Chapter 4 – Executive of Class 11 Political Science (Indian Constitution at Work),
MCQs (with explanations
Q1. In India, the President is often described as a ‘rubber stamp’ because:
A) He has no powers at all
B) He always signs bills without thinking
C) He acts on the advice of the Council of Ministers
D) He is elected by Parliament
Answer: C. The President’s actions are guided by the advice of the Council of Ministers, making him a nominal head.
Q2. Which type of executive provides for a single head with fixed tenure, separate from legislature?
A) Parliamentary
B) Presidential
C) Semi-presidential
D) Bureaucratic
Answer: B. A presidential executive features separation between executive and legislature with fixed tenure.
Q3. A parliamentary executive means:
A) Executive where there is a parliament
B) Executive elected by the parliament
C) Parliament acts as the executive
D) Executive that is dependent on support of the majority in parliament
Answer: D. Because in a parliamentary system, the executive must retain the confidence of the majority in the legislature.
Q4. Which is a feature of parliamentary executive?
A) Single executive
B) Separation of powers
C) Collective responsibility
D) Fixed tenure
Answer: C. Parliamentary executives have collective responsibility to the legislature.
Q5. Who appoints the Prime Minister in India?
A) Chief Justice
B) Speaker
C) President
D) Council of Ministers
Answer: C. The President formally appoints the PM.
Q6. Which of the following is NOT a qualification to be President of India?
A) Citizen of India
B) Age 35 or above
C) Member of Lok Sabha
D) Not holding any office of profit
Answer: C. One should not be a member of Parliament.
Q7. The Permanent Executive in India refers to:
A) Cabinet Ministers
B) Bureaucracy and civil servants
C) President and Prime Minister
D) Judiciary
Answer: B. It includes administrative machinery that implements policies.
Q8. The Indian bureaucracy consists of:
A) Political executive only
B) Permanent executive only
C) Both Permanent and Political executives
D) Judiciary
Answer: C. Both political and permanent components exist. (Derived from explanation of types)
Q9. The President of India can be said to be nominal because:
A) He has no constitutional powers
B) His discretionary powers are minimal
C) Real authority lies with Council of Ministers
D) He is appointed by Prime Minister
Answer: C. The real executive power rests with the elected PM and Ministers.
Q10. All India Services can be deputed to the centre and also serve in which area?
A) Only foreign missions
B) Their respective state
C) Only central offices
D) Judiciary
Answer: B. All India Services can serve in both their state and with central deputation.
Q11. State Civil Services function in:
A) Foreign countries
B) Central government offices
C) Their own state
D) All of India
Answer: C. They work within their state.
Q12. Central Services operate from:
A) A state capital or other offices within India
B) Only central secretariat in Delhi
C) Foreign nations
D) District headquarters only
Answer: A. They exist in central govt offices across the country.
Q13. Which of the following statements is true regarding Indian bureaucracy?
A) All employees are political executives
B) Bureaucracy cannot be called permanent executive
C) Bureaucrats help implement policies designed by ministers
D) They do not participate in policy execution
Answer: C. Civil services implement policies.
Q14. In a presidential system, the executive is:
A) Responsible to legislature
B) Separate and independent from legislature
C) Dependent on majority support
D) Nominal like President of India
Answer: B. Presidential executives are independent from legislature.
Q15. Features of a parliamentary executive include:
A) Fixed term, separation of powers
B) Collective responsibility, uncertain tenure
C) Single executive, fixed term
D) Separation of powers, direct election
Answer: B. Parliamentary executives have collective responsibility and uncertain tenure.
Q16. The principal function of the Executive is to:
A) Make laws
B) Interpret laws
C) Execute and administer laws
D) Oversee elections
Answer: C. The executive implements policies, administration, security, welfare.
Q17. In which system is the head of state both ceremonial and symbolic, not executive?
A) Parliamentary
B) Presidential
C) Semi-presidential
D) Bureaucratic
Answer: A. In parliamentary systems like India, the head of state is largely ceremonial.
Q18. The Council of Ministers in a parliamentary system is collectively responsible to:
A) President
B) Prime Minister
C) Legislature
D) Judiciary
Answer: C. It’s accountable to the legislature.
Q19. Which type of executive features a president with real powers and direct election?
A) Parliamentary
B) Presidential
C) Semi-presidential
D) Ceremonial
Answer: B. Presidential executives.
Q20. Under Indian system, bureaucrats are:
A) Politically elected
B) Permanent executive
C) Judges
D) Only in central services
Answer: B.
