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UPSC CSE Prelims 2017 · GS Paper I · Question 99 · Parliament & the Union executive

निम्नलिखित कथनों में से उस एक को चुनिए, जो मंत्रिमण्डल स्वरूप की सरकार के अन्तर्निहित सिद्धान्त को…

UPSC Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2017, General Studies Paper I, Question 99 — Parliament & the Union executive.

Prelims 2017 · Q99

Parliament & the Union executive Easy

निम्नलिखित कथनों में से उस एक को चुनिए, जो मंत्रिमण्डल स्वरूप की सरकार के अन्तर्निहित सिद्धान्त को अभिव्यक्त करता है :

Read this question in English

Out of the following statements, choose the one that brings out the principle underlying the Cabinet form of Government:

(a) An arrangement for minimizing the criticism against the Government whose responsibilities are complex and hard to carry out to the satisfaction of all. · (b) A mechanism for speeding up the activities of the Government whose responsibilities are increasing day by day. · (c) A mechanism of parliamentary democracy for ensuring collective responsibility of the Government to the people. · (d) A device for strengthening the hands of the head of the Government whose hold over the people is in a state of decline.

उत्तर और व्याख्या · explanation in English

Answer: (c) सरकार के जनता के प्रति सामूहिक उत्तरदायित्व को सुनिश्चित करने के लिए संसदीय लोकतंत्र की एक क्रियाविधि ।

The principle behind the Cabinet form of government is collective responsibility: the whole Council of Ministers answers to the elected House, and through it to the people. Article 75(3) states this for the Union: the Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha.

  • ✓ (c) Collective responsibility means the ministers sink or swim together, and the ministry must resign if the Lok Sabha withdraws its confidence. That is how a parliamentary democracy holds the government accountable to the people.
  • ✗ (a) The Cabinet system does not exist to reduce criticism; it exposes the government to questions and debate in the legislature.
  • ✗ (b) Speed of decision-making is a side benefit at most; accountability to the legislature is the defining principle.
  • ✗ (d) The Cabinet system is meant to make the executive answerable, not to strengthen a leader whose support has weakened.

Remember · Cabinet (parliamentary) government rests on collective responsibility: the Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha (Article 75(3)).

📘 Read it in NCERT: Class 11 Indian Constitution at Work, Ch 4 (practise this chapter)

Sources

Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper I (2017, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). ·

Cite this question: UPSC CSE Prelims 2017, Q99 — minimalistias.com/pyqs/prelims/2017/q99

In the UPSC syllabus: Parliament & the Union executive › Prime Minister & Council of Ministers See it and tick it covered →

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