UPSC Prelims 2009 · General Studies
Question 94: Polity and Governance
With reference to Union Government, consider the following statements :
- 1.The Ministries/Departments of the Government of India are created by the Prime Minister on the advice of the Cabinet Secretary.
- 2.Each of the Ministries is assigned to a Minister by the President of India on the advice of the Prime Minister.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?
AnswerThe answer is (b).
Statement 2 is correct: the President assigns portfolios to ministers on the advice of the Prime Minister. Statement 1 is wrong: ministries and departments are created under the Allocation of Business Rules, which the President makes, in practice on the Prime Minister's advice; it is not the Cabinet Secretary who advises the creation. The Cabinet Secretary heads the civil service and the Cabinet Secretariat.
- 1. Ministries are created by the President's Allocation of Business Rules, not on the Cabinet Secretary's advice.
- 2. The President assigns portfolios on the Prime Minister's advice.
How you could have got this
- If you were sure statement 1 is not correct, (a) and (c) go: each of them includes 1.
What you needed to know: Ministries are created by the President's Allocation of Business Rules, not on the Cabinet Secretary's advice.
- Then, if you were sure statement 2 is correct, (d) goes: it leaves 2 out.
What you needed to know: The President assigns portfolios on the Prime Minister's advice.
Only (b) is left. This one needs every statement.
This follows an unofficial answer: UPSC has not published its key for this year, and if that answer is wrong, so is this path.
Which options go is worked out from UPSC’s key and the options, not by a model.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Wrong: the Cabinet Secretary does not advise on creating ministries in this way.
- (b) Right: only statement 2 is correct.
- (c) Wrong: statement 1 is false.
- (d) Wrong: statement 2 is true.
Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2009, General Studies. UPSC's own paper isn't online; the words are from a published compilation. The paper on upsc.gov.in.