Prelims 2013 · archive
EasyIn the context of India, which of the following principles is/are, implied institutionally in the parliamentary government?
- 1.Members of the Cabinet are Members of the Parliament.
- 2.Ministers hold the office till they enjoy confidence in the Parliament.
- 3.The Cabinet is headed by the Head of the State.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Answer & explanation
Answer: (a) 1 and 2 only
In India's parliamentary system the ministers come from Parliament and stay in office only while they have the Lok Sabha's confidence. The Cabinet is headed by the Prime Minister, who is the head of government. The President, as Head of State, does not head it.
- ✓ 1. Ministers are drawn from Parliament. Article 75(5) lets a non-member be a Minister for only six consecutive months. After that he must become an MP or cease to be a Minister.
- ✓ 2. Article 75(3) makes the Council of Ministers collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha. A ministry that loses the House's confidence has to go.
- ✗ 3. Article 74(1) puts the Prime Minister at the head of the Council of Ministers. The President is only the nominal Head of State and acts on the Council's advice.
Remember · Parliamentary system: the executive sits in the legislature and is collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha. The Prime Minister heads the Cabinet. The President is the nominal head.
📘 Read it in NCERT: Class 11 Indian Constitution at Work, Ch 4 (practise this chapter) · Class 11 Indian Constitution at Work, Ch 4 (practise this chapter)
Sources
- Constitution of India, Articles 74 and 75 (legislative.gov.in) ↗ “There shall be a Council of Ministers with the Prime Minister at the head to aid and advise the President who shall, in the exercise of his functions, act in accordance with such advice … A Minister who for any period of six consecutive months is not a member of either House of Parliament shall at the expiration of that period cease to be a Minister.”
- NCERT Class 11 · Indian Constitution at Work, Chapter 4 “In a parliamentary system, the prime minister is the head of government. Most parliamentary systems have a president or a monarch who is the nominal Head of state.”
- NCERT Class 11 · Indian Constitution at Work, Chapter 4 “The Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha. This provision means that a Ministry which loses confidence”
Question: UPSC Civil Services (Preliminary) 2013, General Studies paper. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 25 Oct 2026 (how we verify). ·