Parliamentary system of government is one in which the executive is responsible to the legislature for its policies and acts.The Parliamentary system is also known as the cabinet system or Responsible government or Prime Minister Model. India follows a parliamentary system of government.The choice of a parliamentary form of government in India was influenced by the historical context of British colonial rule. This article explains the Indian Parliamentary System which is important for UPSC IAS Examination.

Parliamentary System Of Government - Concept

• Parliamentary system is a type of democratic government.
• In this system, the political party which win majority seats of the House of people during general election becomes the ruling party.
• The Supreme Court says that; Constitution is modelled on the British Parliamentary system where the executive is deemed to have the primary responsibility for the formation of government policy and its transmission into law by retaining the confidence of the Lok Sabha.
• Articles 74 and 75 provide the parliamentary system for the centre.
• Articles 163 and 164 provide the parliamentary system for the states.
• Unlike the Presidential system, in this system the executives sit in the legislature because they are part of the legislature.
• Executives can exercise power and stay in the office as long as they have the support of the lower house of the legislature.

Indian Parliamentary System - Main Features

Nominal And Real Executives

• The president is the nominal executive, while the prime minister is the actual executive (de facto executive officer).
• Therefore, the president is the head of state and the prime minister is the head of government.
• Article 74 provides for the Council of Ministers headed by the Prime Minister to assist the President in performing his duties and to advise him. The proposal made in this way is binding on the President.

The close relationship between legislative power and executive power

• Here, the prime minister and the Council of Ministers form the executive body, and the parliament is the legislative body.
• The prime minister and ministers are elected from members of the parliament, which means that the executive power comes from the legislature.

Collective Responsibility

• This is the basic principle of parliamentary government.
• The ministers are collectively responsible to the parliament in general and to the Lok Sabha in particular.(Article 75). They swim and sink together as a team.

Political Homogeneity

• Generally speaking, members of the Council of Ministers belong to the same political party and therefore have the same political ideology.
• In the case of a coalition government, the ministers are bound by consensus.

Dual Membership

• Ministers are members of the legislature and the executive.
• This means that a person cannot be a minister if he is not a member of Parliament.
• Articles 75(5) state that a minister who for any period of six consecutive months is not a member of either house of Parliament shall cease to be such minister at the expiration of that period.

The Prime Minister's Leadership

• The Prime Minister plays a leading role in this system of government. He is the leader of the Council of Ministers, the leader of the parliament, and the leader of the ruling party.
• Among these capabilities, it plays an important and very critical role in the operation of the government.

Dissolution Of The Lok Sabha

• The President can dissolve the House of Commons (Lok Sabha) on the recommendations of the Prime Minister.
• Prime Minister can advise the President to dissolve Lok Sabha and hold new election before the expiry of its term.
• Therefore in parliamentary system, executive has the right to get the legislature dissolved.

Secrecy

• Ministers operate under the principle of confidentiality of procedures and cannot disclose information about their procedures, policies and decisions.
• They swore confidentiality before entering your office. The oath of secrecy to the ministers is presided over by the president.

Indian Parliamentary System - Advantages

• Better coordination between the administration and the legislature: Since the administration is part of the legislature, and most legislatures generally support the government, it is easier to pass laws and implement them.
• Prevent authoritarianism: since the executive branch is accountable to the legislature and can vote against it with motions of no confidence, there is no authoritarianism. Also, unlike a presidential system, power will not be concentrated in one hand.
• Responsible government: Ministers are accountable to Parliament for their actions.Parliament exercises control over the executive through various devices like question hour,adjournment motion,no confidence motion etc.
• Ready Alternative Government: If ruling party loses majority,president can invite the opposition party to form the government.Therefore alternative government can be formed without fresh elections.
• Representation of different groups: In this system, the parliament provides representation for different groups in the country. This is especially important for countries like India.
• Flexibility: The system is flexible because the PM can be easily changed as needed.

Indian Parliamentary System - Disadvantages

• The Cabinet dictatorship: The Parliamentary form of government is called the Prime Minister's Government, Whole cabinet works under his direction, which may lead to the problem of cabinet dictatorship.
• The minister may not be an expert in the domain: it affects efficiency. The Prime Minister has limited options in the selection of ministers.
• Bureaucratic control: Public officials wield many powers. They advise the minister on various matters and are not accountable to the legislature.
• Parliamentary government is vulnerable to influences outside the constitution, such as joint parliamentary committees and national advisory committees.
• There is no continuity in government policies: A change in the ruling party is usually followed by changes in government policies.
• No decentralisation: There is no real decentralisation, the legislature cannot always hold the executive branch accountable.
• This is especially true if the government has a majority in the House of Representatives.
• Instability: Since the government can only survive if it can demonstrate that it has a majority in the House of Representatives, if there is no larger party after the elections, there will be instability.
• Unqualified Legislators: Legislators created by the system only seek to enter the executive branch. Basically, some of them may not be qualified for legislative business.
• Failure to make quick decisions: Since the Council of Ministers does not have a fixed mandate, they are often reluctant to make bold and long-term political decisions.

Why Did The Makers Of Our Constitution Decide To Adopt The Parliamentary System For India?

