CBSE Class 11 Political Science Extra Question Answers for Chapter 4 Executive

Admin-Vijay

1 week ago

Question 1:
What is the executive? Explain the structure of the executive in India.

Answer:
The executive is the branch of government responsible for implementing and enforcing laws and policies. It plays a crucial role in the governance process. In India, the structure of the executive is dual:

The President: The nominal executive, representing the country at the national level.
The Prime Minister: The real executive, heading the government and directing the functions of the Council of Ministers.
Council of Ministers: This includes the Cabinet, Ministers of State, and Deputy Ministers, who assist the Prime Minister in governing the country.

Together, the President, Prime Minister, and Council of Ministers form the executive. The President’s role is largely ceremonial, while the Prime Minister and Cabinet play the central role in day-to-day governance.

Question 2:
Discuss the powers and functions of the President of India.

Answer:
The President of India holds several important powers and functions:

Executive Powers: The President appoints the Prime Minister, members of the Council of Ministers, and other officials. The President also appoints the Governors of States.
Legislative Powers: The President summons and prorogues sessions of Parliament and can dissolve the Lok Sabha. The President’s assent is required for a bill to become law.
Judicial Powers: The President appoints judges to the Supreme Court and High Courts. They can also grant pardons, reprieves, and remissions.
Military Powers: The President is the supreme commander of the Indian Armed Forces.
Diplomatic Powers: The President represents India in international forums, signs treaties and agreements, and receives foreign dignitaries.
Emergency Powers: The President can declare National, State, and Financial emergencies, giving them extraordinary powers during crises.

Despite these powers, the President’s role is largely ceremonial, as real power lies with the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers.

Question 3:
Explain the office of the Prime Minister of India and his powers.

Answer:
The Prime Minister of India is the head of government and the chief executive officer of the country. The Prime Minister holds substantial powers:

Leader of the Executive: As the leader of the Council of Ministers, the Prime Minister is responsible for the implementation of policies and decisions.
Appointment Powers: The Prime Minister appoints other ministers, allocates portfolios, and can recommend their dismissal to the President.
Decision-making Authority: The Prime Minister plays a key role in shaping national policies and making decisions on critical issues.
Leader of the Lok Sabha: The Prime Minister is typically the leader of the majority party in the Lok Sabha and is responsible for ensuring government legislation is passed.
Adviser to the President: The Prime Minister acts as the chief adviser to the President on matters of government formation and key policy decisions.

The Prime Minister is central to the political and administrative system, steering the government’s agenda.

Question 4:
What is the role of the Council of Ministers in the Indian executive?

Answer:
The Council of Ministers assists the Prime Minister in the administration of government. It consists of:

Cabinet Ministers: The senior-most ministers, responsible for significant portfolios like Home, Finance, Defence, etc.
Ministers of State: Junior ministers who assist Cabinet Ministers in specific areas of governance.
Deputy Ministers: Further junior ministers who support their senior colleagues in the executive.

The Council of Ministers is collectively responsible for the government’s actions and decisions. They formulate policies, make important decisions on national matters, and are collectively accountable to the Lok Sabha. The Prime Minister plays a central role in guiding the Council’s activities.

Question 5:
Discuss the collective responsibility of the Council of Ministers in India.

Answer:
The principle of collective responsibility of the Council of Ministers means that all members of the Council are collectively responsible for the decisions made by the government. This means:

Collective Accountability: If the government loses a vote of confidence in the Lok Sabha, all members, including the Prime Minister, are held accountable.
Unity of Action: Ministers must publicly support government decisions, even if they disagree privately.
Dissolution of the Council: If the Prime Minister resigns or if the government loses the majority support in the Lok Sabha, the entire Council of Ministers is dismissed.

This system ensures that the government acts as a cohesive unit and maintains the confidence of the legislature.

Question 6:
How is the Prime Minister of India appointed?

Answer:
The Prime Minister of India is appointed by the President of India. However, the process is based on certain conventions:

Majority Party: The President invites the leader of the party (or coalition) that has secured the majority in the Lok Sabha after general elections.
Confidence of the Lok Sabha: The appointed Prime Minister must prove their majority support in the Lok Sabha by securing a vote of confidence.
No Fixed Term: The Prime Minister’s tenure is not fixed but lasts as long as they maintain the majority support in the Lok Sabha.

While the President formally appoints the Prime Minister, the process follows democratic principles and conventions.

Question 7:
What is the concept of ‘Dual Executive’ in India? Explain.

