Sri Lankan and Indian Leadership Systems

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Questions and Answers

What is a key responsibility of the President when no party has a clear majority?

Draft new laws for the country

Dismiss the Lok Sabha

Choose and appoint the Prime Minister (correct)

Appoint the Vice President

What is the term length for the Vice President of India?

Five years (correct)

Four years

Seven years

Six years

What is the primary role of the president in a parliamentary system?

To control the executive branch directly

To represent the government in legislative matters

To exercise significant day-to-day powers

To serve as the ceremonial head of state (correct)

What distinguishes a semi-presidential system from a parliamentary system?

The president may possess significant day-to-day powers (D) Signup and view all the answers

In what scenario can the Vice President take over the President's office?

Upon the President's death, resignation, or removal (A) Signup and view all the answers

How can the Vice President of India be removed from office?

Through a resolution of the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha's agreement (B) Signup and view all the answers

What requirement must be met for the Speaker to report a matter to the Supreme Court in Sri Lanka?

Allegations approved by more than half of Members of Parliament (A) Signup and view all the answers

What role does the Vice President hold in the Rajya Sabha?

Ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha (D) Signup and view all the answers

How does the impeachment process differ between Sri Lanka and India?

Sri Lanka allows the judiciary to intervene earlier (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the intended purpose of the parliamentary executive in India as per the Constitution?

To ensure government accountability and sensitivity to public expectations (B) Signup and view all the answers

What action might a President take if they disagree with the Prime Minister's request to impose President’s rule?

Tell the Prime Minister that he will not sign the order (D) Signup and view all the answers

In a semi-presidential system, what can occur regarding the political affiliations of the President and Prime Minister?

They may be from the same party or from opposing parties (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a reason for the Vice President to act as President?

Regular Presidential election cycle (B) Signup and view all the answers

What does the President's role in appointing a Prime Minister entail when there is a coalition government?

Choosing the candidate from the largest party in the coalition (C) Signup and view all the answers

What major experience influenced the formation of the Indian parliamentary system?

Colonial administration under British rule (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is a key feature of countries with a parliamentary executive?

The government is accountable to the Parliament (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the main responsibilities of ministers in a democracy?

To retain political control over the administration (C) Signup and view all the answers

How does the Constitution of India ensure representation in the bureaucracy for weaker sections of society?

By providing reservations in jobs for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (A) Signup and view all the answers

What does it mean for the bureaucracy to be politically neutral?

They will not take any political position on policy matters (B) Signup and view all the answers

What role does the Union Public Service Commission play in the Indian bureaucracy?

It conducts the recruitment process for civil servants (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is expected of administrative officers in relation to policies adopted by the legislature?

To act only in accordance with legislative policies (D) Signup and view all the answers

What happens to members of the Public Service Commissions regarding their term and removal?

They are appointed for a fixed term and can only be removed after an inquiry (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary reason for the complexity of the Indian bureaucracy?

It includes various All-India services, State services, and local government employees (A) Signup and view all the answers

In the context of a new government opting for different policies, what is the responsibility of the administrative machinery?

To assist in drafting and implementing new policies effectively (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is a constitutional obligation of the Prime Minister regarding the Council of Ministers?

To communicate decisions related to administration and legislation to the President (A) Signup and view all the answers

What factor does NOT contribute to the power of the Prime Minister?

Influence over international trade agreements (C) Signup and view all the answers

How has the coalition nature of Indian politics affected the power of the Prime Minister?

It has led to increased discretion for the President in selecting Prime Ministers (A) Signup and view all the answers

What has been a common consequence of coalition governments since 1989 in India?

They have often been removed or resigned due to loss of parliamentary support (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is a key factor affecting the power wielded by the Prime Minister?

Prevailing political conditions (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT cited as a source of the Prime Minister's power?

Public opinion polling (C) Signup and view all the answers

What has been a characteristic of Indian politics since the rise of coalition governments?

More consultation between political partners (B) Signup and view all the answers

What can be inferred about the stability of coalition governments in India?

