NCERT Solutions for Class 11 Political Science - Executive

Q1:A parliamentary executive means:
(a) Executive where there is a parliament
(b) Executive elected by the parliament
(c) Where the parliament functions as the Executive
(d) Executive that is dependent on support of the majority in the parliament
Ans: (d)

Q2: Read this dialogue. Which argument do you agree with? Why?
Amit: Looking at the constitutional provisions, it seems that the President is only a rubber stamp.
Shama: The President appoints the Prime Minister. So, he must have the powers to remove the Prime Minister as well.
Rajesh: We don't need a President. After the election, the Parliament can meet and elect a leader to be the Prime Minister.
Ans:
We agree with the dialogue of Shama because the office of the President of India is the office of respect and nominal supremacy. He is not only a rubber stamp but he can use his discretionary power at the appointment of the Prime Minister in case of no single party gets majority. The Council of Ministers is answerable to the people. As soon as the council loses the confidence of the lower house it falls automatically. Hence, no need to remove the Prime Minister by the President.

Q3: Match the following

Ans:

Q4: Identify the ministry which may have released the following news items. Would this be a ministry of the central government or the State government? Why?
(a) An official release said that in 2004-05 the Tamil Nadu Textbooks Corporation would release new versions for standards VII, X and XI.
(b) A new railway loop line bypassing the crowded Tiruvallur-Chennai section to help iron ore exporters. The new line, likely to be about 80 km long, will branch off at Puttur and then reach Athipattu near the port.
(c) The three-member sub-divisional committee formed to verify suicide by farmers in Ramayampet mandal has found that the two farmers who committed suicide this month have had economic problems due to failure of crops.
Ans:
(a) Ministry of Human Resource Development or Education department, State Government. This is because the textbooks related to the education in a particular state are published by the government of that state.
(b) Ministry of Railways, Central Government. This is because the railway sector is an all India organisation that is managed by the central government.
(c) Ministry of Agriculture, State Government. This is because agriculture at the sub-divisional level is supervised by the agricultural department of the state government.

Q5: While appointing the Prime Minister, the President selects
(a) Leader of the largest party in the Lok Sabha
(b) Leader of the largest party in the alliance which secures a majority in the Lok Sabha
(c) The leader of the largest party in the Rajya Sabha
(d) Leader of the alliance or party that has the support of the majority in Lok Sabha
Ans: (d)

Q6: Read this discussion and say which of these statements applies most to India.
Alok: Prime Minister is like a king, he decides everything in our country.
Shekhar: Prime Minister is only 'first among equals', he does not have any special powers. All ministers and the PM have similar powers.
Bobby: Prime Minister has to consider the expectations of the party members and other supporters of the government. But after all, the Prime Minister has a greater say in policy making and in choosing the ministers.
Ans: Prime Minister has to consider the expectations of the party members and other supporters of the government. But after all, the Prime Minister has a greater say in policy making and in choosing the ministers.
The statement by Bobby applies most to India as the Prime Minister of India heads the executive and is accountable to the legislature at the same time.

Q7: Why do you think is the advice of the Council of Ministers binding on the President? Give your answer in not more than 100 words.
Ans: 

The advice of the Council of Ministers is binding on the President because:

• The President is the formal head of the government in a parliamentary system.
• Article 74(1) states that there will be a council of ministers as a head to aid and advise the President.
• President will act in accordance with such advice by the council.
• After reconsideration, the President will act in accordance with the advice.

Q8: The parliamentary system of executive vests many powers in the legislature for controlling the executive. Why, do you think, is it so necessary to control the executive?
Ans: 

• In a parliamentary system, the Prime Minister is the head of the government alongwith the President as a nominal head of the government
• The executive is responsible to the parliament and holds powers till it enjoys the confidence of the parliament.
• It is necessary to ensure the sensitivity towards public expectations and accountability to the needs and aspirations of the people.

Q9: It is said that there is too much political interference in the working of the administrative machinery. It is suggested that there should be more and more autonomous agencies which do not have to answer to the ministers.
(a) Do you think this will make administration more people-friendly?
(b) Do you think this will make administration more efficient?
(c) Does democracy mean full control of elected representatives over the administration?
Ans:
(a) This will not make administration more people-friendly as it would function arbitrarily and thus, lose accountability without checks and balances.
(b) This will not make administration more efficient as it would lead to non compliance of bureaucratic executives with government policies. Thus, it would lead to contradiction of the bureaucracy with the objectives of the government. Efficiency in this situation is not valid as social welfare would be compromised.
(c) Democracy does not mean full control of elected representatives over the administration. The task of elected representatives is to make laws and keep the administration accountable. Administration is a specialised task that is best handled by the administrative machinery. Therefore, it requires a certain degree of autonomy to carry out its task.

Q10: Write an essay of two hundred words on the proposal to have an elected administration instead of an appointed administration.
Ans:
An elected administration in place of an appointed administration would be harmful because an elected administration will have instability to implement the different policies whereas the appointed administration is selected on the basis of merit to handle the welfare policies of the government in an effective manner alongwith full knowledge and practical approach of their concerned departments. Hence, the appointed administration is more efficient and capable to implement and perform the developmental functions. An appointed administration will also be able to perform the functions of planning and social welfare.