Question

Which executive system is present in India?

• A. Collegiate System
• B. Parliamentary System
• C. Both Parliamentary and Presidential System
• D. Presidential System

Answer 1

Answer:

B. Parliamentary System

Parliamentary System in India

India follows a Parliamentary System of executive governance. This system is largely borrowed from the British model.

Key Features of the Indian Parliamentary System:

• Real Executive vs. Nominal Executive: The President of India is the nominal head of the state (like the British monarch), while the Prime Minister (PM) is the real executive head.
• Council of Ministers: The PM leads the Council of Ministers, which is collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha (the lower house of Parliament).
• Leadership of the Prime Minister: The PM is the chief executive and the leader of the government.
• Majority Rule: The political party or coalition that commands a majority in the Lok Sabha forms the government.
• Accountability to Legislature: The executive (Council of Ministers) is accountable to the legislature (Lok Sabha). This means ministers can be questioned and even removed by a vote of no confidence.
• Fusion of Powers: There is a fusion of executive and legislative powers, as ministers are often members of Parliament.

Distinction from Presidential System:

• In contrast, a Presidential System (like in the USA) has a clear separation of powers between the executive and legislature. The President is both the head of state and head of government, and is not accountable to the legislature in the same way.

Constitutional Basis:

• While Article 74 of the Indian Constitution states that there shall be a Council of Ministers with the Prime Minister at the head to aid and advise the President, and Article 75 deals with the appointment and responsibilities of ministers, the parliamentary form of government is largely established through convention and practice, not explicitly detailed as a "system" in the Constitution itself.