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Question 99

Out of the following statements, choose the one that brings out the principle underlying the Cabinet form of Government:

AOptions

A) An arrangement for minimizing the criticism against the Government whose responsibilities are complex and hard to carry out to the satisfaction of all.

B) A mechanism for speeding up the activities of the Government whose responsibilities are increasing day by day.

C) A mechanism of parliamentary democracy for ensuring collective responsibility of the Government to the people.

D) A device for strengthening the hands of the head of the Government whose hold over the people is in a state of decline.

BSolution

The Cabinet form of Government, also known as the Parliamentary system, is a distinctive feature of governance in countries like India and the United Kingdom. Its underlying principle is the concept of 'collective responsibility'.

In a Cabinet form of government, the executive (the Council of Ministers or Cabinet) is part of the legislature and is collectively responsible to the popularly elected house of the legislature (e.g., Lok Sabha in India). This means that all ministers are bound by the decisions of the Cabinet, and if a motion of no-confidence is passed against the Council of Ministers by the legislature, the entire government has to resign. This mechanism ensures that the government remains accountable to the legislature and, through it, to the people.

Let's look at why other options are less accurate:

A) An arrangement for minimizing criticism: While better governance might reduce criticism, this is not the fundamental principle of the Cabinet system.

B) A mechanism for speeding up activities: While efficiency is a goal, the core principle is responsibility and accountability, not merely speed.

D) A device for strengthening the hands of the head of the Government: While the Prime Minister is powerful, the system emphasizes collective functioning and responsibility, not just strengthening one individual's hold, especially if their popularity is declining.

Therefore, the core principle is collective responsibility to the people through the legislature.

CStrategy

For questions on fundamental political systems, understand their defining characteristics and core principles. For the Cabinet form of government, the concept of collective responsibility and the executive's accountability to the legislature are paramount. Avoid options that describe ancillary benefits or misrepresent the system's foundational structure.

DSyllabus Analysis

This question falls under Indian Polity and Governance, specifically the nature of the parliamentary system and its core principles, as part of the UPSC Prelims syllabus.

EQuestion Analysis

Easy. The principle of collective responsibility is a cornerstone of the Cabinet form of government and is widely emphasized in studies of Indian Polity, making this a direct conceptual question.