Governance Challenges and Reforms in Parliamentary Democracies
Indian Polity & Governance
- PYQs6
- Articles1
Background
UPSC emphasizes good governance, administrative reforms, and the functioning of the Indian parliamentary system (GS2). Understanding challenges in other democracies provides comparative insights into political stability, executive accountability, and the need for ethical leadership, which are crucial for India's own governance framework.
Governance challenges refer to systemic issues that hinder effective administration, policy implementation, and public trust within a political system. In parliamentary democracies, these can manifest as frequent changes in leadership, policy paralysis, ethical lapses within the executive, and difficulties in managing complex socio-economic issues, often leading to public disenchantment.
Facts & tables
- Frequent changes in leadership
- 7 Prime Ministers in a decade, 5 in four years in the UK, indicating political instability.
- Policy failures and mismanagement
- Loss of grip on macroeconomic policy management and botched plans for welfare spending.
- Ethical concerns and scandals
- Government officials accepting gifts and controversial appointments eroding public trust.
- Impact of major national decisions
- Brexit contributing to an 'increasingly ungovernable polity'.
| Type | Reference |
|---|---|
| Conceptual area | Governance |
| Body | Role |
|---|---|
| Executive & Council of Ministers | Faces challenges in effective governance |
Prelims angle
Prelims angle: Conceptual understanding
Prelims angle: Definition-based questions
- Frequent leadership changes signal political instability.
- Policy failures (e.g., macroeconomic) erode public confidence.
- Ethical lapses undermine government legitimacy.
- Major national events can strain governability.
- Reforms are crucial for effective administration and public trust.
| Year | Framing tags |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Statement-based questions, Institutional roles and functions |
| 2025 | Statement-based questions, Institutional roles and functions |
| 2020 | Conceptual understanding, Definition-based questions |
| 2017 | Conceptual understanding, Institutional roles and functions |
| 2017 | Conceptual understanding, Definition-based questions |
| 2015 | Conceptual understanding, Institutional roles and functions |
Timeline
-
Governance
Conceptual area
-
Prelims 2015
Conceptual understanding, Institutional roles and functions
-
Prelims 2017
Conceptual understanding, Institutional roles and functions
-
Prelims 2017
Conceptual understanding, Definition-based questions
-
Prelims 2020
Conceptual understanding, Definition-based questions
-
Prelims 2025
Statement-based questions, Institutional roles and functions
-
Prelims 2025
Statement-based questions, Institutional roles and functions
-
Political minefields: On the new Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
The article highlights the UK's struggle with political instability, policy failures, and ethical lapses under its parliamentary system, underscoring the need for radical governance reforms to restore public trust and effective administration.
See also
Past papers
2015–2020 · 4 questions
In the news
Political minefields: On the new Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
The article highlights the UK's struggle with political instability, policy failures, and ethical lapses under its parliamentary system, underscoring the need for radical governance reforms to restore public trust and effective administration.
Try these PYQs
A Parliamentary System of Government is one in which
Option B is the correct answer. A parliamentary system of government is one in which the executive is responsible to the legislature. This responsibility means that the executive stays in power as long as it enjoys the confidence of the house. The moment the confidence is lost, it can be removed by Parliament by passing the no-confidence motion. This is the same feature which hampers the stability of the parliamentary system. Options A and C are incorrect. Parliamentary system functions irrespective of whether all parties have representation. The government is not directly elected by the people but indirectly through their representative in Parliament. Therefore, the instrument to remove the government through public vote is not available in the parliamentary system; this is a feature found in direct democracies. Option D is incorrect. It goes against the fundamental principle of parliamentary democracy which requires an executive responsible to the legislature. Therefore the correct answer is B.
The main advantage of the parliamentary form of government is that -
The main advantage of a parliamentary form of government is that c) the executive remains responsible to the legislature. [Article 75(c)] Here's why the other options are not the main advantage: a) The executive and legislature actually work closely together in a parliamentary system, as the executive is drawn from the legislature.
b) Continuity of policy can be a benefit, but it's not the main advantage. Parliamentary systems can still be efficient in passing laws.
d) The head of government (Prime Minister) can be changed through a vote of no confidence in the legislature.
There is a Parliamentary System of Government in India because:
(A) is incorrect: Direct election of the lower house is a feature of Representative Democracy. Many Presidential systems (such as the USA) also have directly elected legislatures; therefore, this is not the distinguishing factor of a Parliamentary system. (B) is incorrect: The authority to amend the Constitution is a matter of Constitutional Sovereignty. This power exists in various forms of government, including both Parliamentary and Presidential models. (C) is incorrect: The fact that the Rajya Sabha is a permanent house is a Federal feature intended to maintain the representation of the States. It does not define the relationship between the Executive and the Legislature. (D) is correct: As per Article 75(3) of the Constitution, the Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha. This "Collective Responsibility" is the bedrock of the Parliamentary form of government, as the executive's survival depends on the support of the legislature.
Out of the following statements, choose the one that brings out the principle underlying the Cabinet form of Government:
The Cabinet form of Government is a fundamental feature of a parliamentary system, where the executive (Council of Ministers) is collectively responsible to the legislature. This principle is enshrined in Article 75(3) of the Indian Constitution, which states that the Council of Ministers shall be collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha. Key Aspects of Collective Responsibility: - Decisions of the Cabinet are binding on all ministers and even if they personally disagree, they must publicly support them. - If Parliament passes a vote of no confidence, the entire Council of Ministers, including the Prime Minister, must resign. - This ensures accountability, transparency, and democratic control, preventing arbitrary rule by the executive. Hence, the correct answer is option C.
Consider the following statements:
I. On the dissolution of the House of the People, the Speaker shall not vacate his/her office until immediately before the first meeting of the House of the People after the dissolution.
II. According to the provisions of the Constitution of India, a Member of the House of the People on being elected as Speaker shall resign from his/her political party immediately.
III. The Speaker of the House of the People may be removed from his/her office by a resolution of the House of the People passed by a majority of all the then Members of the House, provided that no resolution shall be moved unless at least fourteen days' notice has been given of the intention to move the resolution.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
✅ Statement I: Correct
The Speaker of Lok Sabha continues in office even after dissolution until just before the new House meets, ensuring continuity (Article 94). ❌ Statement II: Incorrect
No constitutional mandate requires the Speaker to resign from their political party; this is only a convention for impartiality. ✅ Statement III: Correct
The Speaker can be removed by a majority resolution with at least 14 days' prior notice (Article 94). Therefore, statements I and III are correct.
Show 1 more PYQs
Consider the following statements:
I. If any question arises as to whether a Member of the House of the People has become subject to disqualification under the Tenth Schedule, the President’s decision in accordance with the opinion of the Council of Union Ministers shall be final.
II. There is no mention of the word 'political party' in the Constitution of India.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
❌ Statement I: Incorrect
The decision on disqualification under the Tenth Schedule is made by the Speaker or Chairman, not the President or the Union Council of Ministers. ❌ Statement II: Incorrect
The word ‘political party’ is explicitly mentioned in the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution. Therefore, neither statement is correct.