NCERT Solutions For Class 11 Political Science Chapter 1 Constitution Why and How - 2025-26

Exercises

1. A parliamentary executive means:

• a. Executive where there is a parliament
• b. Executive elected by the parliament
• c. Where the parliament functions as the Executive
• d. Executive that is dependent on support of the majority in the parliament

Answer: d. Executive that is dependent on support of the majority in the parliament

2. Read this dialogue. Which argument do you agree with? Why?

Amit: Looking at the constitutional provisions, it seems that the President is only a rubber stamp.
Shama: The President appoints the Prime Minister. So, he must have the powers to remove the Prime Minister as well.
Rajesh: We don’t need a President. After the election, the Parliament can meet and elect a leader to be the Prime Minister.

Answer: The most appropriate argument is Amit's. As per the Indian Constitution, the President generally acts on the advice of the Council of Ministers and Prime Minister, except in limited circumstances. While the President appoints the Prime Minister, this is not an absolute power but is based on the leader's majority support in the Lok Sabha. Thus, the President’s role is more ceremonial than executive, giving rise to the impression of being a "rubber stamp" in most routine matters.

3. Match the following:

Answer:

4. Identify the ministry which may have released the following news items. Would this be a ministry of the central government or the State government? Why?

• An official release said that in 2004-05 the Tamil Nadu Textbooks Corporation would release new versions for standards VII, X and XI.
• A new railway loop line bypassing the crowded Tiruvallur-Chennai section to help iron ore exporters. The new line, likely to be about 80 km long, will branch off at Puttur and then reach Athipattu near the port.
• The three-member sub-divisional committee formed to verify suicide by farmers in Ramayampet mandal has found that the two farmers who committed suicide this month have had economic problems due to failure of crops.

Answer:

• The first item is related to education in Tamil Nadu. It will be a ministry of the State Government, specifically the State Ministry of Education.
• The second item is about Indian Railways; this is a ministry of the central government, since railways fall under the Union List.
• The third item pertains to agriculture and rural matters in a specific mandal—this comes under the State Government, particularly the State Ministry of Agriculture.

Therefore, ministries related to state subjects are under the State government, while those in the Union List (like Railways) come under the central government.

5. While appointing the Prime Minister, the President selects

• a. Leader of the largest party in the Lok Sabha
• b. Leader of the largest party in the alliance which secures a majority in the Lok Sabha
• c. The leader of the largest party in the Rajya Sabha
• d. Leader of the alliance or party that has the support of the majority in Lok Sabha

Answer: d. Leader of the alliance or party that has the support of the majority in Lok Sabha

6. Read this discussion and say which of these statements applies most to India.

Alok: Prime Minister is like a king, he decides everything in our country.
Shekhar: Prime Minister is only ‘first among equals’, he does not have any special powers. All ministers and the PM have similar powers.
Bobby: Prime Minister has to consider the expectations of the party members and other supporters of the government. But after all, the Prime Minister has a greater say in policy making and in choosing the ministers.

Answer: Bobby's statement applies most to India. The Prime Minister plays a central and decisive role in the government, has a greater say in policy-making and selection of ministers, but also needs to maintain the support of party members and coalition partners.

7. Why do you think is the advice of the Council of Ministers binding on the President? Give your answer in not more than 100 words.

Answer: The advice of the Council of Ministers is binding on the President to ensure the functioning of a responsible and parliamentary form of government. This ensures that real power remains with the elected representatives, making the government accountable to the Parliament and, therefore, the people. It prevents arbitrary actions by the President and maintains the spirit of democracy.

8. The parliamentary system of executive vests many powers in the legislature for controlling the executive. Why, do you think, is it so necessary to control the executive?

Answer: It is necessary to control the executive to prevent misuse or abuse of power, ensure accountability, and safeguard democratic values. The legislature, representing the people, checks the actions of the executive, ensuring it remains responsive and responsible to the citizens. This balance prevents autocracy and maintains the rule of law.

9. It is said that there is too much political interference in the working of the administrative machinery. It is suggested that there should be more and more autonomous agencies which do not have to answer to the ministers.

• Do you think this will make administration more people-friendly?
• Do you think this will make administration more efficient?
• Does democracy mean full control of elected representatives over the administration?

Answer:

• Creation of more autonomous agencies could make administration somewhat efficient and less prone to political pressures, but it may also make it less accountable to the public.
• Efficiency may increase due to professional management, but lack of oversight could result in unresponsiveness or corruption.
• Democracy does not mean total control by elected representatives, but they must have sufficient authority to ensure bureaucracy remains accountable and works in public interest.

10. Write an essay of two hundred words on the proposal to have an elected administration instead of an appointed administration.

Answer: The idea of having an elected administration, as opposed to the present system of appointed civil servants, is based on the principle of making the bureaucracy directly accountable to the people. Elected officials may be more sensitive to the needs and aspirations of citizens, as their continuation depends on popular support.

However, there are significant drawbacks to this approach. Professional administration requires technical knowledge, experience, and continuity, which might not always be available with elected officials. Frequent changes in bureaucracy could lead to instability, inefficiency, and politicization of administration.

The existing system of appointments through public service commissions is designed to ensure merit-based, impartial, and stable administration, free from political pressures. Instead of electing administrators, it is better to strengthen mechanisms for public grievance redressal, transparency, and accountability.

Efficient, professional, and responsive administration can be ensured without resorting to electoral politics at every level of governance. The present combination of professional bureaucracy supervised by elected representatives maintains a necessary balance for effective governance and public welfare.

NCERT Solutions for Class 11 Political Science Chapter 1: Constitution – Why and How

Understanding the Constitution is the first step in exploring Political Science for Class 11. This chapter explains why a Constitution is needed, how it is framed, and what role it plays in shaping democratic governance. Students learn the significance of constitutional values, the process of making the Indian Constitution, and its guiding principles.

Through clear, stepwise answers, learners can grasp topics like the importance of rules in society, the vision of the framers, and the difference between constitutional provisions and ordinary laws. These solutions also highlight key terms and examples to make concepts easier to remember.

By practicing NCERT-based questions regularly, students can strengthen their fundamentals, improve their writing skills, and gain confidence to handle both objective and long-answer questions. Consistent revision will ensure better preparation for CBSE 2025–26 exams and beyond.

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