Consider the following statements : 1. The Executive Power of the Union of India is vested in the Prime Minister. 2. The Prime Minister is the ex officio Chairman of the Civil Services Board. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Statement 1 is incorrect because Article 53 of the Constitution explicitly vests the executive power of the Union in the President, while Statement 2 is incorrect because the Cabinet Secretary, not the Prime Minister, serves as the ex-officio Chairman of the Civil Services Board. Option (a) is the most tempting wrong choice because the Prime Minister is the *de facto* (real) head of government, leading many to overlook the President's *de jure* (legal) constitutional status. The core concept tested is the distinction between the titular and real executive authority within the Indian parliamentary system.