Q. 1. A Parliamentary System of Government is one in which: (I.A.S. Pre, 2020)

(a) all political parties in the Parliament are represented in the Government

(b) the Government is responsible to the Parliament and can be removed by it

(c) the Government is elected by the people and can be removed by them

(d) the Government is chosen by the Parliament but cannot be removed by it before completion of a fixed term

Answer: (b)

Explanation:

  1. A Parliamentary System is also called the Cabinet form of government, responsible government, or Westminster model. Its central feature is that the executive is drawn from the legislature and remains responsible to it.
  2. Option (a) is incorrect because a Parliamentary System does not require all political parties to be represented in the Government. Usually, the majority party or majority coalition forms the Government, while other parties sit in opposition. This reflects majority party rule, not all-party representation.
  3. Option (b) is correct because the Government remains in office only so long as it enjoys the confidence of the legislature. At the Union level in India, Article 75(3) provides that the Council of Ministers shall be collectively responsible to the House of the People, that is, the Lok Sabha. This is the constitutional basis of parliamentary responsibility and removal through a no-confidence motion.
  4. Option (c) is incorrect because the Government is not directly elected by the people as a separate executive body. People elect the Lok Sabha, and the executive is formed from the majority in the legislature. This is different from a Presidential form where the executive has a separate electoral legitimacy.
  5. Option (d) is incorrect because the Government can be removed before completion of tenure if it loses majority support. Fixed executive tenure is a feature of the Presidential System, not the Parliamentary System.
  6. Hence, option b is correct.


Q. 2. There is parliamentary system of Government in India because the (I.A.S. Pre, 2015)

(a) Lok Sabha is elected directly by the people

(b) Parliament can amend the Constitution

(c) Rajya Sabha cannot be dissolved

(d) Council of Ministers is responsible to the Lok Sabha

Answer: (d)

Explanation:

  1. The constitutional reason for the Parliamentary System in India is not merely the existence of an elected legislature, but the responsibility of the executive to the legislature.
  2. Option (a) is incorrect because direct election of the Lok Sabha shows democratic representation, but it does not by itself establish parliamentary government. Many democratic systems may have directly elected legislatures without having parliamentary executive responsibility.
  3. Option (b) is incorrect because Parliament’s power to amend the Constitution under Article 368 is a constitutional power, but it is not the defining feature of the Parliamentary System. Amendment procedure concerns rigidity or flexibility of the Constitution, not executive-legislative responsibility.
  4. Option (c) is incorrect because the Rajya Sabha is a permanent House and cannot be dissolved, but this feature is not the basis of parliamentary government. The decisive House for responsibility of the Union Council of Ministers is the Lok Sabha.
  5. Option (d) is correct because Article 75(3) expressly provides that the Council of Ministers shall be collectively responsible to the House of the People. This means the Government must resign if it loses the confidence of the Lok Sabha.
  6. Article 164(2) provides that the Council of Ministers in a State shall be collectively responsible to the Legislative Assembly. 
  7. Hence, option d is correct.


Q. No. 3. In the context of India, which of the following principles is/are implied institutionally in the Parliamentary Government? (I.A.S. Pre, 2013)

  1. Members of the Cabinet are the Members of the Parliament.
  2. Ministers hold the office till they enjoy confidence in the Parliament.
  3. The Cabinet is headed by the Head of the State.

(a) 1 and 2

(b) Only 3

(c) 2 and 3

(d) All of these

Answer: (a)

Explanation:

  1. Statement 1: Members of the Cabinet are the Members of the Parliament. This is broadly correct because Parliamentary Government is based on double membership, meaning ministers are generally members of the legislature. Article 75(5) provides that a minister who is not a member of either House of Parliament for six consecutive months shall cease to be a minister. Therefore, non-members may be appointed temporarily, but they must enter Parliament within six months. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
  2. Statement 2: Ministers hold office till they enjoy confidence in the Parliament. This is correct in substance because Article 75(3) makes the Council of Ministers collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha. Although Article 75(2) says ministers hold office during the pleasure of the President, this pleasure is exercised constitutionally in the context of majority support and ministerial responsibility. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
  3. Statement 3: The Cabinet is headed by the Head of the State. This is incorrect because India has a distinction between nominal executive and real executive. The President is the Head of the State, while the Prime Minister is the Head of the Government and leads the Cabinet. The Cabinet is not headed by the President. Hence, statement 3 is incorrect.
  4. The President is part of the Union executive under Article 53, but the real executive authority is exercised by the Council of Ministers headed by the Prime Minister under Article 74 and Article 75.
  5. Hence, option a is correct.


