Prime Minister and Council of Ministers

Who heads the Council of Ministers?

1. President
2. Prime Minister
3. Council Minister
4. Chief Justice of India

Answer

Prime Minister

Reason — The Council of Ministers functions with the Prime Minister at its head to aid and advise the President, making the Prime Minister the real head of the government and the leader of the Council.

What happens if a non-member of Parliament is appointed as a Minister?

1. He/she has to become one within six months of appointment
2. He/she has to become a member in the next elections
3. He/she can defer the appointment until he/she becomes a member
4. He/she cannot be appointed.

Answer

He/she has to become one within six months of appointment

Reason — If a non-member of Parliament is appointed as a Minister, he/she must be elected or nominated to either House of Parliament within six months from the date of appointment, failing which they must resign from the post.

Which of the following statements about the Prime Minister of India are correct?

P : The Prime Minister is the head of the Council of Ministers to aid and advise the President.

Q : The Prime Minister is not answerable to the people of the country.

R : The members of the majority party in the Lok Sabha elect their leader to be appointed as the Prime Minister.

S : The Prime Minister is the nominal head of the nation.

1. P and Q
2. P and R
3. P and S
4. R and S

Answer

P and R

Reason — Statements P and R are correct because the Prime Minister heads the Council of Ministers to aid and advise the President, and is elected as leader by the majority party in the Lok Sabha. Statement Q is incorrect because the Prime Minister is answerable to the people, and S is incorrect because the Prime Minister is the real head of the nation, not the nominal head

Which of the following statements about the Council of Ministers are correct?

P : The ministers hold office during the pleasure of the Prime Minister.

Q : The Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha.

R : Every minister must be a member of Lok Sabha.

S : The Prime Minister selects his/her senior and trustworthy colleagues as Cabinet Ministers.

1. P and Q
2. P and R
3. Q and S
4. R and S

Answer

Q and S

Reason — The Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha, and the Prime Minister selects his/her senior and trustworthy colleagues and advises the President to appoint them as Cabinet Ministers. Statement P is wrong as the ministers hold office during the pleasure of the President, and Statement R is wrong as every minister must be a member of either House of the Parliament.

Mohan belongs to the junior most rung of the Council of Ministers. Which group does he belong to?

1. Deputy Ministers
2. Ministers of State
3. Governors
4. Cabinet

Answer

Deputy Ministers

Reason — Deputy Ministers form the third and junior-most category of ministers who assist Cabinet Ministers and the Council of Ministers, placing them under senior ministers without participation in Cabinet deliberations.

The President's Special Address to Parliament is prepared by ............... .

1. The Prime Minister
2. The Vice President
3. The Cabinet
4. The Speaker of the Lok Sabha

Answer

The Cabinet

Reason — The Cabinet prepares the President's Special Address to Parliament, setting forth its legislative program at the start of the first session of the Lok Sabha after each General Election and the first session each year.

Which, amongst the following, is not a Financial Power of the Cabinet?

1. Budget
2. Summoning the Lok Sabha
3. Finances of the Government
4. Introduction of Money Bills

Answer

Summoning the Lok Sabha

Reason — Budget, Finances of the Government, and Introduction of Money Bills are financial powers, whereas initiating the summoning of Parliament is a legislative function of the Cabinet.

Identify the Legislative powers of the Cabinet.

P : The Cabinet is responsible for the expenditure of the Government.

Q : The Cabinet initiates almost 95 per cent of the Bills.

R : The ministers answer questions put to them by the members of the Lok Sabha.

S : The Cabinet directly advises the President of India.

1. Q and R
2. P and Q
3. Q and S
4. R and S

Answer

Q and R

Reason — Statements Q and R represent legislative powers as the Cabinet initiates ~95% of Bills and ministers answer questions in the Lok Sabha. Statement P is a financial power (expenditure), while statement S describes how governance functions rather than a legislative power.

Whose resignation implies resignation of the whole cabinet?

1. Prime Minister
2. President
3. Chief Justice of India
4. Deputy Minister

Answer

Prime Minister

Reason — The Prime Minister is the head of the Cabinet, so their resignation automatically implies the resignation of the entire Cabinet.

Identify the methods by which Parliament maintains control over the Executive.

