Who among the following is not a member of either of the two Houses of Parliament of India (Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha)?

Introduction / Context:
In a parliamentary system like India's, there is a clear distinction between the head of State and the head of government, and there are specific rules about who can be a member of Parliament. The Council of Ministers, including the Prime Minister and other ministers, are generally drawn from Parliament. The President, however, occupies a different constitutional position. This question checks whether you can correctly identify which high office holder is not a member of either House of Parliament.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The options include the Prime Minister, Finance Minister, President and Railway Minister.
• We know that the Prime Minister and other ministers are normally members of either Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha, or must become members within six months.
• The President is the head of State under the Constitution.
• The task is to choose the one office holder who is not a member of Parliament.

Concept / Approach:
Under Articles 74 and 75, the Prime Minister and other ministers are appointed from among members of Parliament or must secure membership within six months of appointment. They are therefore either sitting members of the Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha (or in rare cases nominated) for most of their tenure. The President of India, however, is elected by an electoral college consisting of elected members of Parliament and State Legislatures but is not himself a member of either House. In fact, if a sitting MP is elected as President, he or she must vacate the parliamentary seat. Thus, among the four office holders listed, only the President is definitively not a member of either House of Parliament.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Consider the Prime Minister. By convention and constitutional practice, the Prime Minister is the leader of the majority in the Lok Sabha or, in some cases, a member of the Rajya Sabha. Therefore, the Prime Minister is a member of Parliament.Step 2: Consider the Finance Minister and Railway Minister. They are part of the Council of Ministers and, like other ministers, must be members of either House or must become members within six months of appointment.Step 3: Consider the President. The President is elected by MPs and MLAs but is not an MP; the office is separate from membership in Parliament.Step 4: Recall that if a sitting MP becomes President, he or she must resign the seat, reinforcing that one cannot be both a President and an MP at the same time.Step 5: Conclude that the President is the one who is not a member of any of the two Houses of Parliament.

Verification / Alternative check:
Constitutional provisions and standard polity books emphasise that the President is not part of Parliament in the sense of being a member of either House, although he is an integral part of Parliament as an institution for legislative purposes. They also explain that ministers must be members of Parliament (with a temporary six month exception) and that their accountability depends on this membership. Examination questions frequently contrast the President with ministers in this way, confirming that the President is the correct answer here.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Prime Minister: As head of government, the Prime Minister must be a member of either the Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha, or must become one within six months.
• Finance Minister: This is a member of the Council of Ministers and, like other ministers, is normally a member of Parliament.
• Railway Minister: Another ministerial position; again, holders of this office are typically MPs.

Common Pitfalls:
A common source of confusion is the statement that "the President is a part of Parliament," which is true institutionally but does not mean the President is a member of either House. Another error is to overlook the requirement that ministers be MPs or become MPs within six months. Keeping clear the distinction between institutional components of Parliament and individual membership of its Houses will help you answer similar questions correctly.

Final Answer:
The high office holder who is not a member of either the Lok Sabha or the Rajya Sabha is the President of India.