Prerogative

noun (countable); also adjective

/prɪˈrɒɡətɪv/

An exclusive right, privilege, or power belonging to a particular person or office, especially one derived from sovereign authority. In the British constitutional tradition, royal prerogatives (now exercised by the Prime Minister on behalf of the Crown) include treaty-making, declaration of war, and the appointment of ministers. In India, equivalent presidential powers under Articles 72, 74, 85, 123, and 361 are analogous; many are 'aid and advice' bound but a few (like granting pardons under Article 72) retain a residual prerogative character, as held in Maru Ram v. Union of India (1981).

✍️ Usage in a UPSC answer

The question of whether the President's mercy prerogative under Article 72 is justiciable was settled in Shatrughan Chauhan v. Union of India (2014), where the Supreme Court held that inordinate delay in deciding mercy petitions constitutes a ground for commutation of death sentence.

Synonyms

privilegeexclusive rightspecial powerimmunityentitlement

Antonyms

obligationdutyaccountabilitylimitation

🌱 Word Family

prerogative (noun/adjective), rogation (noun), interrogate (cognate verb), surrogate (cognate noun), arrogate (cognate verb)

🔡 Root

Latin praerogativa (asked first, prior choice) ← prae- (before) + rogare (to ask, to propose)

📜 Etymology

From Latin praerogativa (a tribe or century voting first in the Roman assemblies), formed from prae- (before) and rogare (to propose, to ask). The tribe chosen first was seen as having a special privilege; hence praerogativa came to mean an exclusive right. Entered English in the 15th century through royal constitutional usage.

🧠 Memory Hook

PRE-ROGATIVE: PRE (before) + ROGATIVE (from rogare = to ask). The Roman tribe that voted BEFORE others being ASKED first — they got the special privilege. PREROGATIVE = the right to go FIRST, i.e., an exclusive privilege.

⚖️ Polity & Constitution 📖 Seen in: Preamble of the Indian Constitution

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