GS 2 Mains Practice Questions: Parliamentary System | Indian Polity for UPSC CSE PDF Download

Question 1: Discuss the constitutional provisions that uphold the principle of executive accountability to the legislature in India’s parliamentary system and their practical challenges. (150 words)

Answer:

Introduction

India’s parliamentary system ensures executive accountability to the legislature, reflecting democratic governance. Constitutional provisions establish this principle, aligning with the Preamble’s democratic ethos. However, practical challenges often hinder their effectiveness.

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Constitutional Provisions

• Article 75(3): The Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha, ensuring the executive answers to elected representatives.

• Article 74: The President acts on the advice of the Council of Ministers, reinforcing executive accountability through parliamentary oversight.

• Question Hour and Motions: Provisions for Question Hour, no-confidence motions, and adjournment motions enable legislative scrutiny of executive actions.

Practical Challenges

• Majority Dominance: A strong ruling majority can suppress opposition scrutiny, weakening accountability.

• Disruptions: Frequent parliamentary adjournments reduce time for debates, limiting oversight.

• Weak Opposition: A fragmented opposition struggles to hold the executive accountable effectively.

Conclusion

Constitutional provisions like Articles 75 and 74 uphold executive accountability in India’s parliamentary system, but challenges like majority dominance and disruptions undermine their efficacy. Strengthening legislative processes is essential for robust accountability.

Question 2: Critically analyze the powers and responsibilities of the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, with reference to recent controversies. (250 words)

Answer:

Introduction

The Speaker of the Lok Sabha, under Article 93, is a pivotal figure in India’s parliamentary system, ensuring its integrity and smooth functioning. The Speaker’s powers and responsibilities maintain legislative order, but recent controversies highlight concerns about impartiality and misuse of authority.

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Powers and Responsibilities

• Presiding Officer: The Speaker conducts Lok Sabha proceedings, maintaining decorum and ensuring fair debates, as per Article 95.

• Disciplinary Powers: Under Rule 374, the Speaker can suspend or expel members for disruptive behavior, preserving parliamentary discipline.

• Deciding Defections: The Speaker adjudicates disqualification under the Tenth Schedule, ensuring political stability by addressing defection cases.

• Casting Vote: In case of a tie, the Speaker’s casting vote (Article 100) resolves deadlocks, influencing critical legislative outcomes.

Recent Controversies

• Defection Rulings: In Manipur (2020), delays in deciding defection cases raised concerns about the Speaker’s impartiality, favoring ruling parties and undermining the Tenth Schedule’s intent.

• Suspension of Members: Mass suspensions of opposition MPs in 2023 for protests disrupted democratic discourse, with critics alleging bias toward the government.

• Adjournment Decisions: Frequent adjournments during contentious debates, like on farm laws (2020), limited scrutiny, questioning the Speaker’s role in facilitating discussion.

Critical Analysis

• Strengths: The Speaker’s powers ensure legislative efficiency and stability, as seen in managing complex sessions and upholding anti-defection laws.

• Challenges: Perceived partisanship, especially in defection rulings and suspensions, erodes trust in the Speaker’s neutrality, weakening parliamentary integrity.

• Judicial Oversight: In Kihoto Hollohan v. Zachillhu (1992), the Supreme Court upheld judicial review of Speaker’s decisions, but delays in rulings persist.

Conclusion

The Speaker’s role is crucial for parliamentary integrity, balancing order and democratic debate. However, controversies over impartiality highlight the need for reforms, like fixed timelines for defection rulings and guidelines for suspensions, to strengthen the parliamentary system.

Question 3: Examine the factors contributing to the decline in parliamentary productivity in India and suggest measures to strengthen legislative functioning. (250 words)

Answer:

Introduction

India’s parliamentary system, designed for robust legislative functioning, faces declining productivity due to frequent disruptions and procedural inefficiencies. This trend undermines democratic governance and public trust. Examining the causes and proposing measures is critical to revitalizing Parliament’s role.

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Factors Contributing to Decline

• Frequent Disruptions: Protests and adjournments, as seen during the 2020 farm law debates, reduce debate time, with Lok Sabha productivity dropping to 74% in 2021 (PRS Legislative Research).

• Polarization: Increasing political rivalry leads to confrontational tactics, stalling bills and delaying policy-making, like the 2023 Parliament security breach protests.

• Weak Opposition Coordination: Fragmented opposition fails to engage constructively, limiting effective scrutiny of government actions.

• Overuse of Ordinances: Bypassing parliamentary debate through ordinances, like the 2020 farm ordinances, weakens legislative authority.

Measures to Strengthen Legislative Functioning

• Structured Debate Time: Enforce minimum debate hours for key bills, ensuring constructive discussions, as recommended by the National Commission to Review the Working of the Constitution (2002).

• Strengthen Committees: Refer more bills to parliamentary committees for detailed scrutiny, enhancing quality, as seen in the GST Bill’s review.

• Anti-Disruption Rules: Implement stricter penalties for disruptions, like automatic suspensions after warnings, to maintain order.

• Digital Tools: Use e-Parliament platforms for virtual sessions and public consultations, improving efficiency and participation.

