“The growth of cabinet system has practically resulted in the marginalisation of the parliamentary supremacy.” Elucidate.
Approach · directive: “elucidate”
What it asks · Explain how a dominant cabinet has reduced Parliament's effective control over the executive, while noting the checks that still exist.
It asks 2 things — answer each
- Elucidate: how the growth of the cabinet system has marginalised Parliament's supremacy — the mechanisms, with evidence
- Qualify: the checks that still operate on the cabinet, why Indian Parliament was never fully 'supreme', and the way forward
Open with · Article 75(3) makes the Council of Ministers collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha; in theory the House controls the cabinet, in practice a disciplined majority lets the cabinet control the House.
Cover
- Agenda control: government business fills the timetable; ordinances under Article 123 legislate while Parliament is in recess.
- Party discipline: the whip and the anti-defection law (Tenth Schedule) turn a majority into near-automatic approval.
- Thin scrutiny (PRS, 17th Lok Sabha): 16% of Bills referred to committees, 35% passed with under an hour of debate; 274 sittings, fewest of any full term.
- Bypass routes: money-bill route skips the Rajya Sabha; delegated legislation leaves law to executive rules.
- Counterpoint: Question Hour, no-confidence motions, the PAC on CAG reports, coalitions and a Rajya Sabha without a ruling majority still bite.
- Note: Indian Parliament was never fully 'supreme' — a written Constitution and judicial review bound it from the start.
- Way forward: NCRWC's minimum of 120 sitting days for the Lok Sabha and 100 for the Rajya Sabha; mandatory committee referral; opposition time.
Close with · Stable cabinets are an asset; a Parliament that sits longer and scrutinises deeper makes collective responsibility under Article 75(3) real.
Add value (verified)
- Article 75(3) makes the executive answerable to the Lok Sabha — the basis of parliamentary control.The Constitution of India (as on 1 May 2024), Article 75(3) — Legislative Department ↗“shall be collectively responsible to the House of the People.”
- Article 123 lets the executive legislate by ordinance while Parliament is in recess — one route by which the cabinet bypasses the House.The Constitution of India (as on 1 May 2024), Article 123 — Legislative Department ↗“123. Power of President to promulgate Ordinances during recess of Parliament.”
- PRS: only 16% of Bills in the 17th Lok Sabha were referred to committees, lower than in the previous three Lok Sabhas.Vital Stats: Functioning of the 17th Lok Sabha — PRS Legislative Research, 10 February 2024 ↗“16% of Bills were referred to Committees for detailed scrutiny. This is lower than corresponding figures for the previous three Lok Sabhas.”
- PRS: 35% of Bills in the 17th Lok Sabha passed with less than an hour of discussion.Vital Stats: Functioning of the 17th Lok Sabha — PRS Legislative Research, 10 February 2024 ↗“35% of Bills were passed with less than an hour of discussion in Lok Sabha. The corresponding figure for Rajya Sabha was 34%.”
- PRS: the 17th Lok Sabha held 274 sittings, the fewest of any full-term Lok Sabha.Vital Stats: Functioning of the 17th Lok Sabha — PRS Legislative Research, 10 February 2024 ↗“The 17th Lok Sabha held 274 sittings. Only four previous Lok Sabhas have had fewer sittings, all of which were dissolved before completing the five-year term.”
- The NCRWC recommended a minimum of 120 working days a year for the Lok Sabha and 100 for the Rajya Sabha.The House is not in session… — PRS Legislative Research ↗“The National Commission to Review the Working of the Constitution had recommended that a minimum number of working days for Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha should be fixed at 120 and 100 respectively.”
Question: UPSC's CS (Main) 2024, GS Paper II — paper ↗. Approach: Minimalist IAS, checked 3 Oct 2026 (how we verify) — UPSC publishes no model answers. ·
Model answer· 224words · Minimalist IAS
Article 75(3) makes the Council of Ministers collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha. In theory the House controls the cabinet; in practice a disciplined majority lets the cabinet control the House.
How the cabinet has marginalised Parliament
- Agenda control: government business fills the timetable; ordinances (Article 123) legislate during recess.
- Party discipline: the whip, backed by disqualification under the Tenth Schedule, turns a majority into automatic approval.
- Thin scrutiny: in the 17th Lok Sabha only 16% of Bills went to committees, and 35% passed with under an hour of debate (PRS).
- Fewer sittings: its 274 sittings were the fewest of any full-term Lok Sabha.
- Bypass routes: the money-bill route sidelines the Rajya Sabha; delegated legislation leaves law to executive rules.
- Disciplined majority
- Cabinet sets agenda
- Bills skip committees
- Scrutiny weakens
What still checks the cabinet
- Accountability tools: Question Hour, no-confidence motions and the Public Accounts Committee on CAG reports still extract answers.
- Coalitions: coalition governments must bargain and accept amendments.
- Never 'supreme': unlike Westminster, a written Constitution and judicial review bind India's Parliament.
Way forward
- Minimum sittings: the NCRWC urged at least 120 days a year for the Lok Sabha, 100 for the Rajya Sabha.
- Committee referral: mandatory for Bills, with protected opposition time.
Stable cabinets are an asset; a Parliament that sits longer and scrutinises deeper makes collective responsibility under Article 75(3) real.
Prepared by Minimalist IAS to the answer standard of Shivam Singh (mentor, 7 years) · facts checked against official sources (how we verify) · updated 3 Oct 2026. UPSC publishes no model answers: compare your structure and coverage with this, then write your own.
