The statement, "Parliamentary democracy in India envisages elected head as the real executive of a State," requires careful discussion, particularly regarding the interpretation of "elected head" and "real executive" within the Indian context.

India operates under a Westminster-style parliamentary democracy, which is characterized by a clear distinction between the nominal (titular) executive and the real executive. This distinction is crucial for understanding the statement.

Nominal Executive (Head of State): At the Union level, the President of India is the Head of State. While indirectly elected by an electoral college, the President is primarily a ceremonial head. All executive actions are taken in the President's name, but the President acts on the 'aid and advice' of the Council of Ministers headed by the Prime Minister (Article 74).

Similarly, at the State level, the Governor is the Head of State. The Governor is appointed by the President and is not directly or indirectly elected by the people of the state. Like the President, the Governor's powers are largely ceremonial, and they act on the 'aid and advice' of the Council of Ministers headed by the Chief Minister (Article 163).

Neither the President nor the Governor, despite being the constitutional heads, are the 'real executives' in the day-to-day functioning of the government.

Real Executive (Head of Government): In a parliamentary system, the 'real executive' power vests with the Council of Ministers, headed by the Prime Minister at the Union level and the Chief Minister at the State level. These individuals and their cabinets are directly accountable to the legislature (Lok Sabha at the Union, Legislative Assembly at the State).

• The Prime Minister/Chief Minister: They are the leaders of the majority party or coalition in the respective legislatures. They are elected as Members of Parliament (MPs) or Members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs) by the people. Their position as head of government is a direct consequence of their party's electoral success and their leadership within that party.
• Council of Ministers: The ministers are also elected representatives (MPs/MLAs) and are collectively responsible to the legislature. They formulate and implement policies, manage government departments, and drive the legislative agenda.

Interpreting the Statement: If "elected head" in the statement refers to the Head of Government (i.e., the Prime Minister at the Union level or the Chief Minister at the State level), then the statement is largely true. The Prime Minister and Chief Minister are indeed elected representatives (as MPs/MLAs) who, by virtue of commanding a majority in the legislature, become the real executive heads. They exercise all effective executive powers, make policy decisions, and lead the administration, while the President/Governor acts as the constitutional figurehead.

If "elected head" were to refer to the Head of State (President/Governor), then the statement would be incorrect, as they are nominal executives. However, in the context of 'parliamentary democracy' and 'real executive,' the focus is typically on the head of government who derives authority from the elected legislature.

Conclusion: India's parliamentary democracy is characterized by the principle of collective responsibility of the executive to the legislature. The Prime Minister and Chief Minister, as elected representatives leading the Council of Ministers, are the actual centers of executive power. Therefore, the statement holds true when understood in the context that the 'elected head' refers to the head of government (PM/CM) who is an elected member of the legislature and wields the real executive authority, rather than the titular Head of State.