Class 11 Political Science Chapter 4 Question Answer | Executive | ASSEB
Welcome to HSLC Guru. This is the complete ASSEB Class 11 (Higher Secondary 1st Year) Political Science (Indian Constitution at Work) Chapter 4 Executive question and answer guide. The chapter explains what an executive organ of government is, the difference between Parliamentary and Presidential executives, the powers of the President of India, the role of the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers, the State Executive (Governor and Chief Minister) and the place of the permanent executive (civil services) in a democracy. Each NCERT textbook question is answered in detail and we have added extra short questions, long questions, multiple choice questions, key terms and important Constitutional Articles for ASSEB HS 1st Year examination preparation.
Summary
The executive is the organ of government that implements the laws made by the legislature and runs the day-to-day administration of the country. There are two main types of executive in modern democracies — the Parliamentary executive and the Presidential executive. In a Parliamentary executive, the head of government (Prime Minister) is drawn from the legislature and is responsible to it; in a Presidential executive, the head of state and head of government is the same person (President), who is directly elected by the people and is independent of the legislature. The framers of the Indian Constitution adopted the Parliamentary form mainly because India was familiar with it from the Government of India Acts of 1919 and 1935, it ensures greater accountability of the executive to the legislature, and it suits a plural society like India.
India has a dual executive — a nominal or constitutional executive in the President and a real executive in the Council of Ministers headed by the Prime Minister. The President of India (Articles 52 to 62) is the head of state, the first citizen of the country and the supreme commander of the armed forces. The President is elected indirectly by an electoral college consisting of the elected members of both Houses of Parliament and elected members of the State Legislative Assemblies (including those of Delhi and Puducherry) through proportional representation by means of a single transferable vote. The President holds office for five years and can be removed by impeachment for violation of the Constitution (Article 61). The Vice-President (Articles 63-71) is the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha and acts as President when the office falls vacant. Article 74(1) of the Constitution makes it clear that the President shall act on the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers headed by the Prime Minister. The 42nd Amendment (1976) made this advice binding, and the 44th Amendment (1978) added that the President can send the advice back for reconsideration once, but must accept it the second time.
The Prime Minister is the real head of the executive. The President appoints as Prime Minister the leader of the party or coalition that commands a majority in the Lok Sabha. The Prime Minister chooses the other ministers, allocates portfolios, presides over Cabinet meetings and is the principal channel of communication between the President and the Council of Ministers. The Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha (Article 75); the moment it loses the confidence of the House, it must resign. The Council has three categories — Cabinet Ministers (the inner ring of senior ministers who decide policy), Ministers of State and Deputy Ministers. The 91st Amendment (2003) limits the size of the Council to 15 per cent of the strength of the Lok Sabha or the State Assembly. The same parliamentary pattern is repeated at the State level, where the Governor is the constitutional head and the Chief Minister with the State Council of Ministers is the real executive.