Q. 4. The main advantage of the parliamentary form of government is that (I.A.S. Pre, 2017)

(a) the executive and legislature work independently

(b) it provides continuity of policy and is more efficient

(c) the executive remains responsible to the legislature

(d) the head of the government cannot be changed without election

Answer: (c)

Explanation:

  1. The major advantage of the Parliamentary System is responsible government. Since the executive depends on legislative confidence, it remains answerable for its policies and actions.
  2. Option (a) is incorrect because parliamentary government is based on fusion of powers between the executive and legislature, not strict separation. Ministers are usually members of the legislature and remain accountable to it.
  3. Option (b) is incorrect because continuity of policy and administrative efficiency are more often associated with the Presidential System due to fixed tenure. Parliamentary Government may face instability if no party has a stable majority.
  4. Option (c) is correct because executive responsibility to the legislature is the central merit of parliamentary government. Article 75(3) at the Union level and Article 164(2) at the State level embody this principle through collective responsibility.
  5. Option (d) is incorrect because in parliamentary government the head of government, that is, the Prime Minister or Chief Minister, can change without a general election if the ruling party or coalition changes leadership or loses confidence.
  6. Other merits include harmony between legislature and executive, democratic accountability, wide representation in a coalition situation, and an effective opposition. Demerits include possible instability, dominance of party politics, and weaker separation of powers.
  7. Hence, option c is correct.


Q. 5. Out of the following statements, choose the one that brings out the principle underlying the Cabinet form of Government: (I.A.S. Pre, 2017)

(a) An arrangement for minimizing the criticism against the Government whose responsibilities are complex and hard to carry out to the satisfaction of all.

(b) A mechanism for speeding up the activities of the Government whose responsibilities are increasing day by day.

(c) A mechanism of parliamentary democracy for ensuring collective responsibility of the Government to the people.

(d) A device for strengthening the hands of the head of the Government whose hold over the people is in a state of decline.

Answer: (c)

Explanation:

  1. Cabinet form of government is another name for Parliamentary Government. Its core idea is that the Cabinet acts as a collective body and remains responsible to the popular House of the legislature.
  2. Option (a) is incorrect because the purpose of Cabinet Government is not to minimize criticism. In fact, parliamentary democracy allows regular criticism through questions, debates, motions, committees and opposition scrutiny.
  3. Option (b) is incorrect because speed and administrative convenience may be incidental, but they are not the constitutional principle underlying Cabinet Government.
  4. Option (c) is correct because collective responsibility is the foundation of Cabinet Government. Under Article 75(3), the Union Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha. This means all ministers swim or sink together, and the Cabinet must present a united policy before Parliament.
  5. Option (d) is incorrect because Cabinet Government is not designed to strengthen an unpopular head of government. It is designed to ensure democratic accountability of the executive to the elected House.
  6. Collective responsibility is different from individual responsibility. Collective responsibility means the entire Council of Ministers is responsible to the Lok Sabha. Individual responsibility means each minister holds office during the pleasure of the President under Article 75(2), though in practice this works through the Prime Minister.
  7. Hence, option c is correct.


Q. 6. We adopted parliamentary democracy based on the British model, but how does our model differ from that model? (I.A.S. Pre, 2021)

1. As regards legislation, the British Parliament is supreme or sovereign but in India, the power of the Parliament to legislate is limited.

2. In India, matters related to the constitutionality of the Amendment of an Act of the Parliament are referred to the Constitution Bench by the Supreme Court.

