PYQ Vault · Paper 1 · Indian Constitution

Differentiate parliamentary supremacy from parliamentary sovereignty. Would you consider the Indian Parliament as a Sovereign Parliament? Examine.

How the answer moves

The flow snapshot — the routes in, the body, the counter-view and the routes out.

Flow snapshot — how the answer moves
Intro routes

Route 1 two terms used loosely → actually different degrees of legislative power

Route 2 settle the distinction first → then test India against it

Body flow

supremacy = highest authority within jurisdiction, courts may review under written constitution → sovereignty = make/unmake any law, no higher limit → British model (De Lolme) → India rejects it: Constitution supreme → confining features (written Constitution, FRs, federal division, judicial review, Basic Structure) → Art 13 voids violating laws → Art 246 + Seventh Schedule split powers → Art 368 cannot touch basic structure → Kashyap: representative parliamentary democracy, not sovereign legislature

Counter-view

Jennings → supremacy itself risky → can slide into unfettered executive power when government controls the House majority

Conclusion routes

Route 1 supremacy within its field, not absolute sovereignty

Route 2 sovereignty lies with the Constitution and, through “We, the People,” with the people

Model answer

Handwritten, in the form it would be written in the examination hall.

Handwritten model answer — UPSC PSIR 2017, Indian Constitution