Apart from the political executive (ministers), there is a permanent executive known as the civil services or bureaucracy. Civil servants are recruited on merit through competitive examinations conducted by the Union Public Service Commission and State Public Service Commissions. They are politically neutral, professionally trained and do not change with the change of government. The civil services include the All India Services (IAS, IPS, Indian Forest Service), Central Services (Income Tax, Customs, Indian Foreign Service, etc.) and State Services. They give expert advice to ministers, prepare and implement policy, maintain law and order and deliver public services. Article 311 protects civil servants from arbitrary dismissal so that they can perform duties without political pressure. The chapter, therefore, brings out how the elected political executive and the appointed permanent executive work together to run a modern democratic government.
সাৰাংশ
চৰকাৰৰ যি অংগই বিধানসভাই প্ৰণয়ন কৰা আইন কাৰ্যকৰী কৰে আৰু দৈনন্দিন প্ৰশাসন চলায় তাকেই কাৰ্যপালিকা বুলি কোৱা হয়। আধুনিক গণতান্ত্ৰিক ব্যৱস্থাত প্ৰধানকৈ দুই প্ৰকাৰৰ কাৰ্যপালিকা দেখা যায় — সংসদীয় কাৰ্যপালিকা আৰু ৰাষ্ট্ৰপতিশাসিত কাৰ্যপালিকা। সংসদীয় ব্যৱস্থাত চৰকাৰৰ মুৰব্বী (প্ৰধানমন্ত্ৰী) বিধানসভাৰ পৰাই অহা হয় আৰু বিধানসভাৰ ওচৰত দায়বদ্ধ থাকে; ৰাষ্ট্ৰপতিশাসিত ব্যৱস্থাত একে ব্যক্তিয়ে ৰাষ্ট্ৰৰ মুৰব্বী আৰু চৰকাৰৰ মুৰব্বী হিচাপে কাৰ্য নিৰ্বাহ কৰে। ভাৰতীয় সংবিধান প্ৰণেতাসকলে ১৯১৯ আৰু ১৯৩৫ৰ ভাৰত চৰকাৰ আইনৰ পৰিচিতি, কাৰ্যপালিকাৰ অধিক জবাবদিহিতা আৰু ভাৰতৰ বহুজাতিক সমাজৰ প্ৰয়োজনীয়তা বিবেচনা কৰি সংসদীয় ব্যৱস্থা গ্ৰহণ কৰিছিল।
ভাৰতত যৌথ কাৰ্যপালিকা বিদ্যমান — নামমাত্ৰ মুৰব্বী হিচাপে ৰাষ্ট্ৰপতি আৰু প্ৰকৃত মুৰব্বী হিচাপে প্ৰধানমন্ত্ৰীৰ নেতৃত্বাধীন মন্ত্ৰীপৰিষদ। অনুচ্ছেদ ৫২ৰ পৰা ৬২লৈ ৰাষ্ট্ৰপতিৰ পদ, নিৰ্বাচন, ক্ষমতা আৰু অপসাৰণৰ বিষয়ে বিধান আছে। ৰাষ্ট্ৰপতিক সংসদৰ দুয়োখন কক্ষৰ নিৰ্বাচিত সদস্য আৰু ৰাজ্যিক বিধানসভাৰ নিৰ্বাচিত সদস্যসকলে গঠিত নিৰ্বাচকমণ্ডলীয়ে একক হস্তান্তৰযোগ্য ভোটৰ দ্বাৰা পৰোক্ষভাৱে নিৰ্বাচন কৰে। উপ-ৰাষ্ট্ৰপতিয়ে ৰাজ্যসভাৰ অধ্যক্ষ হিচাপে কাৰ্যনিৰ্বাহ কৰে। অনুচ্ছেদ ৭৪(১)ৰ অনুসৰি ৰাষ্ট্ৰপতিয়ে মন্ত্ৰীপৰিষদৰ পৰামৰ্শ অনুসৰি কাৰ্য কৰিব লাগে; ৪২তম সংশোধনে এই পৰামৰ্শ বাধ্যতামূলক কৰিলে আৰু ৪৪তম সংশোধনে ৰাষ্ট্ৰপতিক এবাৰ পুনৰ বিবেচনাৰ বাবে ঘূৰাই পঠোৱাৰ ক্ষমতা দিলে।
প্ৰধানমন্ত্ৰী হৈছে কাৰ্যপালিকাৰ প্ৰকৃত মুৰব্বী। লোকসভাত সংখ্যাগৰিষ্ঠতা পোৱা দল বা মৰ্চাৰ নেতাজনক ৰাষ্ট্ৰপতিয়ে প্ৰধানমন্ত্ৰী হিচাপে নিযুক্তি দিয়ে। প্ৰধানমন্ত্ৰীয়ে অন্যান্য মন্ত্ৰীসকলক বাছনি কৰে, বিভাগ আবণ্টন কৰে আৰু কেবিনেট সভাৰ অধ্যক্ষতা কৰে। মন্ত্ৰীপৰিষদ সামূহিকভাৱে লোকসভাৰ ওচৰত দায়বদ্ধ। কেবিনেট মন্ত্ৰী, ৰাজ্যিক মন্ত্ৰী আৰু উপমন্ত্ৰী এই তিনি শ্ৰেণীৰ মন্ত্ৰী থাকে। ৯১তম সংশোধনে মন্ত্ৰীপৰিষদৰ আকাৰ লোকসভা বা বিধানসভাৰ মুঠ সদস্যৰ ১৫ শতাংশলৈ সীমিত কৰিলে। ৰাজ্যিক স্তৰতো একে আৰ্হি — ৰাজ্যপাল সাংবিধানিক মুৰব্বী, মুখ্যমন্ত্ৰী প্ৰকৃত মুৰব্বী।
ৰাজনৈতিক কাৰ্যপালিকাৰ উপৰি স্থায়ী কাৰ্যপালিকা অৰ্থাৎ চিভিল চাৰ্ভিচ বা আমলাতন্ত্ৰও থাকে। ইহঁতক UPSC বা ৰাজ্যিক লোকসেৱা আয়োগৰ প্ৰতিযোগিতামূলক পৰীক্ষাৰ যোগেদি যোগ্যতাৰ ভিত্তিত নিযুক্তি দিয়া হয়। ইহঁত ৰাজনৈতিকভাৱে নিৰপেক্ষ আৰু চৰকাৰ সলনি হ’লেও পদৰ পৰা আঁতৰি যাব নালাগে। সৰ্বভাৰতীয় সেৱা (IAS, IPS, ভাৰতীয় বনসেৱা), কেন্দ্ৰীয় সেৱা আৰু ৰাজ্যিক সেৱা — এই তিনি ভাগত চিভিল চাৰ্ভিচ বিভক্ত। অনুচ্ছেদ ৩১১ৰ যোগেদি চিভিল চাকৰিয়াৰক স্বেচ্ছাচাৰী বৰ্খাস্তৰ পৰা সুৰক্ষা দিয়া হৈছে যাতে তেওঁলোকে নিৰপেক্ষভাৱে কৰ্তব্য পালন কৰিব পাৰে।
NCERT Textbook Questions and Answers
1. A parliamentary executive means:
- (a) Executive where there is a parliament
- (b) Executive elected by the parliament
- (c) Where the parliament functions as the executive
- (d) Executive that is dependent on support of the majority in the parliament
Answer: (d) Executive that is dependent on support of the majority in the parliament.
2. Read this dialogue. Which of the arguments do you agree with? Why?
Alok: The President of India is only a rubber stamp. Her decisions have no real importance. We can do without that post.
Shekhar: That is not true. The President plays a very useful role. She gives advice to the government and also acts as a check against misuse of powers by the prime minister and council of ministers.
Bobby: But why should we have a person occupying such a high post if she is only a formal head and not taking any decisions? It is just a waste of public money.
