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BPSC MainsGeneral Studies Paper IIndian PolityPractice question

Functions and Executive Accountability of Indian Parliament

Explain the functions of the Indian Parliament. How does Parliament ensure the accountability of the executive?

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How to approach

Begin by introducing the constitutional role and composition of the Indian Parliament under Article 79. Systematically detail the major functions of Parliament across legislative, financial, constituent, and judicial domains. Conclude by outlining the constitutional and procedural mechanisms through which Parliament exercises continuous oversight and ensures executive accountability.

Model answer

447 words

Introduction

Under Article 79 of the Constitution of India, the Union Parliament is the supreme legislative body, comprising the President, the Council of States (Rajya Sabha), and the House of the People (Lok Sabha). Functioning as the nucleus of India's parliamentary democracy, it serves as a representative forum representing the will of the citizens, with representations such as 40 Lok Sabha seats and 16 Rajya Sabha seats from Bihar.

Core Functions of the Indian Parliament

The Indian Parliament performs a wide array of duties essential to democratic governance, categorized into the following functions:

  • Legislative Function: Enacts laws on subjects enumerated in the Union List and Concurrent List, as well as the State List under special circumstances. A proposed bill becomes an Act only upon receiving Presidential assent.
  • Financial Function: Controls the public purse by ensuring that no tax is levied or expenditure incurred without parliamentary approval through the Annual Financial Statement (Budget) under Article 112.
  • Constituent Function: Possesses the power to amend provisions of the Constitution under Article 368, subject to the doctrine of the basic structure.
  • Electoral and Judicial Functions: Participates in the election of the President and Vice-President, and possesses the authority to impeach the President, remove judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts, and discipline its own members.
  • Deliberative and Representative Function: Provides the highest platform for debating national and international policies, ventilating public grievances, and reflecting the diverse interests of the nation.

Mechanisms to Ensure Executive Accountability

Parliament employs multiple constitutional and procedural instruments to subject the executive to continuous scrutiny and prevent administrative arbitrariness:

  • Constitutional Collective Responsibility: Under Article 75(3), the Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha. The government must retain the confidence of the lower house to stay in office; the passage of a No-Confidence Motion results in the immediate resignation of the Ministry.
  • Procedural Oversight Devices: Daily parliamentary proceedings provide tools such as Question Hour (demanding verbal and written answers from ministers), Zero Hour, Calling Attention Motions, and Adjournment Motions to address urgent matters of public importance.
  • Financial Scrutiny: Members utilize Cut Motions (Policy Cut, Economy Cut, and Token Cut) during the discussion on Demands for Grants to inspect and restrain budgetary allocations.
  • Parliamentary Standing Committees: Financial committees like the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Estimates Committee, and Committee on Public Undertakings (COPU), alongside Departmentally Related Standing Committees (DRSCs), conduct detailed and non-partisan year-round examinations of policy execution and Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) audit reports.

Conclusion

Through these integrated constitutional mandates, procedural checks, and committee scrutiny, the Indian Parliament safeguards against executive overreach. Ensuring that these accountability mechanisms function robustly and free of disruption remains imperative for maintaining the delicate balance of powers and preserving democratic governance.

Key facts to remember

definition
Collective Responsibility (Article 75(3))

A constitutional principle mandating that the Council of Ministers is collectively answerable to the Lok Sabha for all decisions and policies, requiring unanimous defense of executive actions or resignation.

scheme
Article 112 (Annual Financial Statement)

The constitutional provision obligating the executive to place an estimated statement of receipts and expenditure before Parliament for approval prior to spending public funds.

example
No-Confidence Motion

A procedural device unique to the Lok Sabha used by the opposition to demonstrate that the Council of Ministers no longer enjoys the majority support of the House, forcing its resignation if passed.

Frequently asked questions

How does the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) enforce executive accountability?

The PAC examines the audit reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) to ensure that public funds were spent legally, efficiently, and for the authorized purposes, highlighting financial irregularities.

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