In a parliamentary system of government, from which branch are cabinet members usually drawn?

Introduction / Context:
This question tests understanding of a key feature of the parliamentary form of government, which India follows at the Union and state levels. In such a system, the relationship between the executive and the legislature is very close. Knowing from which branch cabinet members are drawn helps students distinguish parliamentary systems from presidential systems and understand why ministerial accountability to the legislature is central to parliamentary democracy.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The system in question is a parliamentary system of government.
• Cabinet members are those who head various ministries and form the core of the executive.
• The options mention the judicial, legislative and executive branches.

Concept / Approach:
In a parliamentary system, such as in India, the United Kingdom or many Commonwealth countries, the executive is drawn from the legislature. The Prime Minister is normally the leader of the majority party or coalition in the lower house. Ministers are typically members of Parliament or the state legislature. They remain in office only as long as they retain the confidence of the elected house. This fusion of executive and legislative personnel is a defining characteristic of the parliamentary form, unlike the presidential system where the executive is separate and independently elected.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that in a parliamentary system, ministers must be members of the legislature or become members within a limited time. Step 2: Identify which option names the branch from which ministers and cabinet members are drawn. Step 3: The legislative branch includes the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha at the Union level and state legislatures at the state level. Step 4: Cabinet members hold executive offices, but their membership is in the legislature, not in the judiciary. Step 5: Therefore, the correct choice is the legislative branch.
Verification / Alternative check:
You can verify this by recalling constitutional provisions: for example, in India a minister who is not a member of the legislature must secure a seat in the legislature within six months, otherwise they must step down. This requirement directly links ministerial office to legislative membership, confirming that the pool of cabinet members is drawn from the legislature, not from the judiciary or an entirely separate executive body.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A (Judicial branch) is incorrect because judges are expected to be independent and are not appointed as cabinet ministers in a parliamentary system.
Option C (Executive branch) may sound tempting, but it describes the role and function of cabinet members, not the branch from which they are drawn. In a parliamentary system the executive is formed out of the legislature, so legislative membership is the key point.
Option D (All of the above) is wrong because cabinet members are not drawn from the judiciary, and their origin is specifically the legislature in this system.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes confuse the idea that cabinet members are part of the executive with the question of where they come from. In a parliamentary system, they wear two hats: they are legislators and also part of the executive. Another pitfall is assuming the arrangement is the same in presidential systems, where the separation between executive and legislature is much sharper.

Final Answer:
In a parliamentary system of government, cabinet members are usually drawn from the legislative branch.