P : By passing a vote of No-confidence in the Council of Ministers.

Q : By changing the Council of Ministers after every six months.

R : By electing new Prime Minister after a gap of three years.

S : By passing an amendment to a bill against the wishes of the Government.

1. Q and R
2. P and S
3. R and S
4. P and R

Answer

P and S

Reason — Parliament controls the Executive through a vote of No-Confidence and by passing amendments against the Government's wishes. Statements Q and R are incorrect as there are no constitutional provisions to automatically change ministers every six months or elect a new Prime Minister every three years.

Who amongst the following has the power to select and dismiss Ministers?

1. President
2. Chief Justice of India
3. Cabinet Minister
4. Prime Minister

Answer

Prime Minister

Reason — The Prime Minister chooses the Ministers and has the power to dismiss them too. He/She can ask an erring Minister to resign.

The initiative of summoning the Houses of Parliament is taken by ................ .

1. the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs
2. the Prime Minister
3. the President
4. the Chief Justice

Answer

the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs

Reason — Although the Houses of Parliament are summoned by the President, the initiative in this matter is taken by the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs.

Which of the following statements are correct?

P : The Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha.

Q : A Vote of No-confidence against one Minister does not have any effect on the entire Ministry.

R : The Ministers are individually responsible to the Prime Minister of India.

S : Every Minister is answerable to Parliament for the department under his/her control.

1. P and R
2. R and S
3. P and Q
4. P and S

Answer

P and S

Reason — The Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha, and every Minister is answerable to Parliament for the department under his/her control. Statement Q is wrong as a Vote of No-Confidence against one Minister is a vote against the whole Ministry, and Statement R is wrong as the Ministers are individually responsible to the President.

Select the option that shows the correct relationship between Statements I and II.

(I) The President invites the leader of the majority party or group in the Lok Sabha to form the Government.

(II) When no single party gets an absolute majority in Lok Sabha, the President uses his/her discretion to appoint the new PM.

1. (I) is true, but (II) is false
2. (I) is false, but (II) is true
3. Both (I) and (II) are true, but (II) is not the correct explanation of (I)
4. Both (I) and (II) are false.

Answer

Both (I) and (II) are true, but (II) is not the correct explanation of (I)

Reason — Statement I is true as the President invites the leader of the majority party in the Lok Sabha by convention. Statement II is true because the President exercises discretion when no single party secures an absolute majority. However, Statement II describes a scenario when there is no majority and does not explain Statement I, which describes standard majority procedure.

Select the option that shows the correct relationship between Statements I and II.

(I) The Council of Ministers is consulted by the Prime Minister on all important decisions.

(II) It is the Council of Ministers which advises the President.

1. (I) is true, but (II) is false
2. (I) is false, but (II) is true
3. Both (I) and (II) are true, but (II) is not the correct explanation of (I)
4. Both (I) and (II) are false.

Answer

Both (I) and (II) are false.

Reason — It is the Cabinet that is consulted by the Prime Minister on all important decisions. Also, it is not the Council of Ministers but the Cabinet which advises the President indirectly, through the Prime Minister. Hence, both Statement (I) and Statement (II) are false.

State the three categories of Ministers in the Council of Ministers. Which category of ministers is the most important?

Answer

The three categories of Ministers in the Council of Ministers are-

1. Cabinet Ministers
2. Minister of State
3. Deputy Ministers

Cabinet Ministers are the most important category of ministers as they hold important portfolios.

Explain the term 'Collective Responsibility'. Who is the head of the Union Council of ministers?

Answer

The principle of collective responsibility implies the following:

1. The decisions taken in the meetings of the Cabinet are equally applicable to all the Ministers even though they may differ among themselves on a particular policy.
2. All Ministers jointly share the responsibility for the government's policies and performance. The Ministers must function as a team in supporting and defending government policies inside as well as outside Parliament.
3. A Vote of No-Confidence against one Minister is a vote against the whole Ministry. Such a Ministry that has lost the confidence of the Lok Sabha has to resign.

Prime Minister is the head of the Union Council of Ministers.

How long can a Minister stay in office? Under what provision can a non-member of Parliament be made a Minister?

