Executive | Class 11 Political Science Notes

PARLIAMENTARY EXECUTIVE IN INDIA

This section details the parliamentary executive system adopted by India. Drawing on India's experience under the Government of India Acts of 1919 and 1935, the Constitution makers chose the parliamentary system because it allows effective control of the executive by the people's representatives. The parliamentary executive ensures the government is sensitive, responsible, and accountable. The alternative, a presidential system, concentrates power in the president and risks personality cults. The parliamentary system has safeguards against this by making the executive answerable to the legislature. India has a President as the formal Head of State and a Prime Minister with the Council of Ministers who run the government. At the state level, the executive comprises the Governor and the Chief Minister with the Council of Ministers. The Constitution vests executive power formally in the President, but in reality, the President acts on the advice of the Council of Ministers headed by the Prime Minister. The President is elected indirectly by elected members of Parliament and State legislatures through proportional representation with a single transferable vote. The President can be removed only by impeachment for violation of the Constitution. The section also explains Article 74(1) which mandates a Council of Ministers with the Prime Minister at the head to aid and advise the President, and that the President must act according to this advice, with limited discretionary power to ask for reconsideration. The President's powers are wide-ranging formally but are exercised based on the Council's advice. The Prime Minister and Council of Ministers enjoy majority support in the Lok Sabha and are the real executive. The section includes quotes from Jawaharlal Nehru emphasizing the President as a dignified figurehead rather than a real executive.

📊 Diagram: Figure showing Article 74(1) text: '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.'; Portrait of Jawaharlal Nehru with quote about the President's role as a dignified figurehead.

🔗 Connection: Leads to discussion of the discretionary powers of the President and the role of the Vice President.