Class | Subject | Book | Chapter | Session | Questions covered |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
XI | Political Science | Indian Constitution at Work (NCERT) | 4 – Executive | 2026-27 | 10 of 10 |
Chapter at a glance
Topic | Key points |
|---|---|
Executive | Implements laws and policies: political executive (elected) and permanent executive (civil servants) |
Types | Presidential (USA), parliamentary (UK, India), semi-presidential (France, Sri Lanka) |
President | Nominal head; elected indirectly; acts on advice of the Council of Ministers (Art 74); discretion in a few situations; pocket veto |
Prime Minister and Council of Ministers | Real executive; collectively responsible to Lok Sabha; size limited to 15 % of Lok Sabha (91st Amendment) |
Permanent executive | All India Services (IAS, IPS), Central Services, State Services; UPSC and State PSCs |
Exercise Questions
A parliamentary executive means:
Answer
- 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
- Executive that is dependent on support of the majority in the parliament
Read this dialogue. Which argument do you agree with? Why?
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Amit: Looking at the constitutional provisions, it seems that the President is only a rubber stamp.
Shama: The President appoints the Prime Minister. So, he must have the powers to remove the Prime Minister as well.
Rajesh: We don’t need a President. After the election, the Parliament can meet and elect a leader to be the Prime Minister.
Answer
I agree mostly with Amit, with an important qualification.
- The President is the nominal head; in normal circumstances the President acts on the advice of the Council of Ministers (Article 74). The President may send advice back once for reconsideration, but must accept it if it is given again.
- But the President is not a mere rubber stamp. The President has some discretion: asking for reconsideration of advice, the pocket veto on ordinary bills, choosing the Prime Minister in a hung Parliament, and the right to be informed of all decisions.
- Shama is wrong: the Prime Minister stays in office as long as they have the confidence of the Lok Sabha, not at the President’s pleasure.
- Rajesh is wrong: the President plays a vital role as a symbol of unity, guardian of the Constitution, and in times of political uncertainty; the head of state is also needed for many formal functions.
Largely Amit: the President normally acts on ministerial advice, though with limited discretion; the President cannot remove a PM who has Lok Sabha’s confidence, and the office remains necessary.
Match the following:
Answer
Service | Description |
|---|---|
a. Indian Foreign Service | i. Works within the particular State in which recruited |
b. State Civil Services | ii. Works in any central government office located either at the national capital or elsewhere in the country |
c. All India Services | iii. Works in a particular State to which allotted; can also be sent on deputation to the centre |
d. Central Services | iv. Works in Indian missions abroad |
Answer
- Indian Foreign Service — iv
- State Civil Services — i
- All India Services — iii
- Central Services — ii
a–iv, b–i, c–iii, d–ii
Identify the ministry which may have released the following news items. Would this be a ministry of the central government or the State government? Why?
Answer
- An official release said that in 2004-05 the Tamil Nadu Textbooks Corporation would release new versions for standards VII, X and XI.
- A new railway loop line bypassing the crowded Tiruvallur-Chennai section to help iron ore exporters. The new line, likely to be about 80 km long, will branch off at Puttur and then reach Athipattu near the port.
- The three-member sub-divisional committee formed to verify suicide by farmers in Ramayampet mandal has found that the two farmers who committed suicide this month have had economic problems due to failure of crops.
Answer
- Ministry/Department of Education of the State government (Tamil Nadu) — school education and textbooks of a state textbook corporation are handled by the state.
- Ministry of Railways, Central government — railways are a Union subject.
- Ministry/Department of Agriculture (or Revenue) of the State government (Telangana, earlier Andhra Pradesh) — agriculture and the mandal-level administration fall under the state.
- State Education department b) Central Ministry of Railways c) State Agriculture/Revenue department
While appointing the Prime Minister, the President selects
Answer
- Leader of the largest party in the Lok Sabha b. Leader of the largest party in the alliance which secures a majority in the Lok Sabha c. The leader of the largest party in the Rajya Sabha d. Leader of the alliance or party that has the support of the majority in Lok Sabha
Answer
- Leader of the alliance or party that has the support of the majority in Lok Sabha
Read this discussion and say which of these statements applies most to India.
Answer
Alok: Prime Minister is like a king, he decides everything in our country.
Shekhar: Prime Minister is only ‘first among equals’, he does not have any special powers. All ministers and the PM have similar powers.
Bobby: Prime Minister has to consider the expectations of the party members and other supporters of the government. But after all, the Prime Minister has a greater say in policy making and in choosing the ministers.
