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Difference Between Presidential UPSC

and Parliamentary Forms of Polity
Government Notes!

Unlike the USA which follows a Presidential system, India follows a Parliamentary form of Government
at both centers (under Articles 74 and 75) and state (under Articles 163 & 164).

The Parliamentary form of government is also known as a cabinet government, cabinet system, or
responsible government. It is also termed a Prime Ministerial government where the head of political
administration is the Prime Minister. Such a system of government is widely followed in Britain, Japan,
Canada, India, and other countries.

Learn more about this topic for the upcoming UPSC Examination. In this article on the difference between
Presidential & Parliamentary Forms of Government, we shall discuss the differences between the two
forms of government and a few other details.

Also, from the linked article, study Notes on Ordinance Making Power Of President & Governor in India.

Parliamentary form of government

• India is a parliamentary democracy, with the Prime Minister presiding over the government. In
this type of parliamentary democracy, the President of the country is the official head of state but
only has ceremonial powers.
• A democratically elected parliamentary government is a style of government in which real
executive authority is vested in a cabinet comprised of members of the legislature who are
individually and collectively responsible to the legislature.
• In a parliamentary system, the legislature holds the executive responsible for the laws and
regulations it passes.
• At both the national and state levels, parliamentary government is established under the Indian
Constitution.
The parliamentary system of government in the Union is outlined in Articles 74 and 75.
• The state's parliamentary system of government is outlined in Articles 163 and 164.
• Other names for the parliamentary form of government include the Westminster model, cabinet
government, and responsible governance.
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• Its founding principles are transparency, democratic participation, and open discourse.
• In 1935, the Government of India adopted India's legislative structure as the Parliamentary Form
of Government.
• According to Article 75, collective responsibility is the foundation and heart of parliamentary
democracy.

Study the Types Of Majority In The Indian Parliament here.

Presidential form of Government

• A presidential system is a form of administration in which the head of government is also the head
of state and heads a distinct executive branch from the legislative branch.
• The presidential system is used in the United States, for example.
The presidential system of government has the following advantages:
o The system allows a strong president to achieve all his objectives.
o The operation of the principles of separation of powers and checks and balances allows
branches of government to act as checks on one another thereby preventing abuse of power.
• Only the executive is both the real and the nominal head of the government there.
• The President is the head of state and government in nations like the USA, South Korea, and others.
• According to the provisions of the Presidential form of Government, the executive is not
answerable to the legislative for its policies or acts over the course of its tenure in office.
• A member of the Constituent Assembly named T. Shah backed the Indian Presidential System.
But, India went ahead with the Parliamentary System of Government.

Difference Between Presidential and Parliamentary Forms of

Government
Have a look at the table below where the comparison of both the forms of Government is given based on
various factors.

Basis of Parliamentary form of government Presidential form of government

Comparison
Executive Dual executives for state and center. Single executive.
Dissolution of The lower house can be dissolved The lower house cannot be dissolved
the lower house
Accountability The executive is accountable to the The executive is not accountable to the
Legislature. Legislature.
Ministers Ministers are members of Parliament. Ministers are not necessarily members of
Parliament.

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Tenure It is not fixed as it depends on the The tenure is fixed.

support of the majority.
Separation of The Powers and roles of the executive There is a clear separation of power
Powers and legislature overlap. between the executive, legislature, and
judiciary.
Autocracy Less autocratic. More autocratic.
Role of the The cabinet is a crucial instrument that The Cabinet is only an advisory body in
Cabinet serves as a liaison between the executive the Presidential form of government.
and the legislative. The Cabinet is also
responsible for developing policies and It advises and assists the President in
making critical decisions about the making critical decisions when necessary.
country's governance.
Accountability The ministers are collectively Ministers are exclusively accountable to
accountable to the legislature. the President, who has the authority to
dismiss them at any time.
Division of The powers of the state are shared The country's authorities are concentrated
Powers between the nominal and real heads. in the hands of a single executive, or the
President.
Party Discipline In a parliamentary system, the Since the executive branch is independent
government must answer for its acts and of the legislative branch and does not
preserve the party’s coherence in voting answer to the legislature under a
behavior. presidential system, party coherence is
comparatively less.

Learn about the Pardoning Power of The President here.

Demerits of the Presidential System

In the table, some demerits of the Presidential system have been given.

Demerits Description
Autocratic in nature The head takes all decisions which give power to one hand only.
Less accountable The executive is not accountable to the Legislature for its actions.
Exclusion of powers The separation of powers may result in more disagreement in certain matters.

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Conclusion
• India's political unpredictability is caused by several elements, many of which have nothing to do
with the country's political system.
• It is frequently stated that India's political culture, not its parliamentary system, is to blame for its
troubles.
• Elections are more frequently governed by casteism, communalism, and other outmoded standards
than by educated decisions based on the demands and requirements of the general populace.
• The main reasons, not the type of government, are public priorities that are poorly set and
governmental corruption.
• Changes in popular political culture and a fundamental shift in the political elite class are required
instead of changing the system of government.

Check out the Veto Power of President here.

We hope that all your doubts regarding the Difference between Presidential and Parliamentary Forms of
Government will be cleared after going through this article. You can download the Testbook App now to
check out various other topics relevant to the UPSC IAS Exam.

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