Sure Shot Questions: Executive | Political Science Class 11 - Humanities/Arts PDF Download

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Introduction

The chapter "The Executive" from Class 11 Political Science explores the structure, functions, and significance of the executive in India’s parliamentary system. It distinguishes between the political executive (President, Prime Minister, Council of Ministers) and the permanent executive (civil services), highlighting their roles in policymaking, implementation, and governance. By analysing previous year question papers, we’ve identified recurring question types and patterns that align with CBSE’s exam framework. Based on these trends and the syllabus’s emphasis, we’ve compiled a list of the most probable questions likely to appear in the upcoming exam. These predictions are rooted in the frequency and style of past questions, ensuring focused preparation. 

Key Questions

Q1: Explain the role of the Governor in a state and two discretionary powers they exercise.
Ans: The Governor is the nominal head of a state, appointed by the President, and performs executive, legislative, and judicial functions. They act as a link between the state and central government. Discretionary powers include:  

• Appointing the Chief Minister when no party has a clear majority.  
• Recommending President’s Rule under Article 356 if the state’s constitutional machinery fails.

Q2: Highlight two criticisms of the Indian bureaucracy and their impact on governance.
Ans:  

• Insensitivity to Public Needs: Bureaucracy is often criticized for being unresponsive, leading to delays and inefficiency in public service delivery.  
• Red Tape and Corruption: Excessive procedural delays and corruption hinder effective policy implementation, reducing public trust in governance.

Q3: Discuss the increasing role of the executive in modern states and its implications.
Ans: The executive’s role has grown due to the welfare state’s demands, globalization, and complex governance needs. It influences policymaking, implementation, and appointments across legislative, financial, and judicial domains. This expansion enhances efficiency but risks over-centralization, necessitating democratic checks to prevent authoritarianism and ensure accountability.

Q4: Explain why India adopted a parliamentary system of government. 
Ans: India adopted a parliamentary system due to its prior experience under the Government of India Acts of 1919 and 1935, which demonstrated effective legislative control over the executive. The system ensures accountability to the legislature, responsiveness to public needs, and mechanisms to prevent authoritarianism. It also avoids a personality cult by distributing power between the nominal President and the real executive led by the Prime Minister.

Q5: Describe the process of appointing the Prime Minister of India. 
Ans: The Prime Minister is appointed by the President, who invites the leader of the majority party or coalition in the Lok Sabha to form the government after elections. If no clear majority exists, the President uses discretion to select a leader capable of securing majority support. The appointed leader takes the oath of office, ensuring stable governance.

Q6: What is the principle of collective responsibility in the parliamentary system, and why is it significant?
Ans: Collective responsibility means that the Council of Ministers is collectively accountable to the Lok Sabha, and if a no-confidence motion is passed against any minister, the entire council must resign. This principle ensures cabinet unity, promotes cohesive decision-making, and maintains accountability to the legislature, preventing individual ministers from acting against collective decisions.

Q7: Discuss two key functions of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). 
Ans:  

• Recruitment: UPSC conducts competitive exams and interviews to recruit civil servants for All India Services and Central Services, ensuring merit-based selections.  
• Advisory Role: It advises the government on matters related to recruitment, promotions, and disciplinary actions for civil servants.

Q8: Compare the powers of the Indian Prime Minister with those of the US President. 
Ans:  

• Indian Prime Minister: Leads the Council of Ministers, depends on Lok Sabha majority, and can be removed by a no-confidence vote. Their power is collective, influenced by party dynamics.  
• US President: Elected for a fixed term, exercises independent executive powers, and cannot be removed easily except through impeachment. They have greater unilateral decision-making authority but face Senate checks.  
• Differences: The Prime Minister’s tenure is uncertain, while the President’s is fixed. The Prime Minister relies on parliamentary support, whereas the President operates independently of Congress.

Q9: Explain the composition and functions of the Council of Ministers in India.
Ans: The Council of Ministers, led by the Prime Minister, is appointed by the President and includes Cabinet Ministers, Ministers of State, and Deputy Ministers, not exceeding 15% of Lok Sabha’s strength. Functions include:  

• Formulating and implementing government policies.  
• Advising the President and ensuring collective responsibility to the Lok Sabha.  
• Coordinating administrative, legislative, and financial activities.

Q10: Describe the appointment and key functions of the Chief Minister in a state.
Ans: The Chief Minister is appointed by the Governor, typically the leader of the majority party in the state assembly. If no clear majority exists, the Governor uses discretion. Key functions include:  

• Leading the state’s Council of Ministers and formulating policies.  
• Acting as a link between the state government and the Governor, and representing the state in central government interactions.