Answer:
The concept of a Dual Executive in India refers to the distinction between the nominal executive (the President) and the real executive (the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers).

Nominal Executive (President): The President is the formal head of state but exercises powers mainly on the advice of the real executive. The President’s powers are largely ceremonial.
Real Executive (Prime Minister and Council of Ministers): The Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers are responsible for the functioning of the government. They make decisions on policy, legislation, and administration.

This distinction ensures a balance of power and separation of ceremonial functions from administrative responsibilities.

Question 8:
Explain the role of the Cabinet in the Indian executive system.

Answer:
The Cabinet is the most important part of the Council of Ministers, comprising senior ministers responsible for critical portfolios such as Finance, Home Affairs, Defence, etc. Its role includes:

Formulation of Policies: The Cabinet discusses and formulates policies on key national issues such as the economy, foreign relations, and defense.
Decision-making: The Cabinet collectively decides on all major decisions. Every member must support the decisions, even if they disagree personally.
Implementation of Laws: The Cabinet ensures that laws passed by Parliament are effectively implemented.
Representing the Government: Cabinet Ministers represent the government’s views and policies to the public and Parliament.

The Cabinet is central to the Indian executive system and plays a vital role in the day-to-day governance of the country.

Question 9:
What are the discretionary powers of the President of India?

Answer:
While the President’s role is largely ceremonial, the President possesses certain discretionary powers:

Appointment of Prime Minister: If no party has a clear majority after elections, the President can appoint the Prime Minister based on their judgment of who is most likely to command the majority support in the Lok Sabha.
Dissolution of Lok Sabha: The President has the discretion to dissolve the Lok Sabha and call for fresh elections when advised by the Prime Minister.
Governor Appointments: The President has discretion in appointing Governors, especially in situations where political instability exists at the state level.
Emergency Powers: In cases of national or state emergencies, the President can exercise emergency powers, such as declaring a National Emergency or imposing President’s Rule in states.

These powers, though exercised rarely, provide the President with a degree of independence in decision-making.

Question 10:
What is the difference between the Parliamentary and Presidential system of government?

Answer:
The Parliamentary system and Presidential system of government differ in the structure and functioning of the executive:

Parliamentary System (India):
- The executive (Prime Minister and Council of Ministers) is derived from and accountable to the legislature (Parliament).
- The head of state (President) is separate from the head of government (Prime Minister).
- The Prime Minister is elected from the majority party in the legislature.
- There is close cooperation between the legislature and the executive.
Presidential System:
- The executive (President) is elected directly by the people and is independent of the legislature.
- The President serves as both the head of state and head of government.
- The President does not need the legislature’s confidence to remain in power.

India follows the Parliamentary system, which ensures close integration between the executive and the legislature.

Question 11:
How is the Prime Minister’s leadership critical in the Indian executive system?

Answer:
The Prime Minister plays a crucial role in the Indian executive system:

Head of Government: The Prime Minister leads the government, setting its agenda and overseeing the implementation of policies.
Leader of the Majority Party: The Prime Minister is typically the leader of the party with the majority in the Lok Sabha, ensuring legislative support.
Adviser to the President: The Prime Minister advises the President on various matters of governance and appointments.
Leader of the Cabinet: The Prime Minister heads the Cabinet, guiding policy decisions and ensuring coordination among ministers.

The Prime Minister’s leadership is central to both the functioning of the government and the overall political system.

Question 12:
What are the various functions of the executive in India?

Answer:
The executive in India performs several functions:

Law Enforcement: The executive is responsible for enforcing laws and policies formulated by the legislature.
Policy Formulation: The executive, especially the Prime Minister and Cabinet, formulates policies related to national welfare.
Foreign Affairs and Defense: The executive handles India’s relations with other countries and is responsible for national defense.
Administration of Justice: The executive oversees the judicial appointments and ensures the implementation of judicial decisions.
Emergency Powers: In times of crisis, the executive can declare a national emergency or impose President’s Rule in states.

These functions ensure the effective operation of government and governance.

Question 13:
What is the role of the Vice President in India?

Answer:
The Vice President of India serves as the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha and plays an important role in the functioning of the Parliament. Key functions include:

Presiding Officer of Rajya Sabha: The Vice President oversees the sessions of the Rajya Sabha, ensuring order during debates and casting the deciding vote in case of a tie.
Acting President: In the absence or incapacity of the President, the Vice President can perform the functions of the President.
Adviser to the President: The Vice President acts as an informal adviser to the President on political matters.

