Ans: D

Exp:

Statement 1 is incorrect: The Constitution of India provides for a parliamentary system of government modelled on the British pattern, but it does not provide detailed provisions regarding the principles of parliamentary system of government.

Statement 2 is incorrect: As per Article 74, there shall be a Council of Ministers with the Prime Minister at the head to aid and advise the President, who shall, in the exercise of his functions, act in accordance with such advice. The advice tendered by Ministers to the President shall not be inquired into in any court.

Ans: B

Exp:

Statement 1 is correct: In India, the parliamentary system of government follows the principle of collective responsibility, i.e., the Council of Ministers, which includes the Prime Minister and various other ministers, is collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha, the lower house of Parliament.

Statement 2 is incorrect: A member of either house of Parliament belonging to any political party who is disqualified on the ground of defection shall also be disqualified to be appointed as a minister. This provision was also added by the 91st Amendment Act of 2003

Statement 3 is incorrect: The total number of ministers, including the Prime Minister, in the Council of Ministers shall not exceed 15% of the total strength of the Lok Sabha. This provision was added by the 91st Amendment Act of 2003

Ans: B

Exp:

Statement 1 is incorrect:  The Prime Minister is the leader of the political party or coalition with a majority in the Lok Sabha. Thus, he is the head of government.  However,  all executive action of the Government of India shall be expressed to be taken in the name of the President.

Statement 2 is correct: As per Article 77, The President shall make rules for the more convenient transaction of the business of the Government of India, and for the allocation among Ministers of the said business. These rules specify the distribution of work and responsibilities among the different ministries and departments of the central government.

Ans: C

Exp:

Statement 1 is correct: Cabinet is the highest decision-making authority in our politico-administrative system. It is the chief policy-formulating body of the Central Government. It was inserted in Article 352 of the Constitution in 1978 by the 44th Constitutional Amendment Act. Thus, it did not find a place in the original text of the Constitution. It is a smaller body consisting of 15 to 20 ministers. It includes cabinet ministers only. Thus, it is a part of the Council of Ministers.

Statement 2 is correct:  the cabinet exercises, in practise, the powers of the council of ministers and thus acts for the latter. It directs the Council of Ministers by making policy decisions which are binding on all ministers.

Ans: A

Exp:

Option (a) is correct: Article 75 clearly states that the council of ministers is collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha. This means that all the ministers, including the Prime Minister, share joint responsibility to the Lok Sabha for all their acts of omission and commission. They work as a team and swim or sink together. When the Lok Sabha passes a no-confidence motion against the council of ministers, all the ministers have to resign including those ministers who are from the Rajya Sabha.   The principle of collective responsibility also means that the Cabinet decisions bind all cabinet ministers (and other ministers) even if they differed in the cabinet meeting.