UPSC Prelims 2007 Q46: Indian Polity – Union & State Executive
Assertion (A): The Council of Ministers in the Union of India is collectively responsible both
to the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.
Reason (R): The members of both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha are eligible to be the
Ministers of the Union.
- (a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
- (b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A
- (c) A is true but R is false
- (d) A is false but R is true
Answer: (d) A is false but R is true
Explanation
Assertion-Reason: Council of Ministers' collective responsibility
| Statement | Fact check |
|---|---|
| Assertion (A): Council of Ministers responsible to both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha | False — Article 75(3) makes it responsible only to the Lok Sabha |
| Reason (R): Members of both Houses are eligible to be Ministers | True — Article 75(5) permits this |
Since A is false and R is true, the correct choice is "A is false but R is true."
Answer: (d) A is false but R is true.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. A itself is false, so it cannot be "true and correctly explained by R".
- (b) Incorrect. A is false, not true, ruling this option out.
- (c) Incorrect. A is false, not true, ruling this option out too.
- (d) CORRECT. A is false (collective responsibility is to Lok Sabha only); R is true (members of both Houses can be Ministers).
Key point
Collective responsibility (Article 75(3)) is to the Lok Sabha ONLY, not the Rajya Sabha; members of both Houses can be Ministers (Article 75(5)).
Remember
Council of Ministers' collective responsibility: Lok Sabha only, not Rajya Sabha.
Common mistakes
- Assuming collective responsibility extends to both Houses, when the Constitution specifies only the Lok Sabha.
- Not distinguishing between individual ministerial accountability and the Council's collective responsibility, which is Lok-Sabha-specific.
- Treating the Reason as automatically dependent on the Assertion being true, in an Assertion-Reason format.
Exam tip
Collective responsibility = Lok Sabha only (Art 75(3)); individual Ministers can come from either House (Art 75(5)) — two separate constitutional points.
Sources
- Constitution of India — Article 75(3) and 75(5)
- M. Laxmikanth — Indian Polity (Central Council of Ministers)
- NCERT Class XI Political Science — Indian Constitution at Work — Executive