Answer: Shekhar’s argument is the most acceptable. In a parliamentary system the President is the constitutional head and is bound to act on the advice of the Council of Ministers, but the office of President is far from useless. The President plays a very useful role in a number of ways: (i) the President acts as the symbol of the unity, integrity and continuity of the Indian state; (ii) all major appointments — Prime Minister, judges of Supreme Court and High Courts, Governors, Election Commissioners, Comptroller and Auditor General — are made by the President; (iii) the President can send back a Bill (other than a Money Bill) for reconsideration of Parliament and may use a “pocket veto” by not acting on it; (iv) in the case of a hung Parliament the President exercises real discretion in inviting a leader to form the government; (v) the President acts as a guardian of the Constitution and a check against the misuse of power by the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers. Therefore, the post is neither a “mere rubber stamp” (Alok) nor a “waste of public money” (Bobby).
3. Match the following to make meaningful sentences:
| Column A | Column B |
|---|---|
| (a) Works within a particular State | (i) State Civil Services |
| (b) Works in the entire country | (ii) All India Services |
| (c) Works in a particular State, but can be deputed to the centre | (iii) Central Services |
| (d) Works in Indian missions abroad | (iv) Indian Foreign Service |
Answer: (a) – (i) State Civil Services; (b) – (iii) Central Services; (c) – (ii) All India Services; (d) – (iv) Indian Foreign Service.
4. Identify the ministry which may have released the following news items. Would this be a Union Ministry or a State Ministry? Why?
- (a) An official release said that in the last six months the price of cooking gas has been raised four times.
- (b) An official release said that the price of paddy will not be reduced.
- (c) The annual report on the implementation of the official language Hindi has been tabled.
- (d) Approval has been given for the construction of a new bridge over river Yamuna in Allahabad.
- (e) Sainik schools are providing the right kind of education to convert the youth into responsible officers of the army.
Answer: (a) Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas — Union Ministry, because pricing of cooking gas (LPG) is a Union subject. (b) Ministry of Agriculture / Food and Public Distribution — Union Ministry; the Minimum Support Price for paddy is fixed by the Centre on the recommendation of the CACP. (c) Ministry of Home Affairs (Department of Official Language) — Union Ministry, because Hindi as an official language is a Union concern. (d) State Public Works Department / Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (depending on the type of road) — usually State Ministry, but if it is a national highway or central project, then Union Ministry. (e) Ministry of Defence — Union Ministry, since defence is a Union subject and Sainik Schools are run under the Sainik Schools Society of the Ministry of Defence.
5. While appointing the Prime Minister, the President selects:
- (a) Leader of the largest party
- (b) Leader of the largest coalition in the Lok Sabha
- (c) The most popular leader
- (d) Leader of the alliance or party that has the support of the majority in Lok Sabha
Answer: (d) Leader of the alliance or party that has the support of the majority in Lok Sabha.
6. Read the following situation. In your opinion, was there a violation of the Constitution involved in this? Whose role is more controversial? The Council of Ministers headed by the prime minister of country X advised the president to dissolve parliament. They also advised the President to hold fresh elections. The President accepted the advice and dissolved the Parliament before completion of its term. Eventually, opinion polls showed that the prime minister’s party was likely to lose the elections. Now the question being raised was: did the prime minister give the wrong advice?
Answer: There is no clear violation of the Constitution because under Article 85 the President can dissolve the Lok Sabha on the advice of the Prime Minister. However, the role of the Prime Minister is more controversial. The Prime Minister is expected to advise dissolution only when (i) the government has lost majority and a new government is not possible, or (ii) a fresh mandate is genuinely required on a major issue. If the PM advises dissolution merely to seek a politically convenient election, it is a misuse of the constitutional power and an abuse of the trust placed in the office. The President in such a situation may, before accepting the advice, ask for the reasons in writing, but ultimately must act on the Council’s advice. Therefore the Prime Minister’s role becomes more questionable here than the President’s.
7. The Prime Minister of India is not directly elected by the people. Explain.
Answer: India has a Parliamentary form of government in which the executive is drawn from and is responsible to the legislature. The people directly elect the members of the Lok Sabha. The President then appoints as Prime Minister the leader of the political party or alliance that secures a majority in the Lok Sabha. Thus, the Prime Minister is not directly elected by the people of India as a whole; he or she is first elected by voters of one Lok Sabha constituency as an MP and then chosen as the leader of the majority party by the elected MPs. The Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers remain in office as long as they enjoy the confidence of the Lok Sabha. The day they lose this confidence, they have to resign. This is unlike the Presidential system of the USA where the President is directly elected by the people.
8. “Indian Prime Minister, by convention, has not exercised all powers available to her constitutionally. There exists a substantial gap between her constitutional powers and her actual day-to-day role.” Do you agree with the statement? Give arguments.
Answer: Yes, the statement is largely correct, especially in the era of coalition politics. Constitutionally the Prime Minister is the head of government and exercises enormous powers — selection of ministers, allocation of portfolios, control of the Cabinet, advice to the President, conduct of foreign policy, etc. However, in actual practice these powers are constrained by several factors: (i) coalition dharma — when the PM heads a coalition (UPA, NDA), allies dictate choice of ministers and policy; (ii) party considerations — the high command of the ruling party often influences ministerial appointments; (iii) regional balance — the PM has to take care of regional, caste and gender representation while forming the Council; (iv) collective responsibility — the PM cannot ignore the Cabinet’s collective wisdom; (v) public opinion, media and judicial review further restrict free use of constitutional powers. Therefore, while the Constitution gives the PM very wide powers, in everyday politics he or she works within these limits, creating a gap between formal powers and actual exercise.