Q21. The President of India acts on the aid and advice of:
A) Supreme Court
B) Prime Minister
C) Council of Ministers
D) Parliament
Answer: C.
Q22.Executive implements:
A) Constitution
B) Laws
C) Judicial decisions
D) Only security policies
Answer: B.
Q23. In parliamentary system, the PM can continue only if:
A) President allows
B) Has legislature’s confidence
C) Superior court permits
D) Bureaucracy supports
Answer: B.
Q24. Bureaucracy is considered:
A) Political executive
B) Permanent executive
C) Judicial body
D) Legislation
Answer: B.
Q25. Which executive form is most flexible but unstable?
A) Presidential
B) Bureaucratic
C) Parliamentary
D) Monarchical
Answer: C. Because it’s dependent on legislative confidence.
Q26. Election of President in India is:
A) Direct
B) Indirect
C) Hereditary
D) By judiciary
Answer: B.
Q27. Office of profit rule ensures President doesn’t:
A) Practice law
B) Hold another remunerative position
C) Travel abroad
D) Vote
Answer: B.
Q28. For appointment in All India Services, the power lies with:
A) State only
B) Centre only
C) Centre and state (deputation)
D) Judiciary
Answer: C.
Q29. Which executive resembles both head of state and government?
A) Parliamentary
B) Presidential
C) Semi-presidential
D) Symbolic
Answer: C.
Q30. Executive is not concerned with:
A) Law implementation
B) Policy formulation
C) Law making
D) Administration
Answer: C.
Q31. Confidence of the lower house is essential in: A) Presidential
B) Parliamentary
C) Semi-presidential
D) Bureaucracy
Answer: B.
Q32. PM provides leadership to:
A) Judiciary
B) Executive
C) Bureaucrats only
D) Legislature only
Answer: B.
Q33. President of India uses discretionary power in:
A) Ordinary bills
B) Dissolving Lok Sabha under special circumstances
C) Public welfare
D) Judiciary matters
Answer: B.
Q34. Permanent executive continuity ensures:
A) Policy rigidity
B) Political instability
C) Administrative consistency
D) Judicial protection
Answer: C.
Q35. Which is true for parliamentary executive?
A) Single head
B) Direct election
C) Real and nominal heads
D) Fixed tenure
Answer: C.
Q36. Executive in national foreign missions is:
A) State Civil Services
B) Central Services
C) All India Services
D) None
Answer: B.
Q37. Civil servants executing laws are part of:
A) Legislature
B) Judiciary
C) Executive
D) None
Answer: C.
Q38. Judicial check on executive ensures:
A) Unlimited power
B) Constitutional special powers
C) Accountability
D) None
Answer: C.
Q39. Which of these is part of political executive? A) President, PM, Ministers
B) Civil servants
C) Judges
D) Bureaucrats
Answer: A.
Q40. Stability of executive depends on:
A) Judiciary
B) Legislature’s support
C) Bureaucracy
D) President alone
Answer: B.
Q41. Collective responsibility prohibits Ministers from:
A) Speaking in legislature
B) Supporting opposition
C) Acting independently of cabinet decisions
D) Advising PM
Answer: C.
Q42. Civil services maintain executive functioning when:
A) Government changes
B) No legislature exists
C) Judiciary fails
D) Opposition rules
Answer: A.
Q43. Who can dissolve Lok Sabha on PM’s advice? A) President
B) Supreme Court
C) Governor
D) Speaker
Answer: A.
Q44. Ministers are accountable to:
A) President only
B) Legislature only
C) Prime Minister only
D) Judiciary only
Answer: B.
Q45. The executive branch includes:
A) Legislature
B) Judiciary
C) President, PM, Council, Bureaucracy
D) Local bodies only
Answer: C.
Q46. President rule in states invoked by:
A) President (on PM and cabinet advice)
B) Judiciary
C) Legislature
D) Bureaucracy
Answer: A.
Q47. Executive action can be challenged in Supreme Court as:
A) Political question
B) Violation of fundamental rights
C) Acceptance of laws
D) Foreign policy
Answer: B.
Q48. Cabinet can be dismissed if:
A) Parliament passes no-confidence motion
B) President resigns
C) PM dies
D) Judiciary intervenes
Answer: A.
Q49. Bureaucrats are shielded from political change because they represent:
A) Political executive
B) Permanent executive
C) Judiciary
D) Legislature
Answer: B.
Q50. In India, real executive power lies with:
A) President
B) Judiciary
C) Council of Ministers (PM)
D) Parliament alone
Answer: C.