They tend to be short-lived due to shifting alliances (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary role of IAS and IPS officers within the governmental structure?

To serve as key administrative officers under the central government (B) Signup and view all the answers

How are IAS and IPS officers appointed?

By the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) (A) Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of the bureaucracy contributes to a citizen's fear of approaching government officers?

The perceived insensitivity of the bureaucracy to citizen needs (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which provision aims to make the bureaucracy more representative?

Reservations for women and socially backward classes (C) Signup and view all the answers

Who has the authority to take disciplinary action against IAS and IPS officers?

The central government (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant concern regarding the control of bureaucracy by democratically elected governments?

Effective management of bureaucracy is necessary to handle citizen needs (B) Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes the role of the district collector?

The most important officer of government at the district level (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of the bureaucracy as mentioned in the content?

To ensure that government welfare policies reach the population (A) Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Sri Lankan and Indian President and Prime Minister

Sri Lanka has a semi-presidential system while India has a parliamentary system.
In a semi-presidential system, there are both a President and a Prime Minister, unlike the parliamentary system where the President has primarily ceremonial duties.
In Sri Lanka, the President can possess significant day-to-day powers, while the Prime Minister is the head of government.
India's President holds a position of authority during periods of instability, while Sri Lanka's President has greater power.

Impeachment of the President in India and Sri Lanka

In India, the President can be impeached with a resolution passed by both the Lok Sabha (House of the People) and Rajya Sabha (Council of States), with a majority vote.
In Sri Lanka, if a significant number of parliament members file a claim against the President, and the Speaker verifies the claim, they can report the matter to the Supreme Court.
The power of the Supreme Court in Sri Lanka is significant in the impeachment process, unlike in India where it is the Parliament that handles impeachment.

Parliamentary System in various Countries

The parliamentary system is used in many countries, including Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and Portugal.
This system often has a President or Monarch acting as the head of state, with primarily ceremonial duties.
In a parliamentary system, the Prime Minister, alongside the cabinet, holds the real power.

Powers of the Indian Prime Minister

The Indian Prime Minister is elected from the Lok Sabha, the Lower House of Parliament.
The PM is ultimately responsible for the government’s decisions and policies.
The Prime Minister is responsible for communicating decisions of the Council of Ministers to the President.
The Prime Minister is involved in critical decisions regarding the nation’s administration and legislation.

Coalition Governments in India

Since 1989, India has seen numerous coalition governments where no single party holds a majority in the Lower House.
These coalitions have led to greater presidential influence in selecting Prime Ministers.
Coalition governments require more consultation among political partners, potentially weakening the Prime Minister's authority.
The increased role of the President can further weaken the authority of the Prime Minister.

Indian Bureaucracy

The Indian bureaucracy operates under the control of the Indian government.
The government is responsible for supervising and controlling administrative officers in the states.
The civil service recruitment process is designed to be non-partisan and meritocratic.
The Union Public Service Commission oversees the recruitment of civil servants.
The bureaucracy is designed to be neutral, meaning it should not favor any political stance.
Reservations for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, women, Other Backward Classes (OBC), and Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) help to ensure a diverse and inclusive bureaucracy.
State Public Service Commissions handle the appointment of most state officers.
IAS (Indian Administrative Service) and IPS (Indian Police Service) officers appointed by the UPSC form the backbone of the higher bureaucracy in the states.
The bureaucracy is responsible for implementing government policies and welfare programs.

How the Indian Bureaucracy is Politically Accountable

The Indian government is responsible for supervising the bureaucracy.
The bureaucracy is expected to be politically neutral.
The bureaucracy should efficiently implement the policies of the elected government.
The government is expected to control the bureaucracy to ensure the well-being of the citizens.

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Description

Explore the differences between the leadership structures of Sri Lanka and India, focusing on the roles of their Presidents and Prime Ministers. This quiz also covers the impeachment processes for Presidents in both countries, highlighting the political frameworks in place.