Indian Polity — Salient Features of the Indian Constitution
1. Features of the Parliamentary System in India
- The Constitution of India has opted for the British Parliamentary System of Government.
- It is in contrast to the American Presidential System of Government.
- The Parliamentary System is based on the principle of cooperation and coordination between the legislative and executive organs.
- The parliamentary system is also known as the 'Westminster' model of government.
WESTMINSTER MODEL
The parliamentary system is also known as the 'Westminster' model of government, named after the Palace of Westminster, the seat of the British Parliament.
The parliamentary system is also known as the 'Westminster' model of government, named after the Palace of Westminster, the seat of the British Parliament.
Detailed Features
- Presence of real and nominal executives.
- Majority party rule.
- Collective responsibility of the executive to the legislature.
- Membership of the ministers in the legislature.
- The leadership of the Prime Minister or the Chief Minister.
- Dissolution of the lower house (Lok Sabha or Assembly).
- Indian Parliament is not a sovereign body like the British Parliament.
- Parliamentary Government combined with an elected President at the head (Republic).
KEY FEATURES — QUICK RECAP
- Real and Nominal Executives: President (nominal) and Prime Minister (real)
- Majority Party Rule: Party with majority forms the government
- Collective Responsibility: Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha
- Membership: Ministers must be members of the legislature
- Leadership: PM/CM leads the Council of Ministers
- Dissolution: Lok Sabha can be dissolved by the President
- Not Sovereign: Indian Parliament is not sovereign like the British Parliament (due to Constitutional Supremacy)
- Republican Head: Elected President as the head of the state
📝 UPSC PREVIOUS YEAR FOCUS
- Parliamentary System: Based on the British Westminster model.
- Real Executive: Prime Minister | Nominal Executive: President
- Collective Responsibility: Article 75 — Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha.
- Indian Parliament: Not sovereign like the British Parliament because of Constitutional Supremacy.
- Republic: Head of State is an elected President.
2. Comparison: Parliamentary vs Presidential System
| Parliamentary System (India, UK) | Presidential System (USA) |
|---|---|
|
- Real and Nominal Executives (President/PM) - Collective Responsibility to the Legislature - Majority Party Rule - Dissolution of Lower House possible - PM/CM is the real head - Based on cooperation between executive and legislature - Westminster Model |
- Single Executive (President) - Separation of Powers - Fixed Tenure of the Executive - No Dissolution of Legislature by Executive - President is both head of state and government - Based on checks and balances - Congressional Model |
3. Summary: Parliamentary System at a Glance
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Model | British Westminster Model |
| Real Executive | Prime Minister / Chief Minister |
| Nominal Executive | President / Governor |
| Collective Responsibility | Council of Ministers is responsible to Lok Sabha/Assembly |
| Dissolution | Lok Sabha can be dissolved |
| Sovereignty | Indian Parliament is not sovereign (Constitutional Supremacy) |
| Head of State | Elected President (Republic) |
Key Takeaways for UPSC
- Parliamentary System: Based on British Westminster model.
- Real Executive: Prime Minister | Nominal Executive: President.
- Collective Responsibility: Article 75 — CoM responsible to Lok Sabha.
- Majority Party Rule: Party with majority in Lok Sabha forms government.
- Indian Parliament is NOT sovereign — Constitutional Supremacy prevails.
- Republic: Head of State is an elected President.
- Contrast: USA follows the Presidential System (Separation of Powers).
High-Yield Interactive UPSC Quiz (Parliamentary System)
Q1. The Indian Parliamentary System is based on which model?
Correct Answer: C. The Indian Parliamentary System is based on the British Westminster Model of government.
Q2. In the Parliamentary System, the real executive is:
Correct Answer: B. In the Parliamentary System, the Prime Minister is the real executive, while the President is the nominal executive.
Q3. The Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to:
Correct Answer: C. The Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha (Article 75).
Q4. The Indian Parliament is NOT sovereign because:
Correct Answer: B. The Indian Parliament is NOT sovereign because it is subject to Constitutional limitations (Constitutional Supremacy), unlike the British Parliament which is sovereign.
Q5. Which Article deals with the Collective Responsibility of the Council of Ministers?
Correct Answer: B. Article 75 of the Indian Constitution deals with the Collective Responsibility of the Council of Ministers to the Lok Sabha.
Q6. The Parliamentary System is also known as:
Correct Answer: B. The Parliamentary System is also known as the 'Westminster' model of government, named after the Palace of Westminster.
Q7. Which of the following is NOT a feature of the Parliamentary System?
Correct Answer: C. Fixed tenure of the executive is a feature of the Presidential System, not the Parliamentary System.
Q8. In the Parliamentary System, the government is formed by:
Correct Answer: B. In the Parliamentary System, the government is formed by the party with a majority in the Lower House (Lok Sabha).
Q9. India has a Parliamentary System combined with:
Correct Answer: B. India has a Parliamentary System combined with an elected President as the head of state (Republic).
Q10. The Parliamentary System is based on the principle of:
Correct Answer: B. The Parliamentary System is based on the principle of cooperation and coordination between the legislative and executive organs.