Important Questions and Answers for Class 11 Political Science Indian Constitution At Work Chapter 4 Executive 2025-26

1. Who is considered the real head of the executive in the Indian parliamentary system?

• (a) President
• (b) Prime Minister
• (c) Governor
• (d) Speaker of Lok Sabha

Answer: (b) Prime Minister

2. Which of the following systems gives both the President and Prime Minister key executive roles?

• (a) Parliamentary system
• (b) Presidential system
• (c) Semi-presidential system
• (d) Monarchical system

Answer: (c) Semi-presidential system

3. The President of India is elected by:

• (a) Direct vote by people of India
• (b) Prime Minister and Council of Ministers
• (c) Elected MLAs and MPs
• (d) Supreme Court judges

Answer: (c) Elected MLAs and MPs

4. The President’s advice to reconsider a Council of Ministers’ decision is:

• (a) Discretionary and final
• (b) Binding if given once
• (c) Must be accepted only after reconsideration
• (d) Not allowed in India

Answer: (c) Must be accepted only after reconsideration

2. Very Short Answer (VSA).

1. Define ‘executive’ as per the Indian Constitution.

Answer: The executive is the organ of government responsible for implementing laws and administering policies adopted by the legislature.

2. What is meant by ‘Permanent Executive’?

Answer: Permanent Executive refers to civil servants and administrative staff who manage routine administration and do not change with government.

3. Who presides over Rajya Sabha in the absence of its Chairman?

Answer: In absence of the Vice President (Chairman), the Deputy Chairman presides over the Rajya Sabha.

4. Name one discretionary power of the Indian President.

Answer: Appointing the Prime Minister when no party has a clear majority in the Lok Sabha.

3. Short Answer Questions.

1. Distinguish between Political Executive and Permanent Executive.

Answer: Political executive refers to elected leaders like Ministers who frame policies and are responsible to the legislature. Permanent executive includes civil servants who serve as administrators, offer continuity and are not linked to electoral cycles.

2. Why is the advice of Council of Ministers binding on the President?

Answer: The Constitution mandates that the President shall act according to the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers, ensuring democratic control and preventing misuse of the President's authority.

3. What is ‘collective responsibility’ of the Council of Ministers?

Answer: Collective responsibility means all ministers are jointly responsible to Lok Sabha. If the ministry loses the confidence of the House, the entire Council, including the Prime Minister, must resign.

4. Explain how the Indian bureaucracy is made socially inclusive.

Answer: The Indian Constitution provides reservations in civil services for SCs, STs, OBCs, women, and EWS to make the bureaucracy more socially representative and reduce social inequalities in recruitment.

4. Long Answer Questions.

1. Describe the discretionary powers of the President of India with suitable examples.

Answer: Although the President is mainly a ceremonial head, he or she exercises discretion in specific situations. Discretionary powers include sending the advice of the Council of Ministers for reconsideration, withholding assent to bills (veto), and deciding whom to invite to form a government when no party has a clear majority. For instance, in 1998, President Narayanan asked Atal Bihari Vajpayee to prove majority within ten days. These powers allow the President to act judiciously in situations where political clarity is lacking, but otherwise, the President must follow the Council’s advice.

1. Sending advice for reconsideration
2. Using veto power or pocket veto
3. Appointing PM in a hung parliament

2. Explain the differences between Presidential, Parliamentary, and Semi-presidential forms of executive with examples from different countries.

Answer: In the presidential system (USA), the same person is head of state and government, holding substantial powers. In parliamentary systems (India, UK), the Prime Minister leads the government, while the President/Monarch is a ceremonial head. Semi-presidential systems (France, Russia, Sri Lanka) have both President and PM sharing powers. The actual power division and accountability mechanisms differ, shaping how these countries are governed.

1. Presidential: Single powerful leader (USA)
2. Parliamentary: Cabinet responsible to legislature (India)
3. Semi-presidential: Power shared, divided roles (France, Sri Lanka)

3. The Prime Minister is called the ‘linchpin of government’ in India. Explain with reference to his/her key functions and sources of power.

Answer: The Prime Minister heads the Council of Ministers, allocates portfolios, acts as a link between the President and cabinet, leads the majority in Lok Sabha, and represents India internationally. The Prime Minister’s position is pivotal due to leadership in policy formulation, control over ministers, influence over parliament, and authority in administration and foreign affairs.

1. Head of the Council of Ministers
2. Leader in Lok Sabha
3. Communication with President
4. Main policy decision-maker

4. Discuss two measures by which the Indian Constitution ensures accountability and efficiency in the bureaucracy.

Answer: The Constitution makes the administrative machinery accountable by placing it under the control of elected ministers and providing merit-based appointments through the UPSC. Reservations ensure inclusivity. Departments are supervised by ministers, ensuring policies align with the government’s vision, while independent recruitment reduces nepotism and increases efficiency.

1. Supervision by ministers
2. Appointments through independent commissions

5. Assertion–Reason type questions.

Assertion (A): The executive in India is collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha.
Reason (R): A vote of no confidence against even one minister requires resignation of the entire Council of Ministers.

• (a) A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A
• (b) A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A
• (c) A is true, but R is false
• (d) A is false, but R is true

Answer: (a) Both statements are true and R correctly explains collective responsibility.

Assertion (A): The President of India can withhold assent to bills indefinitely.
Reason (R): The Constitution does not mention a time limit for the President to act on a bill.

• (a) A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A
• (b) A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A
• (c) A is true, but R is false
• (d) A is false, but R is true

Answer: (a) Both are true; the absence of a time limit enables a pocket veto.

3. Fill in the Blanks Questions.

1. The __________ acts as the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.

Answer: Vice President of India

2. In India, the President is elected by the method of __________ representation with single transferable vote.

Answer: Proportional

3. The body that conducts recruitment to the civil services at the Union level is the __________.

Answer: Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)

4. The Council of Ministers at the Centre must not exceed __________ percent of the total number of members of the Lok Sabha.

Answer: 15

How Understanding the Executive Empowers Students in Political Science Class 11?

• Learning about the Executive through these Class 11 Political Science Chapter 4 Important Questions allows students to understand real-world governance.
• Clear answers help make the Indian Constitution at Work engaging and simple for all learners.
• Get complete guidance for Political Science Class 11 Chapter 4 question answer Executive and related concepts here.
• These resources explain the difference between Permanent and Political Executive, powers of the President, and the role of the Prime Minister as required for the 2025-26 CBSE pattern.
• With these Class 11th Indian Constitution at Work Chapter 4 question answers and Executive Class 11 Extra Questions With Answers, students can prepare for both short and long answer formats.
• Build clarity on the chapter’s objectives and boost your confidence for exams in a friendly way.