9. Most of the constitutions give the head of the State the power to pardon persons sentenced to capital punishment. Do you favour this power? Give your reasons.
Answer: Yes, the power to pardon (clemency power) given to the head of State, like the President of India under Article 72 and the Governor under Article 161, is desirable for the following reasons: (i) it acts as a humanitarian safety valve and a “fail-safe” against possible miscarriages of justice; (ii) capital punishment is irreversible and any judicial error cannot be corrected later, so a pardon power is a final safeguard; (iii) it allows the State to take into account fresh facts, the convict’s age, mental health, conduct in jail and the views of victim’s family; (iv) it reflects the principle of mercy that humanises the criminal justice system. However, this power should not be misused for political reasons. It must be exercised on the advice of the Council of Ministers, with proper application of mind and judicial review where required.
10. Why do you think is the advice of the Council of Ministers binding on the President? Give your answers in not more than 100 words.
Answer: India follows the Parliamentary form of government in which the President is only the constitutional or nominal head, while the real executive is the Council of Ministers headed by the Prime Minister. Since the Council is collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha and through it to the people, real decision-making authority must lie with elected representatives. If the President were free to ignore their advice, it would lead to a clash between the elected and the unelected and undermine democracy. Hence Article 74(1), as amended by the 42nd and 44th Amendments, makes the Council’s advice binding on the President.
11. The Indian Constitution provides for permanent civil services with constitutionally protected service conditions. Do you think this is necessary for democracy or does it interfere with the principle of democratic accountability?
Answer: A permanent civil service with protected service conditions is necessary for the smooth and effective functioning of democracy and does not really interfere with democratic accountability. (i) Continuity — governments may change after every election but administration has to go on uninterrupted; permanent civil servants ensure this continuity. (ii) Expertise — running a modern state needs specialised knowledge of finance, economics, defence, science and law; trained civil servants provide this expertise to elected ministers. (iii) Neutrality — protected tenure under Article 311 enables civil servants to give frank, unbiased advice without fear of political pressure. (iv) Accountability — civil servants act under the political direction of ministers who are answerable to Parliament; they are also subject to financial audit, judicial review, RTI and parliamentary committees. Thus, the permanent executive strengthens, rather than weakens, democratic accountability.
Additional Short Answer Questions
1. What is meant by “Executive”?
Answer: The Executive is that organ of government which is responsible for implementing the laws made by the legislature, formulating government policies and running the day-to-day administration of the State. In India, the executive consists of the President, the Vice-President, the Prime Minister, the Council of Ministers and the bureaucracy.
2. What are the two main types of Executive?
Answer: (i) Parliamentary Executive — where the executive is responsible to the legislature, e.g., India, United Kingdom, Canada. (ii) Presidential Executive — where the executive is independent of the legislature and is directly elected by the people, e.g., the United States of America.
3. Why did the framers of the Indian Constitution choose the Parliamentary form of government?
Answer: The framers of the Indian Constitution opted for the Parliamentary form for the following reasons: (i) familiarity with the system since the Government of India Acts of 1919 and 1935; (ii) it ensures greater responsibility and accountability of the executive to the legislature; (iii) it suits a plural society with diverse interests; (iv) it prevents authoritarianism by allowing the legislature to remove the executive through a no-confidence motion.
4. How is the President of India elected?
Answer: The President of India is elected indirectly by an electoral college consisting of (a) the elected members of both Houses of Parliament and (b) the elected members of the Legislative Assemblies of the States and the Union Territories of Delhi and Puducherry. The election is held in accordance with the system of proportional representation by means of a single transferable vote, and the voting is by secret ballot.
5. What are the qualifications for becoming the President of India?
Answer: A candidate for the office of President must (i) be a citizen of India, (ii) have completed 35 years of age, (iii) be qualified to be a member of the Lok Sabha, and (iv) not hold any office of profit under the Government of India, any State Government or any local authority.
6. What is the term of office of the President?
Answer: The President holds office for a term of five years from the date he or she enters office. The President is eligible for re-election. The President can resign by writing to the Vice-President or be removed earlier by impeachment for “violation of the Constitution” under Article 61.
7. What is the impeachment procedure of the President?
Answer: Under Article 61, the President can be removed for violation of the Constitution. The charge can be initiated in either House of Parliament by giving 14 days’ notice signed by at least one-fourth of the total members. The resolution must be passed by a two-thirds majority of the total membership of that House. The other House then investigates the charge, and if it also passes the resolution by a two-thirds majority of its total membership, the President stands removed from office.
8. What are the executive powers of the President?
Answer: All executive actions of the Union Government are taken in the name of the President. The President appoints the Prime Minister, other Ministers, the Attorney General, the Comptroller and Auditor General, the Chief Election Commissioner, judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts, Governors, Chairman and members of UPSC and Finance Commission, and Ambassadors to foreign countries.
9. What are the legislative powers of the President?
Answer: The President is an integral part of Parliament. The President summons, prorogues and dissolves the Lok Sabha; addresses the joint session of Parliament; nominates 12 members to the Rajya Sabha; gives assent to Bills; can return a Bill (other than Money Bill) for reconsideration; promulgates Ordinances under Article 123 when Parliament is not in session; and lays reports of constitutional bodies before Parliament.
