Ministerial Responsibility and Executive Accountability
Indian Polity & Governance
- PYQs8
- Articles1
Background
This is a fundamental principle of Indian polity, crucial for understanding the relationship between the executive and legislature, and the checks and balances inherent in the parliamentary system.
Ministerial responsibility is a cornerstone of parliamentary democracy, ensuring that the executive (Council of Ministers) is accountable to the legislature. It encompasses both collective responsibility (to the Lok Sabha) and individual responsibility (to the President, on the advice of the Prime Minister).
Facts & tables
- Collective Responsibility (Art. 75(3))
- The Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha, meaning they stand or fall together.
- Individual Responsibility (Art. 75(2))
- Ministers hold office during the pleasure of the President, implying individual accountability for their departmental actions.
- Mechanism of Accountability
- Parliament exercises control through questions, discussions, motions (e.g., no-confidence), and debates.
- Implications
- A minister is responsible for the acts of their department; a vote of no-confidence against one minister implies against the entire council.
| Type | Reference |
|---|---|
| Conceptual area | Indian Polity & Governance |
| Body | Role |
|---|---|
| Council of Ministers | Is accountable |
| Lok Sabha | Holds accountable |
Prelims angle
Prelims angle: Factual recall
Prelims angle: Institutional roles and functions
- Cornerstone of parliamentary democracy.
- Collective responsibility to Lok Sabha (Art. 75(3)).
- Individual responsibility to President (Art. 75(2)).
- Ensures executive accountability to legislature.
- Resignation demands are a manifestation of this principle.
| Year | Framing tags |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis |
| 2025 | Statement-based questions, Conceptual understanding |
| 2024 | Multi-statement analysis, Institutional roles and functions |
| 2022 | Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall |
| 2022 | Factual recall, Institutional roles and functions |
| 2021 | Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis |
| 2013 | Multi-statement analysis, Conceptual understanding |
| 2013 | Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall |
Timeline
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Indian Polity & Governance
Conceptual area
-
Prelims 2013
Multi-statement analysis, Conceptual understanding
-
Prelims 2013
Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall
-
Prelims 2021
Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis
-
Prelims 2022
Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall
-
Prelims 2022
Factual recall, Institutional roles and functions
-
Prelims 2024
Multi-statement analysis, Institutional roles and functions
-
Prelims 2025
Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis
-
Prelims 2025
Statement-based questions, Conceptual understanding
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Dharmendra Pradhan meets Birla as government agrees to discuss NEET paper leak in Lok Sabha
Ministerial responsibility ensures the executive's accountability to Parliament, both collectively for government policy and individually for departmental actions, forming a bedrock of parliamentary democracy.
See also
Past papers
2013–2025 · 8 questions
In the news
Dharmendra Pradhan meets Birla as government agrees to discuss NEET paper leak in Lok Sabha
Ministerial responsibility ensures the executive's accountability to Parliament, both collectively for government policy and individually for departmental actions, forming a bedrock of parliamentary democracy.
Try these PYQs
Which of the following is/are the exclusive power(s) of Lok Sabha?
1. To ratify the declaration of Emergency
2. To pass a motion of no-confidence against the Council of Ministers
3. To impeach the President of India
Select the correct answer using the code given ' below:
* Statement 1 is incorrect: If the President is satisfied that a grave emergency exists whereby the security of India or of any part of the territory thereof is threatened, whether by war or external aggression or armed rebellion, he may, by Proclamation, make a declaration to that effect in respect of the whole of India or of such part of the territory. * Statement 2 is correct: According to Article 75 of the Indian constitution, the council of ministers shall be collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha. It means that the ministry stays in office so long as it enjoys the confidence of the majority of the members of the Lok Sabha. * Statement 3 is incorrect: When a President is to be impeached for violation of the Constitution, the charge shall be preferred by either House of Parliament.
With reference to the Parliament of India, consider the following statements :
1. Prorogation of a House by the President of India does not require the advice of the Council of Ministers.
2. Prorogation of a House is generally done after the House is adjourned sine die but there is no bar to the President of India prorogating the House which is in session.
3. Dissolution of the Lok Sabha is done by the President of India who, save in exceptional circumstances, does so on the advice of the Council of Ministers.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Statement 1 is incorrect. Under Article 85(2) of the Constitution, the President has the authority to prorogue the Houses, or either House of Parliament, from time to time. The termination of a session of the House by an order from the President under this provision is referred to as 'prorogation.' The President exercises this power of prorogation only upon the recommendation of the Prime Minister or the Cabinet, i.e., the Council of Ministers. Statement 2 is correct. Typically, prorogation follows adjournment sine die, but technically, the President can prorogue a House even while it is in session. Statement 3 is correct. The President usually dissolves the Lok Sabha based on the advice of the Council of Ministers, except in exceptional circumstances such as a vote of no confidence or other political crises.
