UPSC Prelims 2014— Question 40

Correct answer: Option B. The Governor can exercise certain discretionary functions, including reporting to the President on circumstances relevant to Article 356 and reserving certain state bills for the President. Appointment of ministers is ordinarily made on the advice of the Chief Minister, and rules of state business are made under the constitutional framework rather than as a general discretionary power. Thus 1 and 3 are correct. Option A: Incorrect. This option does not match the verified answer because its proposition, location, institution, sequence, or combination conflicts with the relevant fact tested in the question. The option reads: “1 nd 2 only” Option B: Correct. This option is consistent with the governing fact or the valid combination identified in the question. The option reads: “1 and 3 only” Option C: Incorrect. This option does not match the verified answer because its proposition, location, institution, sequence, or combination conflicts with the relevant fact tested in the question. The option reads: “2, 3 and 4 only” Option D: Incorrect. This option does not match the verified answer because its proposition, location, institution, sequence, or combination conflicts with the relevant fact tested in the question. The option reads: “1, 2, 3 and 4” The key Prelims lesson is to test each proposition independently before selecting the combination. Where the question uses words such as 'only', 'all', 'none', 'always' or a precise institutional/geographical association, a single inaccurate component is sufficient to eliminate the option. The answer recorded here follows the official answer key for the question-paper series represented by the uploaded source and has been cross-checked against an independent published key. The explanation is intended for conceptual revision rather than as a reproduction of any third-party solution.