10. What are the financial powers of the President?
Answer: The Union Budget (Annual Financial Statement) is laid before Parliament with the President’s recommendation. Money Bills can be introduced in the Lok Sabha only with the prior recommendation of the President. The President constitutes the Finance Commission every five years to recommend distribution of revenue between the Centre and the States. The Contingency Fund of India is at the disposal of the President.
11. What are the judicial powers of the President?
Answer: Under Article 72, the President has the power to grant pardons, reprieves, respites and remissions of punishment, or to suspend, remit or commute the sentence of any person convicted of any offence — (a) where punishment is by a Court Martial, (b) for an offence against any law relating to a Union matter, and (c) in all cases of death sentence.
12. What are the emergency powers of the President?
Answer: The Constitution provides for three kinds of emergencies: (i) National Emergency under Article 352 — caused by war, external aggression or armed rebellion; (ii) State Emergency / President’s Rule under Article 356 — when the constitutional machinery in a State fails; (iii) Financial Emergency under Article 360 — when the financial stability of India is threatened.
13. Who is the Vice-President of India and how is he elected?
Answer: The Vice-President is the second-highest constitutional office in India. He is elected by an electoral college consisting of members of both Houses of Parliament (elected and nominated) by means of proportional representation through a single transferable vote. He holds office for five years and is the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.
14. Who is the Prime Minister and how is he appointed?
Answer: The Prime Minister is the real head of the executive in India. The President appoints as Prime Minister the leader of the political party or coalition that commands a majority in the Lok Sabha. There is no fixed tenure; the PM stays in office as long as he or she enjoys the confidence of the Lok Sabha.
15. What is the role of the Prime Minister?
Answer: The PM (i) selects ministers and allocates portfolios; (ii) presides over the Cabinet meetings; (iii) coordinates the work of various ministries; (iv) is the chief link between the President and the Council of Ministers; (v) is the principal spokesperson of the government in Parliament; (vi) leads the country in foreign affairs and emergencies; (vii) advises the President on dissolution of Lok Sabha.
16. What is meant by “collective responsibility” of the Council of Ministers?
Answer: Article 75(3) provides that the Council of Ministers shall be collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha. This means all ministers swim and sink together — they are jointly answerable to Parliament for every decision of the Cabinet, and if a no-confidence motion is passed, the entire Council must resign, even if only one minister or department is at fault.
17. What are the categories of Ministers in India?
Answer: There are three categories: (i) Cabinet Ministers — senior ministers who head important ministries and form the core decision-making body; (ii) Ministers of State — they may have independent charge of a small ministry or assist a Cabinet Minister; (iii) Deputy Ministers — they assist Ministers of State and Cabinet Ministers but do not attend Cabinet meetings.
18. What is the difference between Cabinet and Council of Ministers?
Answer: The Council of Ministers is the bigger body which includes all categories of ministers — Cabinet, Minister of State and Deputy Minister. The Cabinet is a smaller body of senior Cabinet Ministers only. The Cabinet is the most powerful institution and is the real driver of policy decisions, while the Council of Ministers as a whole rarely meets.
19. What is the State Executive?
Answer: The State Executive consists of the Governor as the constitutional head, the Chief Minister as the real executive head, the State Council of Ministers and the State bureaucracy. The Governor is appointed by the President for a term of five years, while the Chief Minister is the leader of the majority party in the Vidhan Sabha.
20. What is the role of the Governor?
Answer: The Governor is the constitutional head of a State. He appoints the Chief Minister, summons the State Legislature, gives assent to State Bills, and may reserve certain Bills for the consideration of the President. In a Union Territory, the Lieutenant Governor / Administrator performs similar functions. The Governor also has discretionary powers under Article 163, especially in tribal areas and during constitutional crises.
21. What are All India Services?
Answer: The All India Services include the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), the Indian Police Service (IPS) and the Indian Forest Service (IFoS). Officers of these services are recruited and trained by the Centre but serve the States. They occupy senior positions both in the Centre and in the States, providing administrative continuity and uniform standards.
22. What is meant by “permanent executive”?
Answer: The permanent executive consists of civil servants and bureaucrats who are appointed on the basis of merit and continue in office regardless of changes in government. They are the implementing arm of the government and serve different governments with neutrality.
Long Answer Questions
1. Distinguish between Parliamentary and Presidential forms of Executive.
Answer: Parliamentary and Presidential systems differ in several ways. They are compared below.
| Basis | Parliamentary Executive | Presidential Executive |
|---|---|---|
| Head of State and Head of Government | Two separate offices — President / Monarch is head of State; Prime Minister is head of government. | Single office — the President is both head of State and head of government. |
| Election of head of government | Indirectly chosen from the legislature. | Directly elected by the people. |
| Relation with legislature | Executive is part of, and accountable to, the legislature. | Executive is separate from and independent of the legislature. |
| Tenure | No fixed term; government falls if it loses majority. | Fixed term, usually four to five years. |
| Responsibility | Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to the legislature. | President is responsible only to the people, not to Congress. |
| Examples | India, U.K., Canada, Japan. | U.S.A., Brazil. |
2. Discuss the powers and position of the President of India.
Answer: The President of India is the constitutional head of the Indian Union. Articles 52 to 62 of the Constitution deal with the office of the President. The Constitution vests very wide powers in the President, but most of them are exercised on the advice of the Council of Ministers.
