<<–2/”>a >h4 style=”text-align: center;”>Central Government
The executive powers of the President are exercised by the Council of Ministers. The Constitution provides that “there shall be a Council of Ministers with the Prime Minister at the head to aid and advise the President in the excercise of his functions”. Here the word “shall” indicates that the President cannot function without the Council of Ministers. The President is the constitutional head of State, but the real Head of the government is the Prime Minister.
The Constitution of India provides for a parliamentary System of Government and, therefore, divides the executive into two parts: the nominal and real executive. The President of India is the nominal executive and the Council of Ministers is the real executive which works under the Leadership of Prime Minister. ARTICLE 74, 75, and 78 of the constitution provide for provisions relating to the council of Ministers and the Prime Minister.
The Prime Minister shall be appointed by the President and other Ministers shall be appointed by the President upon the advice of the Prime Minister. The Ministers hold office during the pleasure of the President. The council of Ministers shall be collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha. A minister who for any period of six consecutive months is not a member of the Parliament shall at the expiration of that period cease to be a Minister.
The Prime Minister being the head of the Council of Ministers, selects the Ministers to be sworn in by the President. The Ministers in fact are chosen by the Prime Minister and remain Ministers as long as they enjoy the confidence of the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister distributes portfolios among Ministers. The President can change the portfolios as and when he desires. The Prime Minister can drop a Minister or ask for his/her resignation. The Prime Minister presides over the meetings of the Cabinet and conducts its proceedings. As head of the Cabinet, he/she largely influences the decisions of the Cabinet. The Prime Minister co-ordinates the working of various ministers.
The Prime Minister, as the leader of the Lok Sabha, is also the leader of the Parliament. In the capacity as the leader of the majority party it is he who decides, in consultation with the Speaker, the complete agenda of the house. The summoning and proroguing of the house is decided upon by him. He can address each house of the Parliament but can vote only in the house to which he belongs. The Prime Minister has the most effective power to ask for Dissolution of the Lok Sabha.
The Prime Minister is the Ex-officio Chairman of the Planning Commission (Now Niti Ayog) as well as of the National Development Council. He/She represents the nation at the international conferences as the head of the government.
Constitution of India states that “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: Provided that the President may require the Council of Ministers to reconsider such advice, either generally or otherwise, and the President shall act in accordance with the advice tendered after such reconsideration.”
State Government
,
The Constitution of India provides for a Federal System of Government, with power divided between the Union (central) government and the state governments. The Union Government is responsible for matters of national importance, such as defence, foreign affairs, and currency, while the state governments are responsible for matters of local importance, such as law and order, Education, and Health.
The Union government is headed by the President, who is elected by an electoral college consisting of members of both houses of Parliament and the legislative assemblies of the states. The President appoints the Prime Minister, who is the head of the Union government. The Prime Minister, in turn, appoints the Council of Ministers, which is the executive body of the Union government.
The Parliament of India is a bicameral legislature consisting of the Lok Sabha (House of the People) and the Rajya Sabha (Council of States). The Lok Sabha is directly elected by the people, while the Rajya Sabha is indirectly elected by the members of the legislative assemblies of the states and the Union territories.
The state governments are headed by the Governors, who are appointed by the President. The Governors appoint the Chief Ministers, who are the heads of the state governments. The Chief Ministers, in turn, appoint the Council of Ministers, which is the executive body of the state government.
The state legislatures are unicameral bodies, consisting of the members of the Legislative Assemblies. The Legislative Assemblies are directly elected by the people.
The Union government and the state governments are independent of each other in their respective spheres of activity. However, there is a provision for the Union government to intervene in the affairs of a state if it is necessary to maintain the unity and Integrity of the country.
The Constitution of India also provides for a system of checks and balances between the Union government and the state governments. This system ensures that no one organ of government becomes too powerful.
The Union government and the state governments are both responsible for the welfare of the people. They provide a variety of Services to the people, such as education, health, and Infrastructure-2/”>INFRASTRUCTURE. They also regulate the economy and protect the rights of the people.
The Union government and the state governments are both important institutions in the Indian Democracy. They work together to ensure the progress and development of the country.
