History & Civics
Answer
In India’s parliamentary system, the Prime Minister is the real head of the government, leading the Lok Sabha and the largest party or coalition. He manages the country’s internal and external affairs and serves as the chief government spokesperson. The Prime Minister and Council of Ministers are directly responsible to the Lok Sabha and remain in office as long as they have majority support.
The Prime Ministers enjoys the following powers:
- The Prime Minister selects the other Ministers.
- The Prime Minister allots one or more departments to each minister. This is known as allotment of portfolios. The ministers are known by the portfolio they hold, for example, Minister of Defence, Minister of Finance, etc.
- He presides over cabinet meetings and decides the business to be transacted at such meetings.
- The Prime Minister can also demand the resignation of any minister.
- He reports to the President the decisions of