(i) Executive Powers: All executive actions of the Government of India are formally taken in the name of the President. He appoints the Prime Minister, other ministers, judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts, the Attorney General, the Comptroller and Auditor General, Chief Election Commissioner, Chairman and members of UPSC and Finance Commission, Governors of States and ambassadors. (ii) Legislative Powers: The President is an integral part of Parliament. He summons, prorogues and dissolves the Lok Sabha; addresses Parliament; nominates 12 members to Rajya Sabha; gives assent to or returns Bills; promulgates Ordinances under Article 123 when Parliament is not in session. (iii) Financial Powers: No Money Bill can be introduced in the Lok Sabha without his prior recommendation. The Annual Financial Statement (Budget) is laid before Parliament with his recommendation. The Contingency Fund is at his disposal. (iv) Judicial Powers: Under Article 72 he can grant pardon, reprieve, respite, remission, suspension or commutation of sentence. (v) Diplomatic Powers: Treaties and international agreements are negotiated and concluded in his name; ambassadors are appointed by him. (vi) Military Powers: He is the supreme commander of the defence forces and appoints the Chiefs of the Army, Navy and Air Force. (vii) Emergency Powers: Under Articles 352, 356 and 360 he can declare National, State and Financial emergencies respectively.
However, the position of the President is mainly that of a “constitutional head”. Article 74(1), as amended by the 42nd and 44th Amendments, makes it clear that he shall act according to the advice of the Council of Ministers headed by the Prime Minister. Yet the President is not merely a “rubber stamp”; in case of a hung Parliament, in returning Bills, in seeking information from the PM, and as a moral guardian of the Constitution, he plays an important role.
3. Explain the powers and functions of the Prime Minister.
Answer: The Prime Minister is the real executive in India. He is the keystone of the cabinet arch, the captain of the ship of state, and “primus inter pares” (first among equals). His major functions are:
(i) Formation of the Council of Ministers: The PM selects ministers, decides their rank and allocates portfolios. (ii) Leader of the Cabinet: He presides over Cabinet meetings, fixes its agenda and coordinates the work of all ministries. (iii) Link between President and Council of Ministers: Article 78 makes the PM responsible for communicating to the President all decisions of the Council. (iv) Leader of the House and the Nation: The PM is the principal spokesperson of the government in Parliament and represents the nation in foreign affairs. (v) Chief Adviser to the President: The PM advises the President on important appointments and on dissolution of Lok Sabha. (vi) Coordinator and Policy-Maker: He sets the policy framework and resolves inter-ministerial disputes. (vii) Crisis Manager: In times of national emergencies, war and economic crises, the PM takes the lead. (viii) Party Leader: He is the leader of the ruling party / coalition and chief campaigner during elections.
However, in the era of coalition politics, the PM’s actual role is constrained by allies, regional considerations and party functioning, which sometimes leads to a gap between his constitutional powers and actual practice.
4. Discuss the role of the Council of Ministers in India.
Answer: The Council of Ministers, headed by the Prime Minister, is the real executive in India under Article 74. Its main role and powers are: (i) Formulation of Policy: The Council frames the domestic and foreign policies of the country. (ii) Administration: Each minister is in charge of one or more ministries and is responsible for their day-to-day functioning. (iii) Legislation: Most Bills are introduced by ministers; the Council steers government legislation through Parliament. (iv) Financial Management: The Finance Minister presents the Budget; expenditure of all ministries is approved by the Cabinet. (v) Coordination: The Cabinet coordinates work of various ministries through Cabinet committees. (vi) Crisis Management: In any emergency, the Cabinet takes major decisions including declaration of war, peace, or proclamation of emergency. The Council is collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha and individually responsible to the President. The 91st Amendment (2003) limits the size of the Council to 15 per cent of the Lok Sabha / Vidhan Sabha strength.
5. What is the role of the Cabinet in the Indian Parliamentary System?
Answer: The Cabinet is the inner ring of the Council of Ministers consisting only of senior Cabinet Ministers. It is described as the “steering wheel of the ship of state”. Its main roles are: (i) it is the supreme policy-making body of the country; (ii) it approves all important domestic and foreign policy decisions; (iii) it controls the legislative agenda of Parliament; (iv) it controls the national finances through the Budget; (v) it acts through Cabinet committees (Political Affairs, Security, Economic Affairs, Appointments, etc.); (vi) it coordinates the work of all ministries; (vii) it takes major appointment decisions; (viii) in emergencies, it acts as the chief crisis-manager. Cabinet decisions are binding on all ministers and on the entire government machinery.
6. Explain the importance of the permanent executive (civil services) in a democracy.
Answer: The permanent executive — the bureaucracy or civil services — plays an indispensable role in a modern democracy. Its importance lies in: (i) Continuity of Administration: Governments may change after every election, but the bureaucracy provides continuity and stability. (ii) Expertise: Modern administration is highly technical; civil servants bring specialised knowledge of finance, economics, law and science to the job of policy-making. (iii) Implementation of Laws and Policies: The civil servants translate laws and policies into action through schemes and programmes. (iv) Neutrality and Anonymity: They are politically neutral and serve any government with equal loyalty. (v) Advisory Role: They give expert and frank advice to the political executive. (vi) Maintenance of Law and Order: The IAS and IPS provide leadership to the law-and-order machinery. (vii) Public Service Delivery: Welfare schemes, taxation, health, education and rural development are delivered through the bureaucracy. (viii) Constitutional Protection: Article 311 protects civil servants against arbitrary dismissal so that they can serve fearlessly. Without an efficient permanent executive, no democracy can deliver good governance.