Answer

A minister being a member of Parliament has a normal term of office of 5 years. But Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers can remain in office so long as they enjoy the majority support in the Lok Sabha. If the Lok Sabha passes a vote of no -confidence against the Council of Ministers then they have to resign collectively even before completion of their 5 years term.

In case a non-member is appointed as a Minister, he must be elected or nominated to the Parliament six months from the date of his appointment. Failing this, he will have to resign from the post of a Minister.

By whom and on whose advice is the Council of Ministers appointed? A large number of people are killed in a major rail accident. What happens if the Railway Minister resigns from the post on moral grounds?

Answer

The Council of Ministers is appointed by the President on the advice of the Prime Minister.

Each minister is individually responsible to the Parliament for the department under his/her control. For this reason, if the Railway Minister is owning the responsibility of the mistakes and shortcomings of his/her department then only he/she needs to resign. The rest of the members of the cabinet will not resign and continue working.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla accepted the no-confidence motion moved by the Opposition against the Narendra Modi government over Manipur violence. — The Hindu, July 26, 2023

What happens when a no-confidence motion is passed? What is the term for such a responsibility?

Answer

When a Vote of No-Confidence is passed by the Lok Sabha against the Council of Ministers, the entire Council of Ministers, headed by the Prime Minister, loses the confidence of the House and has to resign collectively. A Vote of No-Confidence moved against even one Minister is treated as a vote against the whole Ministry, and hence the whole Ministry has to resign.

The term for such a responsibility is Collective Responsibility. Under Article 75(3) of the Constitution, "the Council of Ministers shall be collectively responsible to the House of the People."

With reference to the powers and functions of the Cabinet, briefly state the following:

(a) Three Administrative Functions.

(b) Three Legislative Functions.

(c) Four Financial Functions.

Answer

(a) Three administrative functions of the Cabinet are as follows-

1. Policy Making — The Cabinet formulates both external and domestic policies of the Government. Individual Ministers have reasonable freedom of action, but on all major matters they have to consult the Cabinet.
2. Implementation of Policies — Once a policy decision is taken by the Cabinet on any subject, it is conveyed to the Minister of State and the Deputy Minister of the concerned Ministry. They work out the details and pass it to the civil servants under that Ministry to implement the decision.
3. Coordinating the Functioning of Various Ministers — The Cabinet coordinates the working of various departments for the smooth implementation of government policies.

(b) Three legislative functions of the Cabinet are as follows-

1. Amendment to the Constitution — The Cabinet is instrumental in planning and moving the Amendment to the Constitution.
2. Summoning the Houses of Parliament — Although the Houses are summoned by the President, initiative in this matter is taken by the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs.
3. Issuing Ordinances — Cabinet also advises the President to issue ordinances when the Parliament is not in session.

(c) Four financial functions of the Cabinet are as follows-

1. Budget — The Finance Minister prepares the Annual Budget containing estimates of income and expenditure for the ensuing year.
   1. Though the budget is passed by Parliament, usually no changes are made in the budget figures against the wishes of the Cabinet.
   2. Any amendment to the budget proposals against the wishes of the Cabinet that may be passed by the Lok Sabha amounts to a vote of No-Confidence in the Ministry. It happens only when the Ministry has lost the support of the majority in the Lok Sabha. In such a situation the Ministry must resign.
2. Finances of the Government — The Cabinet is responsible for the expenditure of the government for presenting the demand for grants and also for raising necessary income by various means including taxation.
3. Introduction of Money Bills — A Money Bill can be introduced in the Lok Sabha only by a Minister.

The Constitution provides a Council of Ministers to aid and advise the President. In this context, answer the following questions:

(a) Briefly mention three of their functions.

(b) How does the Parliament exercise an effective control over the Council of Ministers?

(c) State the Cabinet's role in the formulation of policies of the Government.

Answer

(a) Three functions of Council of Ministers are-

1. Policy Making — The Cabinet formulates both external and domestic policies of the Government. Individual Ministers have reasonable freedom of action, but on all major matters they have to consult the Cabinet.
2. Implementation of Policies — Once a policy decision is taken by the Cabinet on any subject, it is conveyed to the Minister of State and the Deputy Minister of the concerned Ministry. They work out the details and pass it to the civil servants under that Ministry to implement the decision.
3. Finances of the Government — The Cabinet is responsible for the expenditure of the government for presenting the demand for grants and also for raising necessary income by various means including taxation.

