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REET L2 · Social Studies

President and Prime Minister of India

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This page explains India's President and Prime Minister — election, powers, and the constitutional cap on the size of the Council of Ministers — from a REET exam angle. REET 2024 tested both article numbers and real historical examples (like the pocket veto) on this topic.

  • 3 questions in REET 2024
  • Class 6–8 level
  • 9 min read
Verified 17 September 2026 · Source: Article 74/75 — Constitution of India

How REET asks this topic

REET 2024 drew on this topic to ask about the historical example of a 'pocket veto' (President Giani Zail Singh and the Post Office Bill), Article 74(1) on the Council of Ministers, and the 15% cap introduced by the 91st Constitutional Amendment. These examples show that the exam doesn't stop at definitions — it pairs article numbers with real historical instances.

President: Election and Term

India's President is elected indirectly by an electoral college made up of the elected members of both Houses of Parliament and the elected members of the Legislative Assemblies of all states, plus Delhi and Puducherry (Article 54). The election is held under the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote, through secret ballot (Article 55).

To become President, a person must be at least 35 years old and qualified to be a member of the Lok Sabha (Article 58). The President's term is 5 years (Article 56), and there is no limit on how many times a person can be re-elected (Article 57) — the Constitution places no cap on re-election. Removing a President from office requires impeachment (Article 61): a charge of violating the Constitution can be brought in either House if at least one-fourth of its members sign it, with 14 days' notice given in advance, and the resolution must then pass both Houses by a two-thirds majority.

Key Articles on the President and Council of Ministers

ArticleSubject
54Electoral college for the President's election
55Method of election (proportional representation, single transferable vote)
56 / 57Term (5 years) and eligibility for re-election
58Qualifications for President (minimum age 35)
61Impeachment procedure
74(1)Council of Ministers headed by the Prime Minister, to aid and advise the President
75(1)Appointment of the Prime Minister and other ministers
75(1A)Added by the 91st Amendment (2003) — Council of Ministers capped at 15% of Lok Sabha strength

Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers

Under Article 74(1), there shall be a Council of Ministers, headed by the Prime Minister, to aid and advise the President in the exercise of their functions; the President generally acts on this advice. The Prime Minister is appointed by the President (Article 75(1)), and the other ministers are appointed on the Prime Minister's advice. The Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha — meaning that if a no-confidence motion is passed in the Lok Sabha, the entire Council of Ministers must resign.

The 91st Constitutional Amendment Act, 2003 added Article 75(1A), which caps the total strength of the Union Council of Ministers, including the Prime Minister, at 15% of the total membership of the Lok Sabha. The same 15% cap applies to Chief Ministers and state Councils of Ministers under Article 164(1A). The amendment's purpose was to curb large, expensive Councils of Ministers.

The President's Veto Power: The Pocket Veto Example

What a pocket veto is
When the President neither signs a bill, nor returns it, nor takes any decision on it — the bill stays pending indefinitely.
Famous example
The Indian Post Office (Amendment) Bill, 1986 — President Giani Zail Singh kept it pending.

Ordinance Power and the Vice-President's Role

Under Article 123, when Parliament is not in session and the President is satisfied that immediate action is necessary, they can issue an Ordinance, which has the same force as an Act of Parliament. This Ordinance must be approved within 6 weeks of Parliament reassembling, or it automatically lapses; the President cannot use it to amend the Constitution, and it can only be issued on the advice of the Council of Ministers.

The Vice-President is the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. If the office of President falls vacant (due to death, resignation, or removal), the Vice-President acts as President until a new President is elected. Together, the President and Vice-President ensure continuity at the top of the country's constitutional structure.

India follows a parliamentary system of government, in which the President is the 'nominal' head of the executive and the Council of Ministers, led by the Prime Minister, is the 'real' executive — meaning all major decisions are taken by the Council of Ministers and implemented in the President's name. Before taking office, the President takes the oath to preserve the Constitution before the Chief Justice of India (or, in their absence, the senior-most available judge of the Supreme Court) (Article 60), and addresses their resignation letter to the Vice-President (Article 56).

