UPSC Prelims 2020— Question 21

This question tests parliamentary government. The key concept is: A parliamentary system is characterized by executive responsibility to the legislature. The government normally remains in office only while it retains the confidence of the lower house. It is therefore not necessary that every party be represented in government, nor is the government directly removable by the electorate between elections. The verified answer for the uploaded Set-B paper is option B. Option A — All political parties in the Parliament are represented in the Government: This is not the correct option. The option does not match the verified combination or conclusion. The decisive point is the distinction explained above: A parliamentary system is characterized by executive responsibility to the legislature. The government normally remains in office only while it retains the confidence of the lower house. It is therefore not necessary that every party be represented in government, nor is the government directly removable by the electorate between elections. Therefore this alternative should be eliminated even if part of its wording appears plausible in isolation. Option B — The Government is responsible to the Parliament and can be removed by it: This is the correct option. It matches the verified conclusion because A parliamentary system is characterized by executive responsibility to the legislature. The government normally remains in office only while it retains the confidence of the lower house. It is therefore not necessary that every party be represented in government, nor is the government directly removable by the electorate between elections. The wording of the option is consistent with the governing concept tested by the question. Option C — The Government is elected by the people and can be removed by them: This is not the correct option. The option does not match the verified combination or conclusion. The decisive point is the distinction explained above: A parliamentary system is characterized by executive responsibility to the legislature. The government normally remains in office only while it retains the confidence of the lower house. It is therefore not necessary that every party be represented in government, nor is the government directly removable by the electorate between elections. Therefore this alternative should be eliminated even if part of its wording appears plausible in isolation. Option D — The Government is chosen by the Parliament but cannot be removed by it before completion of a fixed term: This is not the correct option. The option does not match the verified combination or conclusion. The decisive point is the distinction explained above: A parliamentary system is characterized by executive responsibility to the legislature. The government normally remains in office only while it retains the confidence of the lower house. It is therefore not necessary that every party be represented in government, nor is the government directly removable by the electorate between elections. Therefore this alternative should be eliminated even if part of its wording appears plausible in isolation. For UPSC-style elimination, first identify the exact proposition being tested, then evaluate each statement independently before comparing the answer codes. Avoid treating a broad or absolute statement as correct merely because its general theme is familiar. The precise qualifiers in the question—such as 'all', 'only', 'cannot', 'largest', 'always' or a specific institutional role—often determine the answer. On that basis, option B is the verified answer.