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mediumMCQTNUSRB SI 2022 Official GS Paper (Held on 25 June 2022)Part A- General Knowledge
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The President of India can nominate

  1. A
    12 members of Lok Sabha
  2. B
    2 members of Rajya Sabha
  3. C
    12 members of Rajya Sabha
  4. D
    14 members of Rajya Sabha

Solution & Step-by-step Explanation

President's Nomination Power in India

The President of India holds significant powers under the Indian Constitution, including the power to nominate certain members to both houses of Parliament, specifically the Rajya Sabha (Council of States) and historically, the Lok Sabha (House of the People).

Rajya Sabha Nominations by the President

As per Article 80 of the Indian Constitution, the President of India has the power to nominate 12 members to the Rajya Sabha. These nominated members are individuals who have special knowledge or practical experience in specific fields. The purpose of these nominations is to allow eminent personalities who may not have gone through the electoral process to contribute their expertise to legislative debates and policy-making.

- The number of members nominated is 12.
- These members are chosen from amongst persons having special knowledge or practical experience in respect of such matters as: - Literature - Science - Art - Social Service

This provision ensures that the Rajya Sabha benefits from the diverse perspectives and specialized knowledge of distinguished individuals from various walks of life, enriching the quality of parliamentary discussions.

Lok Sabha Nominations (Historical Context)

Historically, the President of India also had the power to nominate up to two members from the Anglo-Indian community to the Lok Sabha, if the President was of the opinion that the community was not adequately represented in the House. This power was granted under Article 331 of the Constitution.

- This provision for nominating Anglo-Indian members to the Lok Sabha was discontinued.
- The 104th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2019, ceased the reservation of seats for the Anglo-Indian community in the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies, thereby discontinuing the President's power to nominate these members.

Analyzing the Options

Let's examine the given options based on the constitutional provisions regarding the President's nomination powers:

- 12 members of Lok Sabha: This is incorrect. The President does not nominate 12 members to the Lok Sabha. The power to nominate Anglo-Indian members (up to 2) to the Lok Sabha has been abolished.
- 2 members of Rajya Sabha: This is incorrect. The President nominates 12 members, not 2 members, to the Rajya Sabha.
- 12 members of Rajya Sabha: This option is correct. As per Article 80 of the Indian Constitution, the President of India can nominate 12 members of Rajya Sabha from fields like literature, science, art, and social service.
- 14 members of Rajya Sabha: This is incorrect. The total number of nominated members to the Rajya Sabha is 12, not 14. The number 14 might arise from a confusion with the historical total if Lok Sabha nominations were still active (12 Rajya Sabha + 2 Lok Sabha = 14), but these powers are distinct and the Lok Sabha nomination has ceased.

Therefore, the correct answer clearly states the President of India can nominate 12 members of Rajya Sabha.

Practice this question

Try it yourself before checking the explanation above.

The President of India can nominate
A
12 members of Lok Sabha
B
2 members of Rajya Sabha
C
12 members of Rajya Sabha
D
14 members of Rajya Sabha

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