States have a parallel arrangement in keeping with the federal structure — the Governor is the constitutional (nominal) head of the state, while the Council of Ministers led by the Chief Minister is the real executive. This mirrors the President-Prime Minister relationship at the Centre, just at the state level — REET often asks questions comparing the powers of the President and the Governor.

The key to understanding this whole arrangement is that the Constitution created two levels of power — ceremonial dignity and constitutional formality (President, Governor) versus real policy decisions (the Council of Ministers). REET aspirants should keep these two firmly separate in their minds so article-based questions don't cause confusion.

How to teach this to children

Classroom activity

Have students role-play the President, the Prime Minister, and the Council of Ministers, acting out a scene where a 'bill' gets signed or vetoed.

Teaching aid

A two-column chart comparing the powers of the President and the Prime Minister works well in class.

Common misconception

Students often think the President is the real head of the executive, when in fact real executive power in India rests with the Council of Ministers (led by the Prime Minister) — the President is the constitutional (nominal) head.

Assessment idea

Have students discuss or write a short essay on 'What could happen if the President doesn't want to sign a bill?'

Trick to remember

'74 for advice, 75 for appointment' — Article 74 covers the Council of Ministers' advice, and 75 covers appointment. '91 for fifteen' — the 91st Amendment fixed the Council of Ministers' size at 15%.

REET 2024 Questions (with solutions)

Question 110

The Parliament passed the ‘Indian Post Office (Amendment) Bill’ and presented to which President for signature ?

  1. Aज्ञानी जेल सिंह
  2. Bनीलम संजीव रेड्डी
  3. Cडॉ. शंकर दयाल शर्मा
  4. Dवी. वी. गिरी

Explanation

'भारतीय डाकघर (संशोधन) विधेयक, 1986' संसद द्वारा पारित होने के बाद राष्ट्रपति ज्ञानी जैल सिंह के सामने प्रस्तुत हुआ। उन्होंने इस पर न तो हस्ताक्षर किए और न ही लौटाया, बल्कि अनिश्चित काल तक रोके रखा – इसे 'जेबी वीटो' (pocket veto) का प्रसिद्ध उदाहरण माना जाता है।

Question 95

Under which Article of the Indian Constitution there is a provision for a Council of Ministers headed by the Prime Minister to aid and advise the President ?

  1. A73(1)
  2. B74(1)
  3. C75(1)
  4. D76(1)

Explanation

संविधान के अनुच्छेद 74(1) के अनुसार राष्ट्रपति को सहायता और सलाह देने के लिए एक मंत्रिपरिषद होगी जिसका प्रधान प्रधानमंत्री होगा, और राष्ट्रपति अपने कार्यों का निर्वहन इसी सलाह के अनुसार करेगा। अनुच्छेद 75(1) प्रधानमंत्री व अन्य मंत्रियों की नियुक्ति से संबंधित है, जबकि 76 भारत के महान्यायवादी (Attorney General) से संबंधित है।

Question 123

After the 91st Constitutional Amendment the number of members of the Council of Ministers at the centre can be what percentage of the total number of members of the Lok Sabha ?

  1. A10%
  2. B12%
  3. C18%
  4. D15%

Explanation

91वें संविधान संशोधन अधिनियम, 2003 द्वारा अनुच्छेद 75(1A) जोड़ा गया, जिसके अनुसार केन्द्र में प्रधानमंत्री सहित मंत्रिपरिषद के सदस्यों की कुल संख्या लोकसभा की कुल सदस्य संख्या के 15% से अधिक नहीं हो सकती। राज्यों के लिए भी अनुच्छेद 164(1A) में यही सीमा (विधानसभा का 15%, न्यूनतम 12 मंत्री) रखी गई है।

Practice Questions

Question 1

What is the minimum age prescribed for the office of President?

  1. A25 वर्ष
  2. B30 वर्ष
  3. C35 वर्ष
  4. D40 वर्ष

Explanation

Article 58 sets the minimum age for the office of President at 35 years.

Question 2

What is the term of office of the President?

