The Parliament controls the functioning of the Executive. Mention any four ways in which it exercises control.

(1) Question Hour — members may question ministers on any aspect of administration, and the ministers are bound to answer, which exposes lapses and keeps the executive alert. (2) Motions — an Adjournment Motion sets aside normal business to discuss an urgent matter and censures the government, while a No Confidence Motion passed in the Lok Sabha forces the entire Council of Ministers to resign. (3) Financial control — the executive cannot levy a tax or spend a rupee without the approval of Parliament, which passes the Budget and can reject or reduce demands for grants (the Cut Motion). (4) Debates and discussions on Bills, on the Presidential Address and on matters of public importance, through which Parliament criticises policy; and the collective responsibility of the Council of Ministers to the Lok Sabha, which underlies all of these.

Four marks, four distinct methods — number them and do not let one sprawl. The strongest four are Question Hour, motions, financial control and debates. The single most important is the No Confidence Motion, since it is the ultimate sanction, so make sure it appears somewhere in your answer. The underlying principle worth naming is COLLECTIVE RESPONSIBILITY — all these devices work because the ministry survives only while it holds the confidence of the Lok Sabha.