Previous Year Question

The decisive basis of India’s parliamentary system is the collective responsibility of the Council of Ministers to the Lok Sabha.

Under Article 75(3), the Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to the House of the People. It means that the government can remain in office only while it enjoys the confidence of the Lok Sabha.

Constitutional structure of parliamentary government

Nominal and real executives

• The President is the constitutional head of the Union.

• The Council of Ministers headed by the Prime Minister constitutes the real executive.

• Under Article 74(1), there is a Council of Ministers headed by the Prime Minister to aid and advise the President.

Collective responsibility

• All ministers are collectively responsible for governmental policies and decisions.

• If the Lok Sabha passes a no-confidence motion, the entire Council of Ministers must resign.

• A minister cannot ordinarily remain in office while publicly opposing a Cabinet decision.

Relationship between the executive and legislature

Under Article 75(5), a minister who is not a member of either House of Parliament for six consecutive months cannot continue as a minister. This demonstrates the close relationship between the executive and legislature.

Why are the other options incorrect?

Option (a): Direct election of the Lok Sabha

Direct election represents democratic government, but it does not by itself make the system parliamentary. A legislature may also be directly elected in a presidential system.

Option (b): Power to amend the Constitution

Parliament’s power to amend the Constitution arises under Article 368. It is not the defining basis of the parliamentary system.

Option (c): Rajya Sabha as a permanent House

Under Article 83(1), the Rajya Sabha is not subject to dissolution, and approximately one-third of its members retire every second year. This is a feature of bicameralism, not the defining principle of parliamentary government.

Additional facts

Important Articles concerning parliamentary government at the Union level are:

• Article 74—Council of Ministers to aid and advise the President.

• Article 75—appointment, tenure and collective responsibility of ministers.

• Article 77—conduct of the business of the Government of India.

• Article 78—duties of the Prime Minister regarding the furnishing of information to the President.

Articles 163 and 164 provide a corresponding parliamentary arrangement at the State level.