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: (c)

Explanation:

  1. Statement 1 says that as regards legislation, the British Parliament is supreme or sovereign but in India, the power of Parliament to legislate is limited. This is correct because the United Kingdom follows Parliamentary sovereignty, while India follows Constitutional supremacy. Indian Parliament is limited by the written Constitution, Fundamental Rights, federal distribution of powers, judicial review and the basic structure doctrine. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
  2. Statement 2 says that in India, matters related to the constitutionality of an amendment or an Act of Parliament may be referred to a Constitution Bench by the Supreme Court. This is correct because Article 145(3) requires at least five judges for deciding any case involving a substantial question of law as to the interpretation of the Constitution. Constitutional validity questions may therefore be heard by a Constitution Bench. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
  3. Indian model differs from the British model in several ways: India has a written Constitution, federal system, judicial review, elected republican head of State, Fundamental Rights and limited parliamentary powers. Britain has an unwritten or uncodified Constitution, parliamentary sovereignty and a hereditary monarch.
  4. In Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala, 1973, the Supreme Court held that Parliament can amend the Constitution under Article 368 but cannot destroy the basic structure. This makes Indian parliamentary democracy constitutionally limited.
  5. Hence, option c is correct.


Q. 7. The Indian Parliamentary System is different from the British Parliamentary System in that India has: (I.A.S. Pre, 1998)

(a) Both a real and a nominal executive

(b) A system of collective responsibility

(c) Bicameral legislature

(d) The system of judicial review

Answer: (d)

Explanation:

  1. Both India and Britain have a Parliamentary System, but the Indian system operates under a written Constitution with constitutional supremacy, while Britain follows parliamentary sovereignty.
  2. Option (a) is incorrect because both systems have a distinction between nominal and real executive. In India, the President is the nominal executive and the Prime Minister with the Council of Ministers is the real executive. In Britain, the monarch is the nominal executive and the Prime Minister with the Cabinet is the real executive.
  3. Option (b) is incorrect because collective responsibility exists in both systems. In India it is constitutionally provided under Article 75(3), while in Britain it exists largely through conventions.
  4. Option (c) is incorrect because bicameral legislature exists in both systems. India has Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha; the UK has House of Commons and House of Lords.
  5. Option (d) is correct because judicial review is a major feature of the Indian constitutional system. Indian courts can examine legislative and executive action for violation of the Constitution. This is not available in the same way under the traditional British doctrine of parliamentary sovereignty.
  6. Hence, option d is correct.


Q. 8. Given below are two statements, one is labelled as Assertion (A) and the other as Reason (R). (U.P.P.C.S. Pre, 2025)

Assertion (A): India has a Parliamentary system of Government. 

Reason (R): In India, the executive is responsible to the legislature. 

Select the correct answer from the codes given below. 

Codes : 

(a) Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).

(b) (A) is false, but (R) is true.

(c) (A) is true, but (R) is false.

(d) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).

Answer: (d)

Explanation:

  1. Assertion (A) is correct because India has adopted the Parliamentary System at both the Union and State levels. Articles 74 and 75 deal with the Union parliamentary executive, while Articles 163 and 164 deal with the State parliamentary executive. Hence, Assertion (A) is correct.
  2. Reason (R) is correct because responsibility of the executive to the legislature is the defining feature of parliamentary government. At the Union level, Article 75(3) makes the Council of Ministers collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha. At the State level, Article 164(2) makes the Council of Ministers collectively responsible to the Legislative Assembly. Hence, Reason (R) is correct.
  3. Reason (R) correctly explains Assertion (A) because the very reason India is called a Parliamentary System is that the real executive remains responsible to the legislature and can be removed by loss of confidence.
  4. The President appoints the Prime Minister under Article 75(1), but the President does not make India a Presidential system. The President is the constitutional head, while the Council of Ministers is the real executive.
  5. Hence, option d is correct.


Q. 9. Which one of the following is correct regarding parliamentary form of government? (65th B.P.S.C. Pre, 2019)

(a) The Legislature is responsible to judiciary

(b) The Legislature is responsible to Executive

(c) The Legislature and the Executive are independent

(d) The president is responsible to Judiciary

(e) None of the above/More than one of the above

Answer: (e)

Explanation:

