The Union Executive of India consists of which of the following constitutional authorities?

Introduction / Context:
Understanding the composition of the Union Executive is fundamental to the study of Indian polity. The Constitution defines which authorities form the Union Executive at the national level. This question asks the learner to identify the correct grouping from among several combinations that include offices like the President, Vice President, Prime Minister, Council of Ministers and presiding officers of Parliament.

Given Data / Assumptions:

The question focuses on the composition of the Union Executive of India.
The options list different combinations of constitutional offices.
It is assumed that the learner is familiar with Articles 52 to 78 of the Constitution.
The task is to pick the combination that matches the constitutional definition.

Concept / Approach:
According to the Constitution of India, the Union Executive consists of the President, the Vice President, the Council of Ministers with the Prime Minister at the head, and the Attorney General of India. In many exam questions, the core trio of President, Vice President and Council of Ministers headed by the Prime Minister is emphasised. The Speaker of the Lok Sabha and the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha are part of the legislature, not the executive. Therefore, any option that includes them as members of the Union Executive is incorrect. The best match among the options is the one that names the President, the Vice President and the Council of Ministers headed by the Prime Minister.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall the constitutional statement that the Union Executive consists of the President, Vice President, Council of Ministers with the Prime Minister and the Attorney General of India. Step 2: Examine option A, which lists the President, the Vice President and the Council of Ministers headed by the Prime Minister. This closely reflects the core part of the constitutional definition. Step 3: Examine option B, which omits the Vice President and therefore does not fully match the described Union Executive. Step 4: Inspect options C and D, both of which include legislative officers such as the Speaker of Lok Sabha and the Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha, who are not part of the Union Executive. Step 5: Eliminate options B, C and D for either excluding the Vice President or including legislative officers. Step 6: Conclude that option A is the most accurate representation among the choices provided.

Verification / Alternative check:
Verification can be done by looking up the relevant Articles in the Constitution or in a standard Indian polity textbook. These sources clearly list the components of the Union Executive and emphasise the roles of the President, Vice President and the Council of Ministers with the Prime Minister at the head. They consistently treat the presiding officers of the two houses as part of the legislature, not the executive. When exam oriented tables summarise the structure of the Union government, they maintain this separation, confirming that only option A matches the official description.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
The President and the Council of Ministers only: This option ignores the Vice President, who is explicitly part of the Union Executive under the Constitution.
The President, the Prime Minister, the Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha and the Speaker of Lok Sabha: Includes presiding officers of the legislature who do not form part of the Union Executive.
The President, the Vice President, the Council of Ministers and the Speaker of Lok Sabha: Again, this option wrongly includes the Speaker of Lok Sabha, who belongs to the legislative branch.

Common Pitfalls:
Learners sometimes think of individuals like the Speaker or the Deputy Chairman as part of the executive simply because they hold high office, but in constitutional terms they are part of the legislature. Another pitfall is forgetting that the Vice President is part of the executive even though this office also has a legislative role as Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. To avoid confusion, candidates should clearly distinguish between executive and legislative offices and remember that the Union Executive comprises the President, Vice President, Council of Ministers headed by the Prime Minister and the Attorney General of India, even if the latter is not always mentioned in exam options.

Final Answer:
The Union Executive of India consists of the President, the Vice President and the Council of Ministers headed by the Prime Minister according to the Constitution.