QUESTION 1
GS2
10 marks
Do you think that the Constitution of India does not accept the principle of strict separation of powers; rather, it is based on the principle of ‘checks and balances’? Explain.
WRITE IN
7 min
150 words
What the examiner wants
Explain why India's Constitution follows checks and balances rather than strict separation of powers.
ExplainMake clear how and why it happens: causes, process, and an example for each point.
Demand-wise check
- 1No strict separation: executive drawn from legislature, ordinances (Art. 123), delegated legislation, President's role in judicial appointments≈30 words
- 2Checks: judicial review (Art. 13, 32, 226), impeachment, parliamentary control over executive, President's veto≈30 words
- 3Separation as part of basic structure (Kesavananda, Indira Gandhi v Raj Narain)≈30 words
- 4Conclusion: functional separation with mutual checks≈30 words
Open in about 20 words and close in about 20.
Answer plan
Strict separation (Montesquieu, US)Indian overlapsChecksJudicial viewConclusion
Where marks usually go
- Listing articles without the 'checks' logic
- No cases, e.g. Kesavananda Bharati, Indira Gandhi v Raj Narain, Ram Jawaya Kapur
Draw this
- Triangle of three organs with arrows for each check
Value addition
- CaseRam Jawaya Kapur v State of Punjab (1955): the Constitution does not follow strict separation but differentiates functions.Supreme Court, 1955
- CaseIndira Nehru Gandhi v Raj Narain (1975): separation of powers is part of the basic structure.Supreme Court, 1975
Mapped topper copies
Reviewed public-source references related to this PYQ. Same-syllabus references are labelled separately.
- Shakti Dubey · AIR 1 · Page 26 ↗Same syllabus reference
Links open original public sources. MainsBuddy does not host these answer sheets.
Next: plan for one minute, write it in 7 minutes, then get it checked.