Part of: Delhi Gk set 17

Arvind Kejriwal has been sworn in as the Chief Minister of Delhi for the first time. Who administered the oath of office and secrecy to him?

Category: Delhi Gk

Hint: Consider the constitutional role of the Lieutenant Governor in the administration of Delhi.

Correct Answer: C) Anil Baijal.

Exam Relevance: UPSC, SSC, State PSC

Difficulty: Easy

Explanations:

The question pertains to the constitutional role of the Lieutenant Governor (LG) in the governance of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. The LG is a unique constitutional position that combines elements of both a state governor and a central government administrator. The LG is appointed by the President of India and serves as the administrative head of the territory.

One of the key responsibilities of the Lieutenant Governor is to administer the oath of office and secrecy to the Chief Minister and other ministers of the Delhi government. This is a constitutional requirement and is stipulated in the provisions of the Constitution of India, particularly in the context of the special status of Delhi as a Union Territory with a Legislative Assembly.

When Arvind Kejriwal was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Delhi for the first time, it was the Lieutenant Governor, Anil Baijal, who administered the oath of office and secrecy to him. This is a standard procedure and is in line with the constitutional provisions that govern the administration of Delhi.

It is important to understand the distinction between the roles of the Lieutenant Governor and other constitutional or political figures. The President of India, for example, is responsible for administering the oath of office to the Prime Minister and other ministers at the central level, but does not have a direct role in the administration of Delhi. Similarly, members of the Delhi government, such as the Deputy Chief Minister, do not have the authority to administer the oath of office to the Chief Minister.

Therefore, the correct answer is that Anil Baijal, as the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, administered the oath of office and secrecy to Arvind Kejriwal when he was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Delhi for the first time.

Option Analysis:
  • Option A: Incorrect. Ram Nath Kovind was the President of India and does not have the constitutional role of administering the oath to the Chief Minister of Delhi.
  • Option B: Incorrect. Manish Sisodia is a member of the Delhi government and cannot administer the oath to the Chief Minister; this is the role of the Lieutenant Governor.
  • Option C: Correct. Anil Baijal, as the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, is responsible for administering the oath of office and secrecy to the Chief Minister of Delhi.
  • Option D: Incorrect. Anandiben Patel was the Governor of Gujarat and does not have the constitutional role of administering the oath to the Chief Minister of Delhi.

Mnemonic: LG for Oath: Lieutenant Governor administers the oath.

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