  1. The correct principle is that the executive is responsible to the legislature. None of the options from (a) to (d) states this correctly; therefore, the BPSC answer is “None of the above/More than one of the above”.
  2. Option (a) is incorrect because the legislature is not responsible to the judiciary. The judiciary reviews legislative action for constitutional validity, but this is judicial review, not legislative responsibility.
  3. Option (b) is incorrect because the legislature is not responsible to the executive. In a Parliamentary System, the executive is accountable to the legislature.
  4. Option (c) is incorrect because parliamentary government does not follow complete independence between legislature and executive. It follows fusion of powers, because ministers are generally members of the legislature.
  5. Option (d) is incorrect because the President is not responsible to the judiciary in the parliamentary sense. Article 361 gives the President certain immunities, and the President functions as the constitutional head acting on ministerial advice.
  6. Important features of Parliamentary Government include nominal and real executive, majority party rule, collective responsibility, political homogeneity, double membership, leadership of the Prime Minister or Chief Minister, dissolution of the Lower House, and secrecy of procedure.
  7. Hence, option e is correct.


Q. 10. Which one of the following is not the feature of Indian Constitution? (U.P.P.C.S. Mains, 2015)

(a) Parliamentary Government

(b) Presidential Government

(c) Independence of Judiciary

(d) Federal Government

Answer: (b)

Explanation:

  1. The Indian Constitution combines several features: Parliamentary Government, federal structure with unitary bias, independent judiciary, Fundamental Rights, Directive Principles, and judicial review.
  2. Option (a) is incorrect as an answer because Parliamentary Government is a feature of the Indian Constitution. Articles 74 and 75 establish it at the Union level, while Articles 163 and 164 establish it at the State level.
  3. Option (b) is correct as the answer because Presidential Government is not a feature of the Indian constitutional system. In a Presidential form, the President is both Head of State and Head of Government and has a fixed tenure independent of legislative confidence. India does not follow this model.
  4. Option (c) is incorrect as an answer because independence of judiciary is a feature of the Indian Constitution. It supports constitutional supremacy, federal balance and judicial review.
  5. Option (d) is incorrect as an answer because India has a federal system with unitary features. Division of powers is provided mainly through the Seventh Schedule, though the Centre is comparatively strong.
  6. Hence, option b is correct.


Q. 11. In a Presidential Government, all the executive powers are vested in – (U.P.P.C.S. Pre, 2005)

(a) President

(b) Cabinet

(c) Legislature

(d) Upper House

Answer: (a)

Explanation:

  1. Option (a) is correct because in a Presidential form of government, executive power is vested in the President. The President is both Head of State and Head of Government, as in the United States of America.
  2. Option (b) is incorrect because the Cabinet in a Presidential System is generally not collectively responsible to the legislature in the parliamentary sense. Cabinet members are usually advisers or heads of departments chosen by the President.
  3. Option (c) is incorrect because the legislature does not hold executive power in the Presidential System. The system is based on separation of powers between executive and legislature.
  4. Option (d) is incorrect because the Upper House is part of the legislature and does not exercise the whole executive power.
  5. In India, executive power is formally vested in the President under Article 53, but it is exercised on the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers under Article 74. Therefore, India is parliamentary, not presidential.
  6. Hence, option a is correct.


Q. 12. The cardinal features of political system in India are – (U.P. Lower Sub. Pre, 2008; U.P.P.C.S. Pre, 2009)

1. It is a democratic republic. 

2. It has a Parliamentary form of government. 

3. The supreme power vests in People of India. 

4. It provides for a unified authority. 

Select the correct answer from the code given below : 

Code : 

(a) 1 and 2

(b) 1, 2 and 3

(c) 2, 3 and 4

(d) All the four

Answer: (b)

Explanation:

  1. Statement 1 is correct because India is a democratic republic. “Democratic” means political authority ultimately comes from the people, and “Republic” means the Head of State is elected, not hereditary. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
  2. Statement 2 is correct because India has a Parliamentary form of government. This is constitutionally reflected in Article 75(3), Article 164(2), the role of the Prime Minister, and collective responsibility of the Council of Ministers. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
  3. Statement 3 is correct because the Preamble begins with “We, the People of India”, showing popular sovereignty. In a democracy, the people are the ultimate source of political power. Hence, statement 3 is correct.
  4. Statement 4 is incorrect because India does not provide for a fully unified authority. India has a federal scheme with distribution of powers between the Union and States through the Constitution, especially the Seventh Schedule. However, India also has unitary features such as single citizenship, emergency provisions and a strong Centre. Hence, statement 4 is incorrect.
  5. Hence, option b is correct.


Q. 13. Which of the following Articles directly establish the principle of collective responsibility in India? 

(a) Article 74 and Article 163

(b) Article 75(3) and Article 164(2)

(c) Article 78 and Article 167

(d) Article 85 and Article 174

Answer: (b)

Explanation:

  1. The principle of collective responsibility is the heart of the Parliamentary System. It means the Council of Ministers is jointly responsible to the popular House of the legislature.
  2. Option (a) is incorrect because Article 74 and Article 163 deal with the Council of Ministers to aid and advise the President and Governor respectively. They support parliamentary government but do not directly state collective responsibility.
  3. Option (b) is correct because Article 75(3) provides collective responsibility of the Union Council of Ministers to the Lok Sabha, and Article 164(2) provides collective responsibility of the State Council of Ministers to the Legislative Assembly.
  4. Option (c) is incorrect because Article 78 deals with duties of the Prime Minister to furnish information to the President, and Article 167 deals with similar duties of the Chief Minister to the Governor.
  5. Option (d) is incorrect because Article 85 deals with sessions, prorogation and dissolution of Parliament, while Article 174 deals with similar matters for State Legislatures.
  6. Article 74 is often confused with Article 75(3). Article 74 gives the President a Council of Ministers to aid and advise; Article 75(3) gives the doctrine of collective responsibility.
  7. Hence, option b is correct.


Q. 14. Which of the following statements correctly explains the position of the President under the Indian Parliamentary System? 

(a) The President is the real executive and is personally responsible to Parliament.

(b) The President is the nominal executive and ordinarily acts on the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers.

(c) The President is directly elected by the people and therefore controls the Cabinet.

(d) The President can dismiss the Lok Sabha majority Government at his discretion at any time.

Answer: (b)

Explanation:

  1. India follows a Parliamentary System in which there is a distinction between the nominal executive and the real executive.
  2. Option (a) is incorrect because the President is not the real executive. The real executive is the Council of Ministers headed by the Prime Minister. The Council of Ministers, not the President personally, is responsible to the Lok Sabha.
  3. Option (b) is correct because Article 74(1) provides that there shall be a Council of Ministers with the Prime Minister at the head to aid and advise the President. After the 42nd Amendment, 1976 and 44th Amendment, 1978, the President is bound by such advice, though the President may require reconsideration once.
  4. Option (c) is incorrect because the President of India is indirectly elected by an electoral college and does not control the Cabinet like a President in the Presidential System.
  5. Option (d) is incorrect because discretionary dismissal of a majority Government would violate the principle of parliamentary responsibility. The Government survives or falls according to majority support in the Lok Sabha.
  6. In Shamsher Singh v. State of Punjab, 1974, the Supreme Court held that the President and Governor are constitutional heads and normally act on the aid and advice of their Council of Ministers.
  7. Hence, option b is correct.


Q. 15. Which of the following is not a usual feature of Parliamentary Government?

(a) Collective responsibility

(b) Double membership

(c) Fixed tenure of executive independent of legislature

(d) Leadership of the Prime Minister

Answer: (c)

Explanation:

  1. Parliamentary Government is based on responsible executive, fusion of powers, majority support and Cabinet leadership.
  2. Option (a) is incorrect as an answer because collective responsibility is a core feature of Parliamentary Government. It is expressly provided in Article 75(3) and Article 164(2). Under Article 75(3), the Council of Ministers shall be collectively responsible to the House of the People. Under Article 164(2), the Council of Ministers shall be collectively responsible to the Legislative Assembly of the State.
  3. Option (b) is incorrect as an answer because double membership is a usual feature of Parliamentary Government. Ministers are generally members of the legislature, and Article 75(5) permits a non-member minister only for six months.
  4. Option (c) is correct as the answer because fixed executive tenure independent of the legislature is a feature of the Presidential System. In a Parliamentary System, the executive may fall before the end of the legislative term if it loses majority confidence.
  5. Option (d) is incorrect as an answer because leadership of the Prime Minister is a central feature of parliamentary government at the Union level. At the State level, the Chief Minister plays a similar role.
  6. The Lok Sabha itself has a normal term of five years under Article 83(2), but the Council of Ministers does not have an independent fixed tenure; it depends on confidence of the Lok Sabha.
  7. Hence, option c is correct.