The Vice President’s role is largely functional, assisting in the smooth conduct of parliamentary proceedings.

Question 14:
What is the concept of ‘coalition government’ in India?

Answer:
A coalition government is formed when no single political party has a clear majority in the Lok Sabha, and multiple parties join together to form a government. In India:

Coalition Formation: Different political parties, often with differing ideologies, come together to form a government by sharing power.
Leadership: The leader of the largest party in the coalition becomes the Prime Minister.
Stability: Coalition governments are often unstable due to differing party ideologies, and can collapse if there is disagreement among coalition partners.

Coalition governments are common in India due to the multi-party system, and require cooperation and compromise among various parties.

Question 15:
How does the executive ensure the functioning of democracy in India?

Answer:
The executive in India plays a key role in ensuring the functioning of democracy:

Law Implementation: The executive ensures that laws made by the legislature are properly implemented, maintaining the rule of law.
Policy Formulation: The executive formulates policies that impact various sectors like health, education, and economy, reflecting the needs of the people.
Accountability: The executive is accountable to the legislature (Parliament) and must maintain its confidence for survival in office.
Public Services: The executive ensures the delivery of public services like healthcare, education, and infrastructure, critical to democratic governance.

Question 16:
Explain the relationship between the executive and legislature in India.

Answer:
In India, the relationship between the executive and the legislature is characterized by cooperation and dependence. This is a feature of the Parliamentary System:

Collective Responsibility: The executive (Prime Minister and Council of Ministers) is accountable to the legislature (Lok Sabha). If the government loses a vote of confidence in the Lok Sabha, the entire government must resign.
Legislative Support for the Executive: The executive requires the support of the majority in the Lok Sabha to stay in power. The Prime Minister is typically the leader of the majority party in Parliament.
Law Making Process: The legislature is responsible for making laws, but the executive plays a role in proposing laws and ensuring their enforcement.
Checks and Balances: While the executive implements laws, the legislature scrutinizes and holds the executive accountable for its actions.

The executive and legislature work together to maintain democratic governance, with checks and balances ensuring accountability.

Question 17:
What are the powers of the Indian Prime Minister in times of crisis?

Answer:
During times of crisis, the Prime Minister of India holds significant powers to ensure governance continues smoothly:

National Security: The Prime Minister has the authority to take immediate decisions regarding national security, such as military action or national defense strategies.
Advising the President: The Prime Minister can advise the President to declare a National Emergency under Article 352, which grants the executive more powers to deal with emergencies.
Cabinet Meetings: In times of crisis, the Prime Minister can call emergency meetings of the Cabinet to discuss and decide on the necessary course of action.
Centralization of Power: The Prime Minister can take unilateral decisions in urgent situations, particularly if there is no time to consult the Cabinet or legislature.

The Prime Minister’s leadership is crucial in ensuring stability and quick decision-making during a crisis.

Question 18:
What is the significance of the Prime Minister’s role in foreign policy?

Answer:
The Prime Minister of India plays a central role in shaping the country’s foreign policy. The significance includes:

Policy Formulation: The Prime Minister, in consultation with the Cabinet and relevant experts, determines India’s approach to international issues, such as diplomacy, trade relations, and defense.
Representation of India: The Prime Minister represents India on the global stage, meeting foreign leaders, attending international summits, and signing treaties.
Adviser to the President: The Prime Minister advises the President on all foreign policy matters, including decisions to declare war or peace.
Strategic Alliances: The Prime Minister’s leadership is key in forming strategic international alliances, such as economic partnerships, defense pacts, and participation in global organizations like the UN.

Through these roles, the Prime Minister ensures that India’s foreign policy aligns with its national interests and global standing.

Question 19:
What is the concept of ‘Judicial Review’ and how does it relate to the executive?

Answer:
Judicial review is the power of the judiciary to review the actions and decisions of the executive and legislature to ensure that they comply with the Constitution. The relationship between judicial review and the executive includes:

Constitutional Compliance: The judiciary can examine whether executive actions, such as decisions or laws passed by the government, are in accordance with constitutional principles.
Limits of Executive Power: Judicial review places limits on the executive’s powers, ensuring they do not exceed constitutional bounds or violate fundamental rights.
Protection of Rights: The judiciary can invalidate executive orders that infringe upon the fundamental rights of citizens, thereby safeguarding individual freedoms.
Checks and Balances: Judicial review acts as a check on the executive’s power, preventing arbitrary or unconstitutional decisions from being enforced.

