeaching President
CSE2021Prime Minister & Council of MinistersOn card POL 5·7

With reference to the Union Government, consider the following statements: 1. N. Gopalaswamy Iyenger Committee suggested that a minister and a secretary be designated solely for pursuing the subject of administrative reform and promoting it. 2. In 1970, the Department of personnel was constituted on the recommendation of the Administrative Reforms Commission, 1966, and this was placed under the Prime Minister‘s charge. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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Answer B (official UPSC key)Dept of Personnel constituted 1970 on ARC (1966) recommendation, placed under PM's charge | NOT: N. Gopalaswamy Iyengar Committee suggested a minister + secretary solely for administrative reform
CSE2017Prime Minister & Council of MinistersOn card POL 5·7

Out of the following statements, choose the one that brings out the principle underlying the Cabinet form of Government:

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Answer C (official UPSC key)Cabinet form of govt → mechanism of parliamentary democracy ensuring collective responsibility of Govt to the people
CDS2016 · 1Prime Minister & Council of MinistersOn card POL 5·5

Consider the following statements about the President of India. 1. The President has the right to address and send message to The Council of Ministers to elicit specific information 2. The President can call for information relating to proposal for legislation 3. All decisions of the Council of Ministers relating to administration of the Union must be communicated to the President Which of the statements given above are correct?

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Answer D (official UPSC key)President has right to address/send messages to CoM to elicit specific info | President can call for info on proposals for legislation | All CoM decisions on Union administration communicated to President
CDS2016 · 1Prime Minister & Council of MinistersOn card POL 5·6

Who among the following Prime Ministers of India were defeated by a vote of No Confidence ? A. Moraiji Desai B. Viswanath Pratap Singh C. H.D. Deve Gowda D. Atal Bihari Vajpayee Select the correct answer using the code given below : 1,2,3 and 4 1,2 and 3 only 2, 3 and 4 only 1 and 4 only

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Answer C (official UPSC key)PMs defeated by a vote of No-Confidence → V.P. Singh, H.D. Deve Gowda, A.B. Vajpayee | NOT: Morarji Desai
CDS2014 · 1Prime Minister & Council of MinistersOn card POL 5·5

The principle of „collective responsibility‟ under parliamentary democracy implies that 1. a motion of no-confidence can be moved in the Council of Ministers as a whole as well as an individual minister 2. no person shall be nominated to the Cabinet except on the advice of the Prime Minister 3. no person shall be retained as a member of the Cabinet if the Prime Minister says that he shall be dismissed Select the correct answer using the code given below.

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Answer D (official UPSC key)Collective responsibility implies → no one nominated to Cabinet except on PM's advice + no one retained if PM says he shall be dismissed | NOT implied: no-confidence motion vs CoM as a whole as well as an individual Minister
CSE2014Prime Minister & Council of MinistersOn card POL 5·7

Consider the following statements: 1. The President shall make rules for the more convenient transaction of the business of the Government of India, and for the allocation among Ministers of the said business. 2. All executive actions of the Government of India shall be expressed to be taken in the name of the Prime Minister. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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Answer A (official UPSC key)President makes rules for convenient transaction of GoI business + its allocation among Ministers | NOT: GoI executive actions expressed in the name of the PM
CSE2014Prime Minister & Council of MinistersOn card POL 5·7

Which of the following is/are the function/functions of the Cabinet Secretariat? 1. Preparation of agenda for Cabinet Meetings 2. Secretarial assistance to Cabinet Committees 3. Allocation of financial resources to the Ministries Select the correct answer using the code given below.

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Answer C (official UPSC key)Cabinet Secretariat functions → agenda for Cabinet meetings + secretarial assistance to Cabinet Committees | NOT: allocating financial resources to Ministries
CSE2014Prime Minister & Council of MinistersOn card POL 5·6

Consider the following statements regarding a No-Confidence Motion in India: 1. There is no mention of a No-Confidence Motion in the Constitution of India. 2. A Motion of No-Confidence can be introduced in the Lok Sabha only. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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Answer C (official UPSC key)No-Confidence Motion → not mentioned in Constitution + introduced in Lok Sabha only
CAPF2013Prime Minister & Council of MinistersOn card POL 5·5

Consider the following statements : 1. A person who is not a member of either House of the Parliament can be appointed a member of the Council of Ministers. 2. Anyone can be appointed as a member of the Council of Ministers for a maximum period of three years. 3. A person shall not be less than 25 years of age in order to become a minister. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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Answer C (official UPSC key)Non-member of either House can be appointed a Minister | Minister must be ≥25 yrs of age | NOT: CoM membership capped at max 3 yrs
CSE2013Prime Minister & Council of MinistersOn card POL 5·5

Consider the following statements: 1. The Council of Ministers in the Centre shall be collectively responsible to the Parliament. 2. The Union Ministers shall hold the office during the pleasure of the President of India. 3. The Prime Minister shall communicate to the President about the proposals for Legislation. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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Answer B (official UPSC key)Union Ministers hold office during pleasure of President | PM communicates to President about proposals for legislation | NOT: Union CoM collectively responsible to Parliament
CSE2012Prime Minister & Council of MinistersOn card POL 5·5

The Prime Minister of India, at the time of his/her appointment [2012 - I]

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Answer A (official UPSC key)PM at appointment → need not be MP, but must become member of either House within 6 months
CDS2011 · 2Prime Minister & Council of MinistersOn card POL 5·5

Consider the following statements about the powers of the President of India : 1. The President can direct that any matter on which decision has been taken by a Minister should be placed before the Council of Ministers. 2. The President can call all information relating to proposals for legislation. 3. The President has the right to address and send messages to either House of the Parliament 4. All decisions of the Council of Ministers relating to the administration of the Union must be communicated to the President. Which of the statements given above are correct?