The following are the functions and duties of the Indian Union and the State Governments:
Functions and Duties of the Indian Union
The Indian Union is responsible for the following matters:
- Defence of India and every part thereof
- Maintenance of Law and Order
- External affairs
- Communications
- Currency, coinage and legal tender
- Post and telegraphs
- Railways
- Shipping and navigation
- Air transport
- Industries declared by Parliament by law to be of national importance
- Regulation and development of Trade and Commerce with foreign countries
- Inter-State Trade and Commerce
- Taxation of income other than agricultural income
- Taxation of corporations
- Taxation of excess profits
- Borrowing Money on the security of the Consolidated Fund of India
- Giving grants in aid of the revenues of the States
- Such other matters as may be specified in the Constitution
Functions and Duties of the State Governments
The State Governments are responsible for the following matters:
- Public order
- Police
- Local Government, that is, the constitution and powers of municipalities, district boards, or other local authorities for the purpose of local self-government or village administration
- Public health and sanitation
- Primary education
- Libraries, museums and other institutions of a public character maintained by the State
- Vagrancy and other similar matters in the State, not included in the Union List
- Such other matters as may be specified in the Constitution
The Executive Power of the Union and the State Governments
The executive power of the Union shall extend to the matters with respect to which Parliament has power to make laws.
The executive power of a State shall extend to the matters with respect to which the Legislature of the State has power to make laws.
The executive power of the Union shall also extend to the matters with respect to which Parliament has power to make laws for the peace, order and good government of any Union territory, except the matters with respect to which the executive power of the Union is expressly entrusted by this Constitution to some other authority.
The executive power of a State shall also extend to the matters with respect to which the Legislature of the State has power to make laws for the peace, order and good government of the State, except the matters with respect to which the executive power of the State is expressly entrusted by this Constitution to some other authority.
The President and the Governor
The President shall have power to make such provision as he thinks fit with respect to the exercise of any functions of the Government of India by any authority subordinate to him, including the delegation of powers to officers and authorities subordinate
The Indian Union and the State Governments are the two main levels of government in India. The Union Government is responsible for matters that are common to the whole country, such as defense, foreign affairs, and currency. The State Governments are responsible for matters that are specific to their state, such as education, health, and law and order.
Here are some frequently asked questions about the functions and duties of the Indian Union and the State Governments:
- What are the functions of the Indian Union?
The Indian Union is responsible for the following functions:
- Defense
- Foreign affairs
- Currency
- Communications
- Railways
- Posts and telegraphs
- Income tax
- Customs
- Central excise
- Inter-state trade and commerce
- Insolvency and bankruptcy
- Banking
- Insurance
- Coinage
- Foreign loans
- Establishment of all-India services
- Co-ordination of the activities of the States
-
Planning for the welfare of the people
-
What are the functions of the State Governments?
The State Governments are responsible for the following functions:
- Law and order
- Police
- Prisons
- Local government
- Public health
- Education
- agriculture
- Industries
- Forests
- Mines
- Water Resources
- Electricity
- Housing
- Transport
- Development of backward areas
-
Welfare of backward classes
-
What is the relationship between the Indian Union and the State Governments?
The Indian Union and the State Governments are both sovereign in their respective spheres. The Union Government has the power to make laws on matters that are listed in the Union List, while the State Governments have the power to make laws on matters that are listed in the State List. There are also some matters that are listed in the Concurrent List, on which both the Union Government and the State Governments can make laws.
- How is the relationship between the Indian Union and the State Governments resolved in case of a conflict?
In case of a conflict between the Indian Union and the State Governments, the matter is resolved by The Supreme Court of India. The Supreme Court is the highest court in the country and has the power to strike down any law that it finds to be unconstitutional.
- What are the sources of revenue for the Indian Union and the State Governments?
The Indian Union and the State Governments both have their own sources of revenue. The Union Government’s main sources of revenue are taxes on income, customs, and excise. The State Governments’ main sources of revenue are taxes on land revenue, sales tax, and octroi.
- How are the budgets of the Indian Union and the State Governments prepared?
The budgets of the Indian Union and the State Governments are prepared by the Finance Ministry of the Union Government and the Finance Departments of the State Governments, respectively. The budgets are presented to the Parliament and the State Legislatures, respectively, for approval.
- How are the expenditures of the Indian Union and the State Governments incurred?