This ensures that the executive remains within its constitutional limits and operates within the framework of democracy and rule of law.

Question 20:
How does the executive ensure the implementation of the law in India?

Answer:
The executive ensures the implementation of laws in India through various mechanisms:

Administrative Agencies: The government sets up administrative agencies such as police, bureaucrats, and regulatory bodies that carry out day-to-day enforcement of laws.
Policy Implementation: The executive, led by the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, formulates detailed policies to execute the laws passed by the legislature.
Coordination with States: Since India is a federal system, the executive works in coordination with state governments to ensure that national laws are effectively implemented at the state level.
Judicial Support: The executive also works in collaboration with the judiciary to ensure that court orders are enforced and constitutional provisions are upheld.

Through these mechanisms, the executive ensures that laws are enforced and societal norms are maintained across the country.

Question 21:
What is the role of the Union Cabinet in the Indian executive system?

Answer:
The Union Cabinet is a key component of the Indian executive, and its role includes:

Policy Formulation: The Cabinet formulates national policies, particularly on matters of economic development, defense, foreign relations, and domestic issues.
Decision-making: The Cabinet makes major decisions on issues affecting the country. It acts collectively on important matters, with the Prime Minister at its head.
Administration: The Cabinet coordinates the work of various ministries and ensures that laws and policies are implemented.
Cabinet Committees: It forms committees for more specific tasks, such as the Cabinet Committee on Security or Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, to streamline decision-making.

The Union Cabinet plays an essential role in shaping the country’s direction and ensuring that the executive fulfills its duties effectively.

Question 22:
What is the role of the President in the Indian Parliament system?

Answer:
The President of India has a ceremonial role in the Parliamentary system but holds several important functions:

Summoning and Proroguing Sessions: The President summons and prorogues sessions of Parliament and can dissolve the Lok Sabha when required.
Assent to Bills: For a bill to become a law, it must receive the President’s assent. However, this is largely a formality as the President generally acts on the advice of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.
Addressing Parliament: The President addresses the joint session of Parliament at the beginning of each year to outline the government’s policies.
Special Powers: The President can send back certain bills for reconsideration, particularly those that affect the federal structure or fundamental rights.

The President’s role in Parliament is to ensure the proper functioning of the legislative process and the smooth conduct of democratic activities.

Question 23:
What are the qualifications required to become the Prime Minister of India?

Answer:
The qualifications to become the Prime Minister of India are:

Member of Parliament: The Prime Minister must be a member of either the Lok Sabha or the Rajya Sabha. If not already a member, they must get elected to the Lok Sabha within six months of assuming office.
Majority Support: The Prime Minister must be able to command a majority in the Lok Sabha to form the government.
Age Requirement: The Prime Minister must be at least 25 years old (if a member of the Lok Sabha) or 30 years old (if a member of the Rajya Sabha).
Citizenship: The Prime Minister must be an Indian citizen.

These qualifications ensure that the Prime Minister is capable of leading the country with the necessary experience, support, and legal standing.

Question 24:
What is the concept of ‘Secularism’ in relation to the Indian executive?

Answer:
Secularism in India means that the state does not favor any particular religion and ensures equal treatment for all religions. The role of the executive in upholding secularism includes:

Policy Making: The executive is responsible for formulating policies that respect and uphold the principle of secularism, ensuring that government decisions do not promote or discriminate against any religion.
Equal Rights: The executive ensures that laws and policies protect the rights of individuals from all religious backgrounds, ensuring equality before the law.
Protection of Religious Freedom: The executive works to protect citizens’ rights to practice, propagate, and profess any religion, as guaranteed by the Constitution.
Inter-religious Harmony: The executive plays a role in promoting peace and harmony among different religious communities, which is crucial for maintaining national unity.

The Indian executive is therefore tasked with maintaining the secular character of the state and ensuring that all citizens have the freedom to practice their religion.

Question 25:
What are the challenges faced by the executive in India?

Answer:
The executive in India faces several challenges:

Political Instability: Coalition politics often leads to unstable governments, making decision-making and policy implementation difficult.
Bureaucratic Hurdles: The executive often faces challenges from a slow-moving and inefficient bureaucracy, which can delay the implementation of policies.
Corruption: Corruption within the executive, particularly among officials and politicians, hampers effective governance and erodes public trust.
Coordination between States and Center: The federal structure of India often leads to conflicts and inefficiencies in coordination between state and central governments.
Economic Disparities: The executive faces difficulties in managing India’s vast economic disparities and ensuring equitable growth across regions and communities.

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