• Opposition Engagement: Encourage bipartisan forums to foster consensus on critical issues, reducing polarization.

Conclusion

The decline in parliamentary productivity, driven by disruptions, polarization, and procedural gaps, threatens India’s democratic framework. Measures like structured debates, stronger committees, and digital tools can enhance legislative functioning, ensuring Parliament upholds its constitutional role in governance and accountability.

Question 4: Discuss the significance of Question Hour and Zero Hour in ensuring executive accountability and democratic participation in India’s parliamentary system. (150 words)

Answer:

Introduction

Question Hour and Zero Hour are vital mechanisms in India’s parliamentary system, fostering executive accountability and democratic participation. They allow MPs to scrutinize government actions and raise public concerns, aligning with the Preamble’s democratic ethos.

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Significance

• Question Hour: MPs question ministers on policies and administration, as per Lok Sabha Rule 32, ensuring transparency. Starred questions require oral answers, enabling direct accountability, while unstarred ones provide written responses.

• Zero Hour: This informal session (post-Question Hour) allows MPs to raise urgent public issues without prior notice, amplifying diverse voices and pressing concerns, enhancing democratic participation.

• Executive Accountability: Both mechanisms compel the government to justify actions, as seen in debates on economic policies or security issues.

Challenges

• Disruptions: Frequent adjournments reduce time for these sessions, limiting their effectiveness.

• Limited Scope: Zero Hour’s informal nature restricts follow-up actions.

Conclusion

Question Hour and Zero Hour strengthen executive accountability and democratic participation by enabling legislative scrutiny and public representation. Minimizing disruptions is key to maximizing their impact.

Question 5: Critically evaluate the impact of the anti-defection law under the Tenth Schedule on Indian democracy, addressing its aim of ensuring stability while facing criticism for curbing dissent. (250 words)

Answer:

Introduction

The anti-defection law, introduced via the Tenth Schedule (52nd Amendment, 1985), aims to ensure political stability in India’s parliamentary system by preventing MPs and MLAs from switching parties. While it promotes stability, critics argue it stifles dissent, impacting democratic principles. This evaluation examines its effects.

Objectives and Provisions

• Stability: The law disqualifies legislators for defying party whips or voluntarily leaving their party, ensuring government stability, especially in coalition politics.

• Exceptions: Mergers of parties (two-thirds majority) or resignations are exempt, providing limited flexibility.

Positive Impacts

• Government Stability: The law reduces floor-crossing, stabilizing governments, as seen in preventing frequent defections in the 1980s.

• Party Discipline: It strengthens party cohesion, enabling consistent policy implementation, aligning with parliamentary system norms.

• Judicial Clarity: In Kihoto Hollohan v. Zachillhu (1992), the Supreme Court upheld its constitutionality, subjecting Speaker’s decisions to judicial review, enhancing accountability.

Criticisms and Negative Impacts

• Curbing Dissent: The law restricts legislators’ freedom to vote per conscience, undermining Article 19’s free speech, as MPs must follow party lines even on contentious issues.

• Speaker’s Bias: Delays or partisan rulings by Speakers, as in Manipur (2020), erode trust in the law’s impartiality.

• Encouraging Defections: Loopholes like resignations or engineered mergers allow strategic defections, as seen in Karnataka (2019), undermining stability.

Critical Evaluation

• Balancing Act: While stability is crucial, curbing dissent risks weakening democratic deliberation, especially in diverse coalitions.

• Reform Needs: Fixed timelines for Speaker’s decisions and excluding whips on non-confidence motions could balance stability with freedom.

Conclusion

The anti-defection law strengthens stability in India’s parliamentary system but limits democratic dissent and faces implementation flaws. Reforms to ensure impartiality and protect legislators’ conscience are essential to align it with India’s democratic ethos.

Question 6: Analyze the role of the parliamentary committee system in enhancing policy scrutiny and suggest reforms to improve its effectiveness. (150 words)

Answer:

Introduction

The parliamentary committee system in India, established under Articles 105 and 118, is a cornerstone of legislative oversight, enhancing policy scrutiny. These committees strengthen democratic governance, but reforms are needed to boost their effectiveness.

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Role in Policy Scrutiny

• Detailed Examination: Standing and ad hoc committees, like the Public Accounts Committee, scrutinize bills and budgets, ensuring informed legislation, as seen in GST Bill reviews.

• Executive Accountability: They hold ministries accountable, reviewing performance and policies, aligning with Article 75’s accountability principle.

• Consensus Building: Committees foster bipartisan dialogue, reducing polarization and improving policy quality.

Suggested Reforms

• Mandatory Referrals: Mandate bill referrals to committees to avoid rushed legislation, as seen with farm laws (2020).

• Expert Inclusion: Involve external experts for technical inputs, enhancing scrutiny.

• Public Access: Streamline committee reports for public transparency, boosting democratic participation.

Conclusion

Parliamentary committees are vital for robust policy scrutiny and executive oversight. Reforms like mandatory referrals and transparency can enhance their effectiveness, strengthening India’s parliamentary democracy.