PRINCIPAL ORGANS OF GOVERNMENT

1. PRINCIPAL ORGANS OF GOVERNMENTIONALISM

A. Union Executive (President, Prime Minister, PMO)

1. The role of Indian Prime Ministers in the federal system was always controversial. Do you agree with this statement? Give reasons for your answer with apt examples. (2000)
2. Analyse the position of Prime Minister of India in a coalition regime. (2013)
3. How is the President of India elected? Outline the salient· characteristics of the electoral college of the Indian President. (2017)
4. Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) has emerged as the most powerful institution in India. Discuss. (2019)
5. Has the thrust of government tilted towards executive in contemporary Indian Politics? Give your arguments. (2020)
6. The role of the President of India becomes more significant during a minority government and a coalition government. Explain. (2021)

B. Bureaucracy

1. Comment: Representative bureaucracies. (1995)
2. “The roots of India’s growing problems of governability are more political than socioeconomic, that is, they are located in India’s political structure.” Discuss. (1996)
3. Comment: Corruption in Administration in India and its impact on socio-economic reconstruction. (2000)
4. Critically evaluate Weber’s ideas on Bureaucracy and highlight the significance of the Weberian model from India’s point of view. (2000)
5. Comment: Concept of committed bureaucracy. (2001)
6. Critically examine the role and contribution of India’s bureaucracy in nation building. (2006)
7. Analyse the arguments in favour and against the lateral entry into higher civil services in India. (2018)

C. Legislature (Parliament, Committees, Legislative Councils)

1. The function of a legislature is not merely making of laws. What other functions are expected of a modern legislature? (1995)
2. Discuss the role and limits of the Indian Parliament in checkmating political corruption, with special reference to the Bofors payoff and the Securities scams. (1997)
3. Comment: Parliamentary Committees in India. (2004)
4. Comment in 150 words: Decline of Indian Parliament. (2013)
5. Legislative Council is a house without any effective powers. Comment. (2022)
6. The Speaker represents the freedom and dignity of the House. Examine. (2022)
7. Write approximately 150 words on Relevance of the Legislative Council. (2024)

D. State Government (Governor, Lt. Governor)

1. In normal conditions, the Governor is a constitutional executive but in case of constitutional crisis, he can become a powerful and effective executive. Discuss. (2011)
2. Critically analyze the discretionary powers granted to the Governor by the Indian Constitution. (2015)
3. Critically examine the role of Governor in recent times. (2016)
4. Do the Lieutenant Governors have more powers than the Governors of the States? Explain. (2018)

E. Judiciary (Supreme Court, High Courts, Judicial Activism, PIL)

1. ‘The role of the Indian Judiciary in recent years has been one of dynamic judicial activism.’ Elucidate. (1991)
2. Comment: Judicial behaviour. (1993)
3. Comment: Public interest litigation. (1994)
4. “The recent spate of judicial activities has created problems for the operation of parliamentary democracy in India.” Discuss. (1998)
5. Write: Public Interest Litigation and Judicial Activism. (1999)
6. Comment: The debate over judicial activism in India. (2001)
7. How does the Supreme Court of India function as the “Guardian of the Constitution” and “protector of the rights of the citizens”? (2004)
8. Comment: Judicial Activism. (2006)
9. Explain the concept of Judicial activism, and examine its impact on the relationship between executive and judiciary in India. (2007)
10. Critically examine the arguments being advanced for review of the present system of appointment of judges to the higher judiciary of the country. (2009)
11. Comment on judicial activism and social change. (150 words) (2012)
12. Examine the role of Supreme Court as the final interpreter of the Indian Constitution. (2013)
13. Examine the debates on the appointment procedure of judges to the higher judiciary in India. (2014)
14. Judiciary has acquired the role of both, a legislature and an executive in recent years. Examine with suitable examples. (2017)
15. Whether judicial activism has undermined or strengthened Parliamentary Democracy in India? Discuss. (2018)
16. Answer in 150 words: Judicial overreach in India. (2020)
17. Examine the evolution of the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of India as a constitutional court. (2021)
18. Do you agree that over the years the Supreme Court has become a forum for policy evolution? Justify your answer. (2023)