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Indian PolityEasyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2017, GS Paper I

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

  1. A.An arrangement for minimizing the criticism against the Government whose responsibilities are complex and hard to carry out to the satisfaction of all.
  2. B.A mechanism for speeding up the activities of the Government whose responsibilities are increasing day by day.
  3. C.A mechanism of parliamentary democracy for ensuring collective responsibility of the Government to the people.
  4. D.A device for strengthening the hands of the head of the Government whose hold over the people is in a state of decline.

Correct answer

C. A mechanism of parliamentary democracy for ensuring collective responsibility of the Government to the people.

Explanation

The correct answer is C, A mechanism of parliamentary democracy for ensuring collective responsibility of the Government to the people. The heart of Cabinet government is collective responsibility: the ministers stand or fall together before the elected House. Article 75(3) of the Constitution says the Council of Ministers shall be collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha, and Article 164(2) says the same for State ministers and the Legislative Assembly. A Cabinet decision binds every minister, a minister who disagrees must support it or resign, and if the Lok Sabha passes a no-confidence motion the whole ministry must quit. Since the Lok Sabha is directly elected, this makes the government answerable to the people through their representatives. Option A is wrong because the system invites criticism through questions and debates rather than reducing it. Option B is wrong because speed is not its purpose; collective discussion often makes decisions slower. Option D is wrong because the Prime Minister's position rests on the confidence of the House, not on making up for a decline in popularity. Exam tip: collective responsibility is in Article 75(3) for the Union and Article 164(2) for States.

Practice Questions

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Q1.Indian PolityAsked in: CDS · CDS-I 2021, GKMedium

Who among the following was the Chairman of the National Commission for Review of the Working of the Constitution (2000)?

  1. A.Justice M.N. Venkatachaliah
  2. B.Justice J.S. Verma
  3. C.Justice Ranganath Mishra
  4. D.Justice Y.K. Sabharwal
Show answer
Correct answer: A. Justice M.N. Venkatachaliah

Venkatachaliah. The National Commission to Review the Working of the Constitution was set up by the Union government in February 2000 under Justice M.N.

Q3.Indian PolityAsked in: CDS · CDS-I 2024, GKMedium

Consider the following statements :

1. In India, the Special Marriage Act protects an individual if one enters into an interreligious marriage.

2. Right to marry a person of one's choice is an integral aspect of one's Fundamental Rights under Article 21 of the Constitution of India.

3. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights also resonates marital rights of every adult consenting individuals.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. A.2 and 3 only
  2. B.1 and 3 only
  3. C.1,2 and 3
  4. D.1 only
Show answer
Correct answer: C. 1,2 and 3

All three statements are correct. The Special Marriage Act, 1954 lets any two Indians marry by civil registration whatever their religion, without either partner having to convert, so it is the law that covers inter-religious marriages.

Q5.Indian PolityHard

In which case did the Supreme Court recognise a living will, or advance medical directive, as part of the right to die with dignity?

  1. A.Aruna Shanbaug versus Union of India, 2011
  2. B.Common Cause versus Union of India, 2018
  3. C.Gian Kaur versus State of Punjab, 1996
  4. D.P. Rathinam versus Union of India, 1994
Show answer
Correct answer: B. Common Cause versus Union of India, 2018

A Constitution Bench held that the right to die with dignity is part of the right to life under Article 21, and that an adult of sound mind may draw up an advance directive, popularly called a living will, refusing life support if he later becomes terminally ill or goes…