7. What are the discretionary powers of the President of India?
Answer: Although the President has to act on the advice of the Council of Ministers, certain discretionary powers exist. (i) Appointment of the Prime Minister: When no party has a clear majority in Lok Sabha (hung Parliament), the President can use real discretion in inviting a leader to form government. (ii) Pocket Veto: The Constitution does not prescribe any time limit within which the President must give assent to a Bill, so the President may simply not act on it. (iii) Suspensive Veto: The President can return a Bill (other than a Money Bill) for reconsideration once. (iv) Dismissal of a government that has lost majority but refuses to resign. (v) Dissolution of the Lok Sabha when the advising government has clearly lost majority. (vi) Seeking Information: Under Article 78, the President can seek information about administration from the Prime Minister. These limited discretionary powers make the office more than a mere “rubber stamp”.
8. Discuss the position of the Governor in a State.
Answer: The Governor is the constitutional head of a State and the representative of the Centre in the State. He is appointed by the President under Article 155 for a term of five years. His main powers are: (i) Executive: appointment of Chief Minister, other ministers, Advocate General, members of State Public Service Commission, and Vice-Chancellors of universities; (ii) Legislative: summoning and proroguing the State Legislature, dissolving the Vidhan Sabha, addressing the Legislature, giving assent to Bills, reserving certain Bills for the President, promulgating Ordinances; (iii) Financial: the Budget is presented with his recommendation; Contingency Fund of the State is at his disposal; (iv) Judicial: he can grant pardon, reprieve and remission for offences against State laws under Article 161; (v) Discretionary: in special circumstances such as recommending President’s Rule, appointing CM in a hung Assembly, and reserving Bills for the President, the Governor exercises discretion. Despite these powers, the Governor, like the President, mainly acts on the advice of the State Council of Ministers headed by the Chief Minister.
9. What is the role and significance of the Chief Minister?
Answer: The Chief Minister is the real executive head of a State, just as the Prime Minister is at the Centre. He is the leader of the majority party / coalition in the Vidhan Sabha and is appointed by the Governor. His functions include: (i) formation of the State Council of Ministers and allocation of portfolios; (ii) presiding over the Cabinet meetings; (iii) coordinating the work of all departments; (iv) acting as the principal channel between the Governor and the Council of Ministers; (v) leading the government in the Vidhan Sabha; (vi) advising the Governor on dissolution of the Assembly; (vii) being the chief spokesperson of the State government. The Chief Minister is collectively responsible to the State Legislative Assembly, just like the PM at the Centre.
10. What is the relationship between the political and the permanent executive?
Answer: The political executive (ministers) and the permanent executive (civil servants) are partners in democratic government. (i) Roles: Ministers decide overall policy; civil servants implement it. (ii) Tenure: Ministers are temporary and are voted out at every election; civil servants enjoy permanent tenure. (iii) Selection: Ministers are elected; civil servants are recruited through competitive examinations on merit. (iv) Accountability: Ministers are answerable to Parliament and the people; civil servants are answerable to ministers, the law and constitutional bodies. (v) Why political executive should have more power: in a democracy, ultimate authority must rest with elected representatives because they are accountable to the people, while civil servants are not directly elected. The political executive sets the policy direction reflecting the people’s will, and the permanent executive provides expertise and continuity for its implementation. Both are necessary and complementary.
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
1. The executive in India is: (a) Presidential (b) Parliamentary (c) Semi-Presidential (d) Direct
Answer: (b) Parliamentary.
2. The President of India is elected by: (a) The people directly (b) Lok Sabha members only (c) An electoral college (d) The Cabinet
Answer: (c) An electoral college.
3. Articles dealing with the President are: (a) 52 to 62 (b) 75 to 80 (c) 80 to 100 (d) 110 to 120
Answer: (a) 52 to 62.
4. The minimum age to become President of India is: (a) 25 years (b) 30 years (c) 35 years (d) 40 years
Answer: (c) 35 years.
5. The term of the President is: (a) 4 years (b) 5 years (c) 6 years (d) 7 years
Answer: (b) 5 years.
6. The President can be removed by: (a) Vote of no confidence (b) Impeachment (c) Resignation only (d) Court order
Answer: (b) Impeachment.
7. The Vice-President is the ex-officio Chairman of: (a) Lok Sabha (b) Rajya Sabha (c) Cabinet (d) Planning Commission
Answer: (b) Rajya Sabha.
8. The President’s pardoning power is given under Article: (a) 70 (b) 71 (c) 72 (d) 74
Answer: (c) 72.
9. Article 74(1) deals with: (a) Election of President (b) Council of Ministers to aid and advise the President (c) State Executive (d) Emergency Provisions
Answer: (b) Council of Ministers to aid and advise the President.
10. The Prime Minister is appointed by: (a) The Lok Sabha (b) The Vice-President (c) The President (d) The Speaker
Answer: (c) The President.
11. The Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to: (a) Rajya Sabha (b) Lok Sabha (c) President (d) Supreme Court
Answer: (b) Lok Sabha.
12. The maximum size of the Council of Ministers can be: (a) 10% of Lok Sabha strength (b) 15% of Lok Sabha strength (c) 20% of Lok Sabha strength (d) No limit
Answer: (b) 15% of Lok Sabha strength.
13. The 91st Constitutional Amendment is related to: (a) Election of President (b) Size of Council of Ministers (c) Anti-Defection (d) Both (b) and (c)
Answer: (d) Both (b) and (c).
