President

**Statement 1 is correct:** According to Article 77 of the Constitution of India, the President shall make rules for the more convenient transaction of the business of the Government of India, and for the allocation among Ministers of the said business. **Statement 2 is incorrect:** Article 53 of the Indian Constitution deals with the Executive power of the Union. The executive power of the Union shall be vested in the President ( and not the Prime Minister) and shall be exercised by him either directly or through officers subordinate to him in accordance with the Constitution.

* **Statement 1 is incorrect:** If the election of a person as President is declared void by the Supreme Court, acts done by him before the date of such declaration of the Supreme Court are not invalidated and **continue to remain in force**. * **Statement 2 is incorrect:** The Supreme Court in 1974 held that the dissolution of the state legislative assembly would not be a ground for preventing the holding of the election on the expiry of the term of the President. Nor can it be grounds to suggest that the election to the office of the President could be held only after the election to the state is held, where the Legislative Assembly of a State is dissolved. * **Statement 3 is incorrect:** The Constitution of India does not prescribe any time limit within which the President has to decide concerning a bill presented to him/her for his/her assent. Thus the President of India can simply keep the bills pending for an indefinite period.

An **Ordinance** is a temporary law issued by the President (Article 123) or Governor (Article 213) when the legislature is not in session. It holds the **same force as a regular law**, but must adhere to constitutional limits. ✅ **Statement I: Correct** * An Ordinance can amend any Central Act, just like a Parliamentary law, subject to constitutional provisions. ❌ **Statement II: Incorrect** * Ordinances cannot abridge Fundamental Rights as per Article 13(2) of the Constitution. Any such provision is void. ✅ **Statement III: Correct** * Ordinances can be given **retrospective effect**, i.e., they can be **enforced from a past date**.

**Statement I is correct:** President’s pardoning power can be subjected to limited judicial review, especially on grounds like mala fides, irrelevant considerations, or arbitrariness (as held in Kehar Singh, Epuru Sudhakar cases). **Statement II is incorrect:** President cannot act independently; the power must be exercised on the **aid and advice** of the Council of Ministers under Article 74.