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Answer D (official UPSC key)President can direct that a Minister's decision be placed before CoM | President can call for info on proposals for legislation | President can address & send messages to either House | All CoM decisions on Union administration must be communicated to President
CSE2009Prime Minister & Council of MinistersOn card POL 5·5

With reference to the Union Government, consider the following statements: [2009] 1 The Constitution of India provides that all Cabinet Ministers shall be compulsorily be a sitting members of Lok Sabha only. 2 The Union Cabinet Secretariat operates under the direction of the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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Answer D (official UPSC key)NOT: Constitution requires all Cabinet Ministers to be sitting Lok Sabha members only | NOT: Cabinet Secretariat works under Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs
CSE2007Prime Minister & Council of MinistersOn card POL 5·5

Which of the following Constitution Amendment Acts seeks that the size of the Councils of Ministers at the Centre and in a State must not exceed 15 per cent of the total number of members in the Lok Sabha and the total number of members of the Legislative Assembly of that State, respectively? [2007]

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Answer A (official UPSC key)91st CAA → CoM ≤15% of total members of Lok Sabha (Centre) / Legislative Assembly (State)
CSE2007Prime Minister & Council of MinistersOn card POL 5·5

Assertion (A): The Council of Ministers in the Union of India is collectively responsible both to the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. Reason (R): The Members of both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha are eligible to be the Ministers of the Union Government.

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Answer D (official UPSC key)NOT: Union CoM collectively responsible to both LS and RS | Members of both LS and RS eligible to be Union Ministers
CSE2007Prime Minister & Council of MinistersOn card POL 5·6

Consider the following statements: [2007] 1 Jawaharlal Nehru was in his fourth term as the Prime Minister of India at the time of his death. 2 Jawaharlal Nehru represented Rae Bareilly constituency as a Member of Parliament. 3 The first non-Congress Prime Minister of India assumed the office in the year 1977. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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Answer D (official UPSC key)Nehru → in his 4th term as PM at time of death | First non-Congress PM took office in 1977 | NOT: Nehru represented Rae Bareilly as MP
CSE2004Prime Minister & Council of MinistersOn card POL 5·6

Which one of the following statements is not correct? [2004]

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Answer A (official UPSC key)No-confidence motion (LS) need NOT set out the grounds on which it is based
CSE2001Prime Minister & Council of MinistersOn card POL 5·5

Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists: List I List II A. Article 54 1. Election of the President of India B. Article 75 2. Appointment of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers C. Article 155 3. Appointment of the Governor of State D. Article 164 4. Appointment of the Chief Minister and Council of Ministers in a state 5. Composition of Legislative Assemblies Code A-1, B-2, C-3, D-4 A-1, B-2, C-4, D-5 A-2, B-1, C-3, D-5 A-2, B-1, C-4, D-3

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Answer A (official UPSC key)Art 54 → election of President | Art 75 → appointment of PM & CoM | Art 155 → appointment of Governor | Art 164 → appointment of CM & State CoM
CSE1997Prime Minister & Council of MinistersOn card POL 5·6

If the Prime Minister of India belonged to the Upper House of Parliament:

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Answer A (official UPSC key)PM from Upper House → cannot vote in his own favour on a no-confidence motion
CSE1996Prime Minister & Council of MinistersOn card POL 5·5

Which one of the following statements about the duties of Prime Minister is correct? [1996]

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Answer C (official UPSC key)PM → full discretion in choosing persons to serve as ministers in his cabinet
CSE1995Prime Minister & Council of MinistersOn card POL 5·6

What is not explicitly stated in the Constitution of India but followed as a convention? [1995]

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Answer B (official UPSC key)Convention, not explicit in Constitution → PM resigns if he loses majority in the Lower House
CSE1991Prime Minister & Council of MinistersOn card POL 5·5

Of the following, with which does Article 78 of the Constitution deal with? A. Emergency powers of the President B. The Prime Minister's duty regarding keeping the President informed about the government's decisions, policies and actions C. The President's power to send advisory messages to the Parliament D. The President's power to get information from the Council of Ministers Select the correct answer from the codes given below: 1 and 4 2 and 3 2 and 4 2 only

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Answer D (official UPSC key)Art 78 → PM's duty to keep President informed of govt decisions, policies & actions | NOT Art 78: Emergency powers; President's advisory messages to Parliament; President's power to get info from CoM
CSE1990Prime Minister & Council of MinistersOn card POL 5·6

Consider the following statements regarding a No-confidence Motion in the Parliament: 1. There is no mention of a No-confidence Motion in the Constitution of India. 2. A period of six months must elapse between the introduction of one No-confidence Motion and the other. 3. At least 100 members must support a Motion of No-confidence before it is introduced in the House. 4. A motion of No-confidence can be introduced in the Lok Sabha only Of these statements:

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Answer D (official UPSC key)No-confidence motion → no mention in Constitution + introduced in Lok Sabha only | NOT: 6-month gap required between two no-confidence motions | NOT: ≥100 members' support needed to introduce it

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