Which Article of the Indian Constitution provides the provisions related to the impeachment of the President?
- (a)Article 53
- (b)Article 73
- (c)Article 61
- (d)Article 72
Correct — C, Article 61. Article 61 lays down the procedure for impeaching the President of India for 'violation of the Constitution' — a resolution can be moved in either House of Parliament after 14 days' notice signed by at least one-fourth of that House's total membership, must be passed by a two-thirds majority of the total membership of each House, and the President stands removed from the date the second House passes it.
- (a)Article 53 — Article 53 vests the executive power of the Union in the President — a general provision on where executive authority resides, not on impeachment.
- (b)Article 73 — Article 73 defines the extent of the Union's executive power — unrelated to the impeachment procedure.
- (d)Article 72 — Article 72 is the President's own pardoning power — a separate provision entirely, not about removing the President.
Impeachment under Article 61 is the sole constitutional route to remove a sitting President, and it is deliberately made a Parliament-only, quasi-judicial process — no state legislature or court is involved, and the ground is narrowly limited to 'violation of the Constitution.'
The trap is picking a numerically close Article (53/72/73) that also concerns the President but covers a different power — students must isolate Article 61 as the one specific Article dealing with removal/impeachment.
- Article 61 — impeachment of the President for 'violation of the Constitution.'
- A resolution may be moved in either House of Parliament (not exclusively the Lok Sabha).
- Requires 14 days' notice, signed by at least one-fourth of that House's total membership.
- Must be passed by a two-thirds majority of the total membership of each House to remove the President.
Article 61 governs Presidential impeachment specifically — distinct from removal provisions for other high constitutional offices.
- Confusing Article 61 (impeachment) with Article 72 (pardon) or Article 73 (extent of executive power) — all numerically close
- Assuming impeachment can be initiated only in the Lok Sabha — a resolution can originate in either House
Usually a direct 'which Article' recall; sometimes recast as a statement on which House can initiate the resolution or what majority is required, testing the same underlying provision.
Which one of the following is part of the electoral college for the election of the President of India but does not form part of the forum for his impeachment?
- (a) Lok Sabha
- (b) Rajya Sabha
- (c) State Legislative Councils
- (d) State Legislative Assemblies
Answer(d) State Legislative Assemblies — they are part of the electoral college that elects the President, but the impeachment forum under Article 61 is Parliament (Lok Sabha + Rajya Sabha) alone, not the State Legislatures.
Tests the same Article 61 impeachment forum, contrasting it with the wider electoral college that elects the President.
- practice — not a real PYQ
A resolution to impeach the President of India, under Article 61, may be moved in:
- (a)Only the Lok Sabha
- (b)Only the Rajya Sabha
- (c)Either House of Parliament
- (d)A joint sitting of both Houses
Answer(c) Either House of Parliament — after 14 days' notice, signed by at least one-fourth of that House's total membership.
- practice — not a real PYQ
Which Article of the Constitution deals with the removal of a Judge of the Supreme Court?
- (a)Article 61
- (b)Article 124(4)
- (c)Article 217
- (d)Article 148
Answer(b) Article 124(4) — provides for removal of a Supreme Court Judge by a Presidential order after an address by each House of Parliament, distinct from Article 61's Presidential impeachment.