Page 15 – Parliamentary System
Based on M. Laxmikanth – Indian Polity (6th Edition)
Key Idea Summary
Core concepts and exam relevance
India follows the British Westminster model, where:
- President = Nominal head (de jure)
- Prime Minister = Real head (de facto)
- Executive is responsible to Parliament
- Government survives only with majority support
- Differences between Parliamentary vs Presidential systems
- Understanding Cabinet, PM, Council of Ministers
- Collective responsibility – frequently asked
- No-confidence motion, dissolution, etc.
Key Features of Parliamentary System
Understanding the Westminster model
1. Nominal vs Real Executive
- President = Symbolic/Nominal head
- PM + Council of Ministers = Real power
- President acts on PM's advice (Art. 74)
- "President reigns but does not rule"
2. Collective Responsibility
- Council of Ministers jointly responsible to Lok Sabha
- Must resign if loses majority (Art. 75)
- "Swim together, sink together"
- Cabinet decisions binding on all ministers
3. Dual Executive
- President + PM system
- Unlike USA: single executive (President only)
- Division of ceremonial & actual powers
- Ensures checks and balances
4. Political Accountability
- Parliament can remove govt through:
- No-confidence motion
- Censure motion
- Cut motions (budget)
- Question hour, debates, committees
5. Dissolution Power
- Lok Sabha can be dissolved
- President dissolves on PM's advice
- Leads to fresh elections
- Rajya Sabha is permanent (not dissolved)
6. Bicameral Legislature
- Lok Sabha (Lower House) – People
- Rajya Sabha (Upper House) – States
- Laws need approval of both (with conditions)
- Money bills only in Lok Sabha
Parliamentary vs Presidential System
Key differences – frequently asked
| Aspect | Parliamentary (India, UK) | Presidential (USA) |
|---|---|---|
| Executive | Dual (Nominal + Real) | Single (President is both) |
| Responsibility | Executive responsible to Legislature | Executive NOT responsible to Legislature |
| Removal | No-confidence motion | Impeachment only (for misconduct) |
| Tenure | Not fixed (depends on majority) | Fixed (4 years in USA) |
| Dissolution | Lower House can be dissolved | Legislature cannot be dissolved |
| Ministers | Must be members of Parliament | Cannot be members of Legislature |
| Separation of Powers | Fusion of executive & legislature | Strict separation |
Evolution of Parliamentary System in India
Key milestones
Simulation Lab
Parliamentary Process Simulator
🧪 Government Formation & Removal Simulator
Explore different parliamentary scenarios.
Select a scenario to see the parliamentary process.
Exam Booster – Practice Questions
Test your understanding
1 Who is the real head of the Indian government?
The Prime Minister is the real (de facto) head of government. President is the nominal (de jure) head who acts on PM's advice under Article 74.
2 India borrowed its Parliamentary system from:
India borrowed its Parliamentary system (Westminster model) from Britain. Features like Cabinet, PM, collective responsibility, Speaker's role all come from British model.
Memory Hooks & Quick Revision
Key takeaways for exam day
Revision Summary
3 Exam Points to Remember
- 1 Collective responsibility (Art. 75) = Council responsible to Lok Sabha, not Rajya Sabha
- 2 President acts on PM's advice (Art. 74) = 42nd Amdt made it binding; 44th Amdt: can ask reconsideration once
- 3 Lok Sabha dissolved, not Rajya Sabha = RS is permanent house, 1/3 retire every 2 years
"NCDDB" = Nominal vs Real executive, Collective responsibility, Dual executive, Dissolution of LS, Bicameral legislature