Complete Guide to the Parliamentary System in India: SSC, State PCS & UPSC Notes
Hello Aspirants! Welcome to today’s Indian Polity session. Whether you are preparing for SSC CGL, Railways (RRB), State PCS, or UPSC, the “Parliamentary System” is a high-weightage topic. Every year, examiners frame direct and indirect questions from this area.
Let’s break down this topic into simple, easy-to-understand points so that you never get a question wrong in your exams!
Introduction: What is a Parliamentary System?
A democratic government is mainly of two types: Parliamentary and Presidential.
India follows the Parliamentary System of government, both at the Center and in the States.
In a Parliamentary system, the Executive (Council of Ministers) is directly responsible to the Legislature (Parliament) for its policies and acts. This system is also known as the Cabinet form of government, the Responsible government, or the Westminster model (named after the place where the British Parliament is located).
Important Articles Related to the Parliamentary System
The Constitution of India does not define the Parliamentary system in detail, but it establishes it through two main sets of Articles:
- For the Center (Union): * Article 74: There shall be a Council of Ministers with the Prime Minister at the head to aid and advise the President.
- Article 75: Deals with the appointment, tenure, responsibility, and oath of the Ministers. (Most important: It states that Ministers are collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha).
- For the States: * Article 163: Council of Ministers to aid and advise the Governor.
- Article 164: Ministers are collectively responsible to the State Legislative Assembly (Vidhan Sabha).
Key Features of the Parliamentary System in India
Here are the core pillars of the Indian Parliamentary system. Understand these concepts well, as statements-based questions often appear from this section.
1. Nominal and Real Executives
- Nominal Executive (De jure head): The President is the nominal or titular head of the State.
- Real Executive (De facto head): The Prime Minister is the real executive head. The President exercises their powers only on the advice of the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers.
2. Majority Party Rule
The political party (or a coalition) that secures a majority of seats in the Lower House (Lok Sabha) forms the government. The President appoints the leader of this majority party as the Prime Minister.
3. Collective Responsibility (The Bedrock Principle)
This is the most critical feature. Under Article 75, the Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha. If the Lok Sabha passes a “No-Confidence Motion,” the entire Council of Ministers (including the PM) must resign. They swim and sink together.
4. Double Membership
Ministers are members of both the Executive and the Legislature. A person cannot be a minister without being a Member of Parliament (MP).
Note: If a non-MP is appointed as a minister, they must get elected to either House of Parliament within 6 months (Article 75).
5. Leadership of the Prime Minister
The Prime Minister plays a leadership role in this system. He/she is the leader of the Council of Ministers, leader of the Parliament, and leader of the ruling party.
6. Dissolution of the Lower House
The Lok Sabha (Lower House) can be dissolved by the President on the recommendation of the Prime Minister before the expiry of its term. (Note: Rajya Sabha is a permanent house and cannot be dissolved).
Difference Between Indian and British Parliamentary Systems
Though India adopted the British Westminster model, there are two major differences that often come up in UPSC and State PCS exams:
- Republic vs. Monarchy: India is a Republic, meaning the Head of the State (President) is elected. Britain is a Monarchy, meaning the Head of State (King/Queen) is hereditary.
- Parliamentary Sovereignty: The British Parliament is fully sovereign (supreme). The Indian Parliament is not sovereign because its powers are limited by a written Constitution, federalism, judicial review, and fundamental rights.
🚨 Common Exam Traps & Confusing Points
Examiners love to confuse students with the following points. Read carefully:
- TRAP 1: “The Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to the Parliament.”
- Reality: FALSE. They are collectively responsible strictly to the Lok Sabha (Lower House), not the entire Parliament.
- TRAP 2: “The President is the real executive.”
- Reality: FALSE. The President is the nominal executive. The Prime Minister is the real executive.
- TRAP 3: “Individual Ministers are responsible to the Lok Sabha.”
- Reality: FALSE. While collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha, ministers are individually responsible to the President. They hold office during the pleasure of the President (Article 75).
Quick Revision Facts (Direct One-Liners for SSC/Railways)
- Source: The Parliamentary System in India is borrowed from the United Kingdom (UK).
- Shadow Cabinet: A unique feature of the British cabinet system formed by the opposition party. (India does not have a formal shadow cabinet institution).
- Swaran Singh Committee (1975): Examined whether the Parliamentary system should be replaced by the Presidential system. It recommended continuing with the Parliamentary system.
- Kitchen Cabinet: An informal, extra-constitutional body of the Prime Minister and a few trusted colleagues who take major decisions.
Previous Year Exam Relevance
- SSC CGL/CHSL & Railways: Frequently ask direct questions like “Who is the real executive?” or “Which Article deals with collective responsibility?”
- State PCS (UPPSC, BPSC, MPPSC): Focuses on the differences between the Presidential and Parliamentary systems, and conditions for the dissolution of the Lok Sabha.
- UPSC Prelims: Asks conceptual, statement-based questions on Parliamentary Sovereignty, Double Membership, and the exact wording of Article 75.
Practice MCQs for Self-Assessment
Q1. In the Parliamentary form of Government, the real executive power is vested in the:
a) President
b) Parliament
c) Council of Ministers headed by the Prime Minister
d) Chief Justice of India
Answer: (c)
Explanation: The President is only the nominal head (De jure). The real executive authority (De facto) rests with the Council of Ministers headed by the Prime Minister.
Q2. The Council of Ministers in India is collectively responsible to:
a) The President
b) The Prime Minister
c) The Rajya Sabha
d) The Lok Sabha
Answer: (d)
Explanation: According to Article 75 of the Constitution, the Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to the House of the People (Lok Sabha).
Q3. Which of the following is NOT a feature of the Indian Parliamentary System?
a) Majority party rule
b) Collective responsibility
c) Strict separation of powers
d) Dissolution of the Lower House
Answer: (c)
Explanation: The Presidential system (like in the USA) has a strict separation of powers between the executive and legislature. The Parliamentary system is based on the cooperation and coordination between the executive and legislative organs.
Q4. A person who is not a Member of Parliament (MP) can be appointed as a Minister, but he/she must become an MP within:
a) 3 months
b) 6 months
c) 1 year
d) It is not allowed at all
Answer: (b)
Explanation: A non-MP can become a minister but must get elected to either house (Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha) within 6 months, failing which they cease to be a minister.
Q5. The principle of ‘Individual Responsibility’ of Ministers is to the:
a) Prime Minister
b) Parliament
c) President
d) Speaker of Lok Sabha
Answer: (c)
Explanation: Article 75 states that Ministers hold office during the pleasure of the President, which establishes the principle of individual responsibility.
📝 Short Revision Summary
- Parliamentary System: Executive is part of and responsible to the Legislature. Also called Westminster/Cabinet model. Borrowed from the UK.
- Two Heads: President (Nominal) and PM (Real).
- Key Articles: Art 74 & 75 (Center); Art 163 & 164 (States).
- Core Principle: Collective Responsibility to the Lok Sabha (Art 75).
- Difference from UK: India is a Republic (elected President) and our Parliament is not totally supreme (written constitution).
