Systems of Government: UPSC Previous Year Questions (Polity)
11 previous year UPSC Prelims questions on systems of government appear here, from 2004 to 2021. The core ideas are constitutional government as limited government, the parliamentary system in which the Government answers to the legislature, and how India’s version departs from the British model. The explanations also cover a few administrative-structure questions.
Explanations state facts as of the year each question was asked; words like “recently” refer to that year.
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UPSC 2004Polity · Systems of Government
Q11. With reference to the Indian Parliament, which one of the following is not correct?
Explanation
/ (c) Statement (a) is incorrect: Appropriation Bill is a money Bill and according to Article 109 of the Indian Constitution, the Rajya Sabha has only a recommendatory role in the case of a Money Bill. Statement (b) is correct: According to Article 266 of the Indian Constitution, funds can only be withdrawn from the Consolidated Fund of India through appropriations made by the Appropriation Act. Statement (c) is incorrect: While a Finance Bill is necessary for proposing new taxes and is typically used to modify existing tax rates, legislative approval or authorization (via Acts or notifications) is always required for changing tax rates. It is not always accurate to claim that no additional Bill/Act is required for such changes. Statement (d) is correct: Under Article 117 of the Indian Constitution, the President’s recommendation is mandatory for the introduction of a Money Bill which can be introduced only in Lok Sabha. Note: Here, both the statements (a) and (c) seem partially/ completely incorrect.
Answer key for these questions
Q
UPSC year
Correct answer
11
2004
(a) The Appropriation Bill must be passed by both the Houses of Parliament before it can be enacted into law.
What UPSC has tested in Systems of Government
A constitutional government is by definition a limited government.
In a parliamentary system the Government is responsible to the legislature and holds office as long as it has its confidence.
India has a parliamentary system because the Council of Ministers is responsible to the Lok Sabha.
India differs from the British model: Parliament is not sovereign because of a written constitution and judicial review, and the head of State is elected.
The Advocate General of a State is appointed by the Governor (Article 165).
Frequently asked questions
How many previous year UPSC questions are there on Systems of Government?
This page covers 11 previous year UPSC Prelims GS Paper-I questions on Systems of Government (Polity), asked from 2004 to 2021. Each has the correct answer and an explanation.
What is a parliamentary system of government?
A system in which the executive is drawn from the legislature and is responsible to it. The Government stays in office only while it enjoys the confidence of the lower House, and the head of State is distinct from the head of government.
Why does India have a parliamentary system?
Because the Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha under Article 75(3). It must resign if it loses the House’s confidence, which is the defining test of a parliamentary system.
How does India’s parliamentary model differ from Britain’s?
Parliament in India is not sovereign: a written Constitution, a federal division of powers and judicial review limit it. India is also a republic with an elected head of State, whereas Britain has a hereditary monarch.
Who appoints the Advocate General of a State?
The Governor, under Article 165. The person must be qualified to be a High Court judge and holds office during the Governor’s pleasure, unlike the Attorney General of India, who is appointed by the President.