Answer
Bobby’s statement applies most to India.
- The PM is the head of the Council of Ministers, chooses and allocates ministers, presides over the Cabinet and has the greatest say in policy.
- But the PM is not a king: they depend on the support of their party, coalition partners and the Lok Sabha, and must consider their expectations. In coalition governments especially, the PM must consult allies.
- Nor is the PM merely “first among equals”: the PM’s resignation ends the whole ministry.
Bobby’s: the PM has the greatest say in policy and choosing ministers but must consider party members and allies.
Why do you think is the advice of the Council of Ministers binding on the President? Give your answer in not more than 100 words.
Answer
Answer
India has a parliamentary system in which the real executive power lies with the Council of Ministers, who are elected representatives accountable to the Lok Sabha and the people. The President is elected indirectly and is the nominal head. If the President could ignore their advice, there would be two centres of power and the elected government could not be held responsible. Making advice binding (Article 74, as amended by the 42nd and 44th Amendments) ensures that decisions are taken by those answerable to the people, while the President may ask once for reconsideration.
Because in a parliamentary democracy real power must lie with the elected Council of Ministers, accountable to the Lok Sabha; the President is the nominal head.
The parliamentary system of executive vests many powers in the legislature for controlling the executive. Why, do you think, is it so necessary to control the executive?
Answer
Answer
- The executive has enormous powers — implementing laws, controlling the police and armed forces, spending public money. Unchecked power can be misused or become authoritarian.
- In a democracy, the executive must remain accountable to the people through their representatives.
- Legislative control ensures that public money is spent properly, policies serve the public, and the rights of citizens are protected.
- Methods: question hour, debates, motions, committees, approval of the budget, and the no-confidence motion, which can remove the government.
Because the executive holds vast power that can be misused; legislative control keeps it accountable to the people and protects public money and rights.
It is said that there is too much political interference in the working of the administrative machinery. It is suggested that there should be more and more autonomous agencies which do not have to answer to the ministers.
Answer
- Do you think this will make administration more people-friendly?
- Do you think this will make administration more efficient?
- Does democracy mean full control of elected representatives over the administration?
Answer
a. Not necessarily. Autonomous agencies may become distant from the people, since ministers are the ones accountable to voters. Without political accountability, bureaucrats may ignore people’s grievances. People-friendliness depends on accountability and responsiveness, not just on independence.
b. Possibly, to some extent. Freedom from political interference can allow professional decision-making, stable policies and less corruption, and protect officials from transfers and pressure. But it may also lead to red tape and lack of coordination.
c. No, not full control. In a democracy, elected representatives set policy and the administration must be accountable to them. But the civil service should be politically neutral and professional, and protected from partisan interference in day-to-day work, recruitment and transfers (e.g. through the UPSC). A balance is needed between accountability and professional independence.
- Not necessarily, since it reduces accountability to people. b) Possibly, through professional independence. c) No; elected representatives should set policy, but administration should be neutral and professional.
Write an essay of two hundred words on the proposal to have an elected administration instead of an appointed administration.
Answer
Answer
Elected versus appointed administration
In India, the permanent executive — the IAS, IPS and other services — is appointed on merit through competitive examinations conducted by the UPSC and State Public Service Commissions. Some people propose that administrators, such as district officials, should instead be elected, to make them directly accountable to the people.
Supporters argue that elected officials would be more responsive to local needs, would have to listen to people to win re-election, and would end the distance between the bureaucracy and citizens.
However, there are strong arguments against this proposal. Administration requires expertise, training and continuity, which elections do not ensure. Elected officials may be swayed by party politics, caste or money, and may favour their supporters instead of applying the law impartially. Frequent elections would disrupt continuity of policy. The neutrality of the civil service — implementing the policies of whichever government is in power — would be lost. Already, elected representatives (ministers, panchayat members) provide democratic control over the bureaucracy.
A better path is to keep a professional, merit-based administration while strengthening its accountability: through elected local bodies, the Right to Information, citizens’ charters, social audits and grievance redressal. This combines expertise with democratic responsiveness.
An elected administration might be more responsive but would lose expertise, neutrality and continuity; better to keep a merit-based civil service made accountable through elected bodies, RTI and grievance mechanisms.
Topic checklist
- Meaning and types of executive
- President: election, powers and discretion
- Prime Minister and Council of Ministers
- Permanent executive: bureaucracy, UPSC
- Control of the executive by the legislature