The makers of the Constitution wisely chose the parliamentary model. The reasons for it lie in India's colonial political legacy as well as India’s socio-political structure. The reasons for this were as follow:

• By the time of constitution framing, India already had some experience of the parliamentary system under the Government of India Act 1919 and 1935. So Indian people were familiar with it.
• This experience also showed that the executives can be effectively controlled by the representatives of the people.
• The makers of the constitution wanted to make the government responsible to people’s demands and should be accountable to them.
• The makers were reluctant to go for the presidential system as it gives excessive powers to the president who works independently with the legislature.
• The presidential system is also prone to the personality cult of the president.
• The makers of the Constitution wanted to have a strong executive branch but with strong safeguards to avert the risk of a personality cult.
• In the parliamentary system, there are several mechanisms to make the executive more answerable to the people’s representatives.
• So, the constitution adopted a parliamentary system for India.

Conclusion

The parliamentary system is a manifestation of India's commitment to democratic principles.The parliamentary system has played a crucial role in maintaining political stability in India.Given India's immense cultural, linguistic, and regional diversity, the parliamentary system facilitates representation from various segments of society.The Indian parliamentary system has evolved over time, incorporating both indigenous and borrowed elements to meet the specific requirements of the nation.

FAQs

MCQs

1. Which of the following is a feature of the Indian Parliamentary System?

A) Fixed term for the Prime Minister
B) Dual executive system
C) Direct election of the President
D) Unicameral legislature

2. Who is the head of government in the Indian Parliamentary System?

A) President
B) Prime Minister
C) Chief Justice
D) Vice President

3. How is the Prime Minister of India chosen?

A) Direct election by citizens
B) Nominated by the President
C) Elected by the Lok Sabha
D) Appointed by the President based on majority support in the Lok Sabha

4. What is the primary function of the Rajya Sabha in the Indian Parliamentary System?

A) To initiate money bills
B) To represent the states of India
C) To elect the President
D) To dissolve the Lok Sabha

5. What is the significance of a no-confidence motion in the Lok Sabha?

A) It allows the Rajya Sabha to dissolve the Lok Sabha
B) It enables the judiciary to dismiss the government
C) It challenges the ruling government’s majority
D) It can be used to elect a new Prime Minister

GS Mains Questions and Answers

Q1: Explain the features of the Indian Parliamentary System and how it differs from the Presidential system.

Answer: The Indian Parliamentary System is modeled on the British system and has the following key features: dual executive system (President and Prime Minister), collective responsibility of the executive to the legislature, bicameral legislature with the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, and the Prime Minister being the head of the government. The President acts as the ceremonial head of state, while real executive power rests with the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers.

In contrast, the Presidential system, such as that of the United States, has a single executive where the President is both the head of state and head of government. The President is directly elected by the people and is not accountable to the legislature. In the Parliamentary system, the government can be removed by a vote of no-confidence, whereas in the Presidential system, the President serves a fixed term and cannot be easily removed by the legislature.

Q2: Analyze the importance of the Rajya Sabha in maintaining federalism in India.

Answer: The Rajya Sabha plays a crucial role in maintaining federalism in India by representing the interests of the states at the national level. While the Lok Sabha represents the people of India directly, the Rajya Sabha ensures that the voice of the states is heard in legislative matters. This is especially important in a diverse country like India, where the interests of different states may vary.

The Rajya Sabha also plays an essential role in reviewing and amending legislation passed by the Lok Sabha, thus acting as a check on the lower house. It also has exclusive powers in matters such as creating All-India Services and protecting the rights of states, ensuring that the federal structure of the country is upheld.

Q3: Discuss the significance of collective responsibility in the Indian Parliamentary System.

Answer: Collective responsibility is a cornerstone of the Indian Parliamentary System. It means that the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers are collectively accountable to the Lok Sabha. If the Lok Sabha passes a vote of no-confidence against the government, the entire Council of Ministers, including the Prime Minister, must resign.

This principle ensures that the government functions as a unified body and is responsible for its actions to the elected representatives of the people. It also prevents ministers from acting independently of the cabinet, promoting cohesion and coordination in government policies. Collective responsibility reinforces the accountability of the executive to the legislature and, by extension, to the people of India.

Previous Year Questions on Indian Parliamentary System

1. UPSC CSE Prelims 2018:

Question: In the context of the Indian Parliamentary System, who is the real executive authority?

A) President
B) Vice President
C) Prime Minister
D) Chief Justice

Answer: C

Explanation: In the Indian Parliamentary System, the Prime Minister is the real executive authority, while the President is the ceremonial head of state.

2. UPSC CSE Mains 2019 (GS Paper 2):

Question: "The Rajya Sabha is essential for maintaining the federal balance in India's political system." Discuss with reference to its composition and powers.

Answer: The Rajya Sabha, as the upper house of the Indian Parliament, is essential for maintaining the federal balance in India's political system. Its composition reflects the representation of states, with members elected by the elected members of the state legislative assemblies. This ensures that the interests of states are represented at the national level.

The Rajya Sabha has significant powers, such as reviewing and amending legislation passed by the Lok Sabha, and it plays a critical role in protecting state interests. In matters such as the creation of All-India Services, the Rajya Sabha has exclusive powers, further emphasizing its role in upholding the federal structure of India.

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