Q11: Discuss the legislative powers of the President of India and their significance in the parliamentary system.
Ans: The President’s legislative powers include:  

• Summoning and proroguing Parliament sessions.  
• Giving assent to bills or returning them (except Money Bills) for reconsideration.  
• Issuing ordinances when Parliament is not in session.  
• Dissolving the Lok Sabha.

Significance: These powers ensure the President’s role as a constitutional check, maintaining balance in the legislative process, though exercised on the Council of Ministers’ advice.

Q12: Read the passage below and answer the questions that follow:
Passage: The President of India is the nominal head of state, with powers exercised on the advice of the Council of Ministers. The President is elected indirectly by an electoral college and serves a five-year term. They can be removed through impeachment for constitutional violations.
(i) How is the President of India elected? 
(ii) What is one method to remove the President?
(iii) Why is the President considered a nominal head? 
Ans:
(i) The President is elected indirectly by an electoral college of elected MPs and MLAs through proportional representation using a single transferable vote.
(ii) The President can be removed through impeachment, requiring a two-thirds majority in Parliament.
(iii) The President is a nominal head because their powers are exercised on the advice of the Council of Ministers, led by the Prime Minister.

Q13: Read the passage below and answer the questions that follow:
Passage: The Prime Minister is the real executive in India’s parliamentary system, appointed by the President. The Prime Minister leads the Council of Ministers, which is collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha. Their powers include policymaking, appointments, and representing India internationally.
(i) Who appoints the Prime Minister? 
(ii) What are two key powers of the Prime Minister? 
(iii) What does collective responsibility mean? 
Ans:
(i) The President appoints the Prime Minister.
(ii) Powers:  

• Formulating government policies and leading the Council of Ministers.  
• Making key appointments, such as ministers and governors.

(iii) Collective responsibility means the Council of Ministers is jointly accountable to the Lok Sabha, and a no-confidence vote against one minister leads to the entire council’s resignation.

Q14: Read the passage below and answer the questions that follow:
Passage: The Indian bureaucracy, part of the permanent executive, is recruited through the UPSC and SPSCs. It plays a vital role in policy implementation but faces criticism for inefficiency and insensitivity to public needs, impacting governance quality.
(i) Which bodies recruit the Indian bureaucracy?
(ii) What are two roles of the bureaucracy in governance? 
(iii) Why is the bureaucracy criticized? 
Ans:
(i) The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) and State Public Service Commissions (SPSCs).
(ii) Roles:  

• Implementing government policies and programs.  
• Advising the political executive on administrative matters.

(iii) It is criticized for inefficiency and insensitivity to public needs, causing delays and reduced trust.

Q15: Read the passage below and answer the questions that follow:
Passage: The Governor, appointed by the President, is the nominal head of a state, overseeing executive and legislative functions. They have discretionary powers, such as recommending President’s Rule, which can impact state governance during crises.
(i) Who appoints the Governor? 
(ii) What are two functions of the Governor?
(iii) What is one discretionary power of the Governor? 
Ans:
(i) The President appoints the Governor.
(ii) Functions:  

• Appointing the Chief Minister and state ministers.  
• Giving assent to state bills to make them laws.

(iii) Recommending President’s Rule under Article 356 during a constitutional crisis.

Important Topics

• Types of Executive: Political vs. permanent, parliamentary vs. presidential, nominal vs. real.
• President’s Role: Election, impeachment, executive, legislative, judicial, and emergency powers.
• Prime Minister’s Role: Appointment, leadership of the Council of Ministers, policymaking, and international representation.
• Council of Ministers: Composition, collective responsibility, and functions in governance.
• Governor and Chief Minister: Appointment, roles, and discretionary powers at the state level.
• Civil Services: Role of UPSC and SPSCs in recruitment, bureaucracy’s functions, and criticisms.
• Parliamentary System: Features, advantages, and comparison with the presidential system.

Preparation Tips

• Memorize Key Facts: Learn the President’s election process, Prime Minister’s appointment, and UPSC/SPSC roles.
• Understand Powers: Focus on the President’s legislative, executive, and discretionary powers, and the Prime Minister’s leadership roles.
• Practice Passage-Based Questions: Solve questions on executive functions, collective responsibility, and bureaucracy to build analytical skills.
• Compare Systems: Study differences between parliamentary and presidential systems, using India and the US as examples.
• Revise Bureaucracy’s Role: Create a chart summarizing UPSC/SPSC functions and criticisms of bureaucracy.
• Focus on State-Level Executive: Study the Governor’s and Chief Minister’s roles for state-specific questions.
• Use Mnemonics: For example, remember the President’s pardoning powers with “PR3C” (Pardon, Reprieve, Remit, Respite, Commute).