The expenditures of the Indian Union and the State Governments are incurred on various items, such as defense, education, health, and social welfare. The expenditures are incurred through the issue of Treasury Bills and Bonds, and through borrowing from the Reserve Bank of India.
- How are the Indian Union and the State Governments audited?
The Indian Union and the State Governments are both audited by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India. The Comptroller and Auditor General is an independent constitutional authority who is responsible for Auditing the accounts of the Union Government, the State Governments, and all other public bodies in India.
- What are the challenges faced by the Indian Union and the State Governments?
The Indian Union and the State Governments face a number of challenges, such as POVERTY, illiteracy, Unemployment, and Corruption. The governments are also facing the challenge of providing basic amenities, such as water, electricity, and sanitation, to the people.
- What are the future prospects of the Indian Union and the State Governments?
The Indian Union and the State Governments are expected to continue to play a vital role in the development of India. The governments are expected to focus on providing basic amenities to the people, and on improving the Quality Of Life of the people.
-
The President of India is elected by:
(a) The members of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.
(b) The members of the Legislative Assemblies of the States.
(c) The members of the Legislative Assemblies of the States and the Union Territories.
(d) The members of the Electoral College consisting of the elected members of both Houses of Parliament and the Legislative Assemblies of the States. -
The Vice-President of India is elected by:
(a) The members of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.
(b) The members of the Legislative Assemblies of the States.
(c) The members of the Legislative Assemblies of the States and the Union Territories.
(d) The members of the Electoral College consisting of the elected members of both Houses of Parliament and the Legislative Assemblies of the States. -
The Prime Minister of India is appointed by:
(a) The President of India.
(b) The Vice-President of India.
(c) The Speaker of the Lok Sabha.
(d) The Justice-of-india/”>Chief Justice of India. -
The Council of Ministers is headed by the:
(a) Prime Minister.
(b) President.
(c) Vice-President.
(d) Speaker of the Lok Sabha. -
The Parliament of India consists of:
(a) The Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.
(b) The Lok Sabha and the Vidhan Sabha.
(c) The Rajya Sabha and the Vidhan Sabha.
(d) The Lok Sabha, the Rajya Sabha, and the Vidhan Sabha. -
The Supreme Court of India is headed by the:
(a) Chief Justice of India.
(b) President of India.
(c) Vice-President of India.
(d) Speaker of the Lok Sabha. -
The High Court of a State is headed by the:
(a) Chief Justice of India.
(b) Chief Justice of the State.
(c) Governor of the State.
(d) Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of the State. -
The Union Territories are administered by the:
(a) President of India.
(b) Vice-President of India.
(c) Prime Minister of India.
(d) Chief Justice of India. -
The States in India are divided into:
(a) Districts.
(b) Talukas.
(c) Villages.
(d) All of the above. -
The local self-government institutions in India are called:
(a) Panchayats.
(b) Municipalities.
(c) Nagar Panchayats.
(d) All of the above. -
The Official Language of India is:
(a) Hindi.
(b) English.
(c) Sanskrit.
(d) None of the above. -
The National Anthem of India is:
(a) Jana Gana Mana.
(b) Vande Mataram.
(c) Saare Jahan Se Accha.
(d) None of the above. -
The National Flag of India is:
(a) Tricolour.
(b) Ashoka Chakra.
(c) Saffron, white, and green.
(d) All of the above. -
The national animal of India is:
(a) Tiger.
(b) Lion.
(c) Elephant.
(d) None of the above. -
The national bird of India is:
(a) Peacock.
(b) Parrot.
(c) Eagle.
(d) None of the above. -
The national flower of India is:
(a) Lotus.
(b) Rose.
(c) Jasmine.
(d) None of the above. -
The national tree of India is:
(a) Banyan tree.
(b) Peepal tree.
(c) Ashoka tree.
(d) None of the above. -
The national fruit of India is:
(a) Mango.
(b) Apple.
(c) Banana.
(d) None of the above. -
The national dish of India is:
(a) Chicken tikka masala.
(b) Butter chicken.
(c) Biryani.
(d) None of the above. -
The national sport of India is:
(a) Hockey.
(b) Cricket.
(c) Football.
(d) None of the above. -
The national motto