(b) Parliament ensures Cabinet's responsibility to the people, in general, and to the Parliament as a whole. The methods adopted by the Parliament are —

1. A vote of No-Confidence in the Council of Ministers.
2. Rejection of a Government bill.
3. Passing a bill opposed by the Government.
4. Voting a cut in the Budget.
5. Passing an amendment to a bill against the wishes of the Government.
6. Reducing the salaries of the Ministers.
7. Asking questions.
8. Adjournment motions.
9. Rejecting some government measures.

(c) The Cabinet formulates both external and domestic policies of the Government.

1. It takes decisions on matters such as defence, economic policy, security needs, President's rule in State, formation of new States, industrial policy, imports and electoral reforms.
2. Individual Ministers have reasonable freedom of action, but on all major matters they have to consult the Cabinet.

Read the excerpt given below and answer the questions that follow:

Modi 3.0 Cabinet highlights: PM Modi allocates portfolios; Rajnath, Shah, Sitharaman, Jaishankar retain ministries. — The Mint, June 11, 2024

(a) State any three qualifications which a person should possess to be eligible for appointment as Prime Minister.

(b) What do you understand by 'cabinet'?

(c) How is the Prime Minister a link between the Cabinet and the President?

Answer

(a) Three qualifications which a person should possess to be eligible for appointment as Prime Minister are-

1. He/She should be a citizen of India.
2. He/She must have completed 25 years of age in case he is a member of Lok Sabha and 30 years in case of Rajya Sabha.
3. He/She should be a member of either House of Parliament. If not a member at the time of appointment, he/she must become a member within six months.

(b) The Cabinet is the apex body of the Government, consisting of ministers of Cabinet rank and headed by the Prime Minister.

1. It is a small body of senior and trusted Ministers who are part of the Council of Ministers.
2. They hold important portfolios such as Home, Defence, Finance, External Affairs, Railways, etc., and decide the major policies of the Government.
3. Being the trusted colleagues of the Prime Minister, they form the nucleus of the administration.

(c) The Prime Minister acts as a link between the Cabinet and the President in the following ways:

1. He/She communicates to the President all decisions of the Council of Ministers relating to the administration of the Union.
2. He/She communicates to the President the proposals of the Council of Ministers for legislation.
3. An individual Minister cannot discuss matters of national policy with the President independently; such communication takes place through the Prime Minister.

With reference to the Prime Minister of India, answer the following questions:

(a) How can we say that the Prime Minister occupies a unique position in the Parliament?

(b) State any three powers of the Prime Minister as a Chairperson of the Cabinet.

(c) Mention three ways in which the Constitution ensures the pre-eminent position of the Prime Minister in relation to the Union Council of Ministers.

Answer

(a) The Prime Minister occupies a unique position in the Parliament as can be seen by the following points-

1. Leader of the House — As the leader of the majority party in Parliament, the Prime Minister is regarded as the leader of the House.
2. Spokesperson of the Government — The Prime Minister is the chief spokesperson of the Government in Parliament and makes important announcements regarding national policies.
3. Defender of Government Policies — When a government policy or a Minister comes under attack in Parliament, the Prime Minister defends the Government and explains its position.
4. Intervention in case of Controversial Issues — When a serious controversy arises in either House of Parliament, the Prime Minister intervenes to resolve the issue.

(b) Three powers of the Prime Minister as a Chairperson of the Cabinet are as follows-

1. Allocation of Portfolios — The Prime Minister allocates departments or portfolios to the Ministers and can reshuffle them whenever necessary.
2. Selection and Dismissal of Ministers — The Prime Minister selects the Ministers and can ask an erring Minister to resign.
3. Direction and Coordination of Policy — The Prime Minister coordinates the working of various departments and directs government policy, particularly in important matters such as foreign affairs, defence and economic policy.

