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UPSC Prelims 2015 · Polity · President, PM & Union Executive
Consider the following statements:
- The Executive Power of the Union of India is vested in the Prime Minister.
- The Prime Minister is the ex-officio Chairman of the Civil Services Board.
- (a) 1 only
- (b) 2 only
- (c) Both 1 and 2
- (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Show the answer and explanation
Answer: (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Executive power is vested in the President (Art. 53); the Civil Services Board is chaired by the Cabinet Secretary.
Statement by statement
1. ✗ WRONG — Art. 53 Art. 53(1): the executive power of the Union shall be vested in the President, exercised directly or through subordinate officers.
2. ✗ WRONG The Civil Services Board (postings/transfers of senior officers) is chaired by the Cabinet Secretary.
The idea
India’s parliamentary system splits nominal and real executive: power is vested in the President (Art. 53) and actions are taken in the President’s name (Art. 77), but the Council of Ministers headed by the PM advises (Art. 74) — and that advice binds (42nd and 44th Amendments).
Why the others are wrong
(a) Confuses real power with vested power: the text vests it in the President.
(b) The Board is headed by the Cabinet Secretary, the top civil servant.
(c) Both statements put the PM where the text puts someone else.
The trap
Everyday talk says the PM holds executive power. UPSC is testing the text of Art. 53.
🔒 Vested in the President (53) · exercised on advice of the CoM (74) · actions in the President’s name (77) · Civil Services Board = Cabinet Secretary.
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