Consider the following statements:
1. The Constitution of India classifies the ministers into four ranks viz. Cabinet Minister, Minister of State with Independent Charge, Minister of State and Deputy Minister.
2. The total number of ministers in the Union Government/including the Prime Minister, shall not exceed 15 percent of the total number of members in the Lok Sabha.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Statement 1 is incorrect: The Constitution of India does not classify ministers into four fixed ranks. There are broadly two categories based on parliamentary convention - Cabinet Ministers and Ministers of State (with or without independent charge). The number of ranks can vary based on the specific structure chosen by the government. Statement 2 is correct: The 91st Amendment to the Constitution limits the size of the Council of Ministers. The total number of ministers, including the Prime Minister, cannot exceed 15% of the total strength of the Lok Sabha.
Consider the following statements with regard to pardoning power of the President of India:
I. The exercise of this power by the President can be subjected to limited judicial review.
II. The President can exercise this power without the advice of the Council of Ministers.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Statement I is correct: President’s pardoning power can be subjected to limited judicial review, especially on grounds like mala fides, irrelevant considerations, or arbitrariness (as held in Kehar Singh, Epuru Sudhakar cases). Statement II is incorrect: President cannot act independently; the power must be exercised on the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers under Article 74.
Consider the following statements:
1. The Council of Ministers at the Centre shall be collectively responsible to the Parliament.
2. The Union Ministers shall hold the office during the pleasure of the President of India.
3. The Prime Minister shall communicate to the President about the proposals for Legislation.
Which of the Statements given above is/are correct?
Statement 1 is not correct: The Council of Ministers in the Centre shall be collectively responsible to Lok Sabha, not parliament. Statement 2 is correct: The Union Ministers shall hold the office during the pleasure of the President of India. Statement 3 is correct: The Prime Minister shall communicate to the President about the proposals for legislation.
Show 3 more PYQs
In the context of India, which of the following principles is/are implied institutionally in the parliamentary government?
1. Members of the Cabinet are Members of Parliament.
2. Ministers hold the office till they enjoy confidence in the Parliament.
3. Cabinet is headed by the Head of the State.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below.
In the context of India's parliamentary government, the following principles are implied institutionally: Statement 1 is correct. Close Link Between Legislature and Executive: By requiring Cabinet members to be MPs, a close connection is established between the legislative and executive branches. This ensures the government is accountable to the legislature, which represents the people. Statement 2 is correct: Collective Responsibility The principle of collective responsibility implies that the Cabinet functions as a unified body. If the Parliament loses faith in the government through a no-confidence motion, the entire Cabinet, including the Prime Minister, is expected to resign. Statement 3 is incorrect: Cabinet is not headed by the Head of State. In India, the President is the Head of State, but the Prime Minister leads the Cabinet. The Prime Minister is the head of government and wields significant executive power.
Who amongst the following are members of the Jury to select the recipient of 'Gandhi Peace Prize'?
I. The President of India
II. The Prime Minister of India
III. The Chief Justice of India
IV. The Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
❌ Statement I: Incorrect
*The President of India is NOT a member of the Jury.* ✅ Statement II: Correct
*The Prime Minister of India is the Chairperson of the Jury.* ✅ Statement III: Correct
*The Chief Justice of India (or a Supreme Court Judge nominated by the CJI) is a Jury member.* ✅ Statement IV: Correct
*The Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha (or leader of largest opposition party) is a Jury member.* Correct Answer: Statements II, III, and IV are correct.
With reference to the Union Government, consider the following statements:
1. N. Gopalaswamy Iyengar Committee suggested that a minister and a secretary be designated solely for pursuing the subject of administrative reform and promoting it.
2. In 1970, the Department of Personnel was constituted on the recommendation of the Administrative Reforms Commission, 1966, and this was placed under the Prime Minister’s charge.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Statement 1 is incorrect. Sh. N. Gopalaswamy Ayyangar, in his Report namely Reorganization of the Machinery of Central Government in 1950 recommended for the grouping of ministries, improvement in the capabilities of the personnel, and also in the working of the O&M Division. It nowhere mentions that a minister and a secretary be designated solely for pursuing the subject of administrative reform and promoting it. Statement 2 is correct. In 1970, based on the recommendations of the Administrative Reforms Commission, the Department of Personnel was set up in the Cabinet Secretariat. It was placed under the Prime Minister's Office.