UPSC Prelims 2017 · GS Paper I
Question 50: Polity and Governance
The Parliament of India exercises control over the functions of the Council of Ministers through
- 1.Adjournment motion
- 2.Question hour
- 3.Supplementary questions
Select the correct answer using the code given below :
AnswerUPSC’s answer is (d).
Parliament controls the Council of Ministers through many devices. The adjournment motion lets members draw attention to an urgent matter of public importance and is in effect a censure of the Government; Question Hour lets members seek information and hold ministers to account; and supplementary questions let members probe a minister's answer further. All three are means of control. Remember: questions, motions and debates are how a responsible government is checked.
- 1. An adjournment motion draws attention to an urgent matter and censures the Government.
- 2. Question Hour makes ministers answer to members.
- 3. Supplementary questions probe ministers' replies further.
How you could have got this
- If you were sure statement 1 is correct, (b) goes: it leaves 1 out.
What you needed to know: An adjournment motion draws attention to an urgent matter and censures the Government.
- Then, if you were sure statement 2 is correct, (a) and (c) go: each of them leaves 2 out.
What you needed to know: Question Hour makes ministers answer to members.
Only (d) is left. You didn’t need statement 3.
Which options go is worked out from UPSC’s key and the options, not by a model.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incomplete: Question Hour and supplementary questions are also control devices.
- (b) Incomplete: the adjournment motion is also a control device.
- (c) Incomplete: Question Hour is also a control device.
- (d) Right: all three are means of parliamentary control.
Answer: UPSC’s key. Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2017, General Studies Paper I, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.