  1. A4 वर्ष
  2. B5 वर्ष
  3. C6 वर्ष
  4. D7 वर्ष

Explanation

Under Article 56, the President's term of office is 5 years from the date of taking office.

Question 3

According to which Article will there be a Council of Ministers headed by the Prime Minister to aid and advise the President?

  1. A73(1)
  2. B74(1)
  3. C75(1)
  4. D76(1)

Explanation

Article 74(1) provides for a Council of Ministers, headed by the Prime Minister, to aid and advise the President.

Question 4

After the 91st Constitutional Amendment, the size of the Union Council of Ministers is limited to a maximum of what percentage of the total membership of the Lok Sabha?

  1. A10%
  2. B12%
  3. C15%
  4. D18%

Explanation

Article 75(1A), added by the 91st Constitutional Amendment, 2003, caps the Council of Ministers at 15% of the Lok Sabha's membership.

Question 5

Who appoints the Prime Minister?

  1. Aलोकसभा अध्यक्ष
  2. Bराष्ट्रपति
  3. Cउपराष्ट्रपति
  4. Dसर्वोच्च न्यायालय

Explanation

Under Article 75(1), the Prime Minister is appointed by the President.

Question 6

Which Article describes the procedure for the impeachment of the President?

  1. A56
  2. B58
  3. C60
  4. D61

Explanation

Article 61 lays down the impeachment procedure for removing the President.

Question 7

The famous example of a 'pocket veto' is associated with the tenure of which President?

  1. Aनीलम संजीव रेड्डी
  2. Bज्ञानी जैल सिंह
  3. Cवी. वी. गिरी
  4. Dडॉ. शंकर दयाल शर्मा

Explanation

President Giani Zail Singh kept the Indian Post Office (Amendment) Bill, 1986 pending indefinitely — a well-known example of a pocket veto.

Question 8

Voting in the Presidential election is conducted using which method?

  1. Aप्रत्यक्ष बहुमत
  2. Bआनुपातिक प्रतिनिधित्व - एकल संक्रमणीय मत
  3. Cसर्वसम्मति
  4. Dहाथ उठाकर मतदान

Explanation

Under Article 55, the President is elected through proportional representation using the single transferable vote and secret ballot.

Question 9

The most effective way to clarify the difference between the roles of the President and the Prime Minister in class is

  1. Aकेवल परिभाषा रटवाना
  2. Bभूमिका-अभिनय (role play) गतिविधि करवाना
  3. Cटॉपिक छोड़ देना
  4. Dकेवल किताब से पढ़वाना

Explanation

Active teaching methods like role play make abstract constitutional concepts practical and memorable for students.

Question 10

If students believe that the President alone holds the real executive power in India, what should the teacher do to remove this misconception?

  1. Aभ्रांति को नज़रअंदाज करना
  2. Bअनुच्छेद 74 के आधार पर स्पष्ट करना कि वास्तविक शक्ति मंत्रिपरिषद के पास है
  3. Cछात्र को गलत बताकर आगे बढ़ना
  4. Dविषय दोबारा न पढ़ाना

Explanation

Explaining with concrete reference to the Constitution's provisions (Article 74) permanently clears up students' misconceptions.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is the President elected?+

Through proportional representation using the single transferable vote and secret ballot, by an electoral college (Articles 54–55).

What is the minimum age to become President?+

35 years (Article 58).

Which amendment brought in the 15% cap on the Council of Ministers?+

The 91st Constitutional Amendment, 2003 (Article 75(1A)).

What is a pocket veto?+

When the President neither signs a bill, nor returns it, nor rejects it — keeping it pending indefinitely.

Who is the Council of Ministers collectively responsible to?+

The Lok Sabha.

Read next

Parliament

Previous topic: the structure and functions of Parliament.

Supreme Court

Next topic: the Supreme Court.

REET Syllabus

See the complete REET Level 1 and Level 2 syllabus in one place.

REET 2024 Solved Paper

Practice all of REET 2024's solved questions, subject by subject.

Official Sources

  1. Article 74/75 — Constitution of India

Change Log

  • 17 September 2026 — English page published — mirrors the fact-checked Hindi page, independently bilingual-accuracy checked