14. The 42nd Amendment made the advice of the Council of Ministers: (a) Optional (b) Binding on the President (c) Subject to Parliament (d) Subject to Supreme Court
Answer: (b) Binding on the President.
15. The 44th Amendment provided that the President can: (a) Reject Cabinet advice outright (b) Send the advice back for reconsideration once (c) Override the Cabinet (d) Refuse to act on advice for 6 months
Answer: (b) Send the advice back for reconsideration once.
16. The Governor of a State is appointed by: (a) The Chief Minister (b) The Prime Minister (c) The President (d) The State Assembly
Answer: (c) The President.
17. The All India Services include: (a) IAS, IPS, IFoS (b) IAS, IFS, IRS (c) Only IAS (d) Only Central Services
Answer: (a) IAS, IPS, IFoS (Indian Forest Service).
18. Article 311 of the Constitution provides: (a) Reservation for SC/ST in services (b) Protection to civil servants against arbitrary dismissal (c) Recruitment by UPSC (d) Salary structure
Answer: (b) Protection to civil servants against arbitrary dismissal.
19. The first citizen of India is: (a) The Prime Minister (b) The Vice-President (c) The President (d) The Chief Justice
Answer: (c) The President.
20. The Supreme Commander of the Indian Armed Forces is: (a) The Prime Minister (b) The Defence Minister (c) The President (d) The Chief of Defence Staff
Answer: (c) The President.
21. National Emergency is declared under Article: (a) 352 (b) 356 (c) 360 (d) 368
Answer: (a) 352.
22. President’s Rule in a State is imposed under Article: (a) 352 (b) 356 (c) 360 (d) 370
Answer: (b) 356.
23. Civil services are recruited mainly through: (a) Direct nomination (b) State Cabinet (c) UPSC and SPSC (d) The President alone
Answer: (c) UPSC and SPSC.
24. Indian Foreign Service officers work in: (a) State governments (b) Indian missions abroad (c) Lok Sabha Secretariat (d) Reserve Bank of India
Answer: (b) Indian missions abroad.
25. The “real executive” in India is: (a) The President (b) The Vice-President (c) The Prime Minister and Council of Ministers (d) The Cabinet Secretary
Answer: (c) The Prime Minister and Council of Ministers.
Key Terms
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Executive | Branch of government that implements the laws and runs day-to-day administration. |
| Parliamentary Executive | Executive that is responsible to and dependent on the support of the legislature. |
| Presidential Executive | Executive in which the head of State and head of government are the same person, directly elected by people and independent of the legislature. |
| Nominal / Constitutional Executive | The formal head of State (e.g., President of India) who acts on the advice of the real executive. |
| Real Executive | The Prime Minister and Council of Ministers who actually take political decisions. |
| Council of Ministers | The body of all ministers (Cabinet, Minister of State and Deputy Minister) headed by the PM. |
| Cabinet | The inner ring of senior Cabinet Ministers that is the supreme policy-making body. |
| Collective Responsibility | Doctrine that the entire Council of Ministers is jointly responsible to the Lok Sabha for all actions of the government. |
| Pocket Veto | Power of the President to keep a Bill pending without giving or withholding assent. |
| Suspensive Veto | Power of the President to return a Bill for reconsideration of Parliament once. |
| Ordinance | Temporary law made by the President under Article 123 when Parliament is not in session. |
| Impeachment | Quasi-judicial procedure to remove the President for “violation of the Constitution”. |
| Discretionary Power | Power that the President or Governor can exercise on their own judgment in special situations. |
| Civil Services / Bureaucracy | Permanent body of professional administrators recruited on merit who implement government policies. |
| All India Services | IAS, IPS and Indian Forest Service — services common to the Centre and the States. |
| Coalition Government | Government formed by two or more parties because no single party has a majority. |
| Hung Parliament | A legislature in which no single party / coalition has a clear majority. |
Important Constitutional Articles
| Article | Subject Matter |
|---|---|
| 52 | The President of India |
| 53 | Executive power of the Union to be vested in the President |
| 54 | Election of the President |
| 55 | Manner of election of the President |
| 56 | Term of office of the President (5 years) |
| 57 | Eligibility for re-election |
| 58 | Qualifications for election as President |
| 61 | Procedure for impeachment of the President |
| 63 | The Vice-President of India |
| 64 | Vice-President as ex-officio Chairman of Rajya Sabha |
| 72 | Pardoning power of the President |
| 74 | Council of Ministers to aid and advise the President |
| 75 | Provisions regarding ministers — appointment, salary, oath, collective responsibility |
| 78 | Duties of the Prime Minister regarding furnishing of information to the President |
| 123 | Power of the President to promulgate Ordinances |
| 153 | Governors of States |
| 154 | Executive power of a State to be vested in the Governor |
| 155 | Appointment of Governor by the President |
| 161 | Pardoning power of the Governor |
| 163 | Council of Ministers to aid and advise the Governor |
| 164 | Other provisions regarding Ministers (CM, oath, salary) |
| 311 | Protection of civil servants against arbitrary dismissal, removal or reduction in rank |
| 352 | National Emergency |
| 356 | State Emergency / President’s Rule |
| 360 | Financial Emergency |
This completes the ASSEB Class 11 Political Science (Indian Constitution at Work) Chapter 4 Executive question and answer guide on HSLC Guru. Bookmark this page and share it with friends preparing for the HS 1st Year examination.