(c) The Constitution ensures the pre-eminent position of the Prime Minister in relation to the Union Council of Ministers in the following ways:

1. The other Ministers are appointed by the President on the advice of the Prime Minister.
2. Ministers may be dismissed by the President on the advice of the Prime Minister; the Prime Minister may ask a Minister to resign.
3. The resignation of the Prime Minister implies the resignation of the entire Council of Ministers.

Read the following excerpt and answer the questions that follow:

Madhavrao Scindia tended his resignation as Civil Aviation Minister on January 9, 1993 following the crash of TU-154 aircraft which was carrying 165 persons on board including the crew. Although all the passengers survived the crash Madhavrao resigned on moral grounds as the aircraft had been leased from Russia.

(a) Does Madhavrao's resignation reflect Individual Responsibility or Collective Responsibility? Justify.

(b) State two important differences between Individual and Collective Responsibility.

(c) Which of these two responsibilities is more important? Why?

Answer

(a) Madhavrao's resignation reflects Individual Responsibility. This is because he was directly in charge of the Civil Aviation Ministry and not the entire Council of Ministers.

(b) Two important differences between Individual and Collective Responsibility are as follows:

(c) Collective Responsibility can be considered more crucial and important because it ensures accountability at a larger scale. This can be clearly noticed when a vote of No-Confidence against one minister is considered a vote against the whole Ministry, in the case of which the whole Ministry has to resign.

Suppose you are appointed as the Prime Minister of India. How will you choose your Cabinet and whom would you appoint as Ministers?

Answer

If I am appointed as the Prime Minister of India, my guiding principles for choosing my cabinet will be firstly, to have only people without any criminal background considered for my cabinet. Secondly, my ministers should be honest, dedicated, self-less and above all not corrupt. I will also appoint young men who are technically sound as Ministers in my cabinet so that their experience and passion could be used to develop the country.

In a coalition government, a number of parties join together to form the government. There occurs a clash of interests among different parties that makes the government weak. Give your views and reasons to justify them.

Answer

Yes, historically we have seen that when a number of parties join together to form a coalition government, such a government is weak. Due to the conflicting interests of the different parties involved, compromise and tolerance becomes the norm and the narrow agenda of regional parties takes priority over national needs. National economy becomes weak as the fiscal requirements of individual states and regions takes precedence.

The coalition partners have no common ideology. As a result, they are always living in this fear that the government can fall anytime. So, they try to maximise the financial gains for their respective parties in a short span of time. This combined with a lack of accountability in a coalition towards the people increases corruption leading to major scams.
Hence, a coalition government is weak and unable to strengthen the nation.

How does the principle of Collective Responsibility strengthens democracy in India?

Answer

The principle of Collective Responsibility strengthens democracy in India in the following ways:

1. Accountability to the Lok Sabha — The Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha and can remain in office only as long as it enjoys its confidence.
2. Responsibility to the people — Since the Lok Sabha is directly elected by the people, collective responsibility makes the Government indirectly accountable to the electorate.
3. Joint responsibility of Ministers — All Ministers share responsibility for the policies and actions of the Government. A Vote of No-Confidence against the Ministry can lead to the resignation of the entire Council of Ministers.
4. Unity and solidarity of the Government — Cabinet decisions are binding on all Ministers, who must support and defend government policies inside and outside Parliament.
5. Effective parliamentary control — Parliament can hold the Executive accountable through questions, adjournment motions, cut motions, rejection of government measures and a Vote of No-Confidence.

Suppose you are appointed as the PM of India for a day. What two changes would you like to bring in immediately and why?

Answer

If I were appointed as the Prime Minister of India for a day, I would focus on two immediate changes that could have a lasting impact:

1. Implement Strict Accountability for Government Officials

(i) I would introduce a real-time monitoring system to track the efficiency and transparency of government officials and bureaucrats.

(ii) This is because corruption and delays in public services affect millions of people. A transparent and accountable system would ensure that government officers perform their duties efficiently and serve the citizens effectively.

2. Prioritize Education and Skill Development

(i) I would launch a nationwide initiative to integrate practical skill-based education in schools and colleges, ensuring students are job-ready upon graduation.

(ii) This is because many graduates struggle with unemployment due to a lack of practical skills. Enhancing vocational training and technology-based learning would bridge the gap between education and employment.

These two changes would promote good governance and empower the youth, laying the foundation for long-term national progress.