There is a Parliamentary System of Government in India because the

Q: What is UPSC Prelims?

UPSC Prelims is a competitive examination conducted in India. This question is from the 2015 UPSC Prelims Indian Polity & Governance paper.

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To prepare for UPSC Prelims Indian Polity & Governance, practice previous year questions (PYQs), understand concepts thoroughly, and solve mock tests regularly. This 2015 question covers Prime Minister & Council of Ministers topic.

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This UPSC Prelims 2015 Indian Polity & Governance question has a medium difficulty level and is marked as an important question.

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Question

There is a Parliamentary System of Government in India because the

Accepted Answer

Correct Answer: D — Council of Ministers is responsible to the Lok SabhaStep-by-step Solution:The defining characteristic of a Parliamentary System of government is the principle of collective responsibility of the executive (Council of Ministers) to the legislature (Parliament, specifically the Lok Sabha). This is provided under Article 75(3) of the Indian Constitution: 'The Council of Ministers shall be collectively responsible to the House of the People (Lok Sabha).'This means: the government (PM + Cabinet) can continue in power only as long as it commands the confidence (majority support) of the Lok Sabha; if the Lok Sabha passes a vote of no-confidence, the Council of Ministers must resign; the government is not a separate branch that serves a fixed term independently of the legislature (as in a Presidential system). This executive-legislative fusion — where the executive is drawn from and responsible to the legislature — is the bedrock of parliamentary democracy.Why other options are incorrect:Option A (Lok Sabha elected directly by people): Direct election to the lower house exists in both parliamentary (UK, India) and presidential (USA — Congress directly elected) systems. Direct election alone does not make a system parliamentary.Option B (Parliament can amend the Constitution): Constitutional amendment powers exist in various systems — presidential (USA — Congress amends), semi-presidential, and parliamentary. This is not the defining feature of parliamentarism.Option C (Rajya Sabha cannot be dissolved): The permanent nature of the Rajya Sabha (as an upper house) is a feature of Indian parliamentary structure but not the defining feature that makes India parliamentary. The UK House of Lords is also not regularly dissolved. This is a structural characteristic, not the defining principle of parliamentarism.Key Concept: Parliamentary vs Presidential system: Parliamentary — executive drawn from legislature; PM is the leader of the majority party/coalition; CoM collectively responsible to legislature; PM can be removed by vote of no-confidence; President/Monarch is head of state but not head of government. Presidential (USA) — strict separation of powers; President is head of state AND government; President directly elected; executive NOT responsible to legislature; fixed term; President cannot be removed except by impeachment. India's Parliamentary system characteristics (Laxmikanth): nominal and real executive; majority party forms government; collective responsibility; political homogeneity; double membership (PM and other ministers are also MPs); secrecy of proceedings; dissolution of Lok Sabha (by President on PM's advice); no fixed tenure (government continues while it has confidence of LS).

There is a Parliamentary System of Government in India because the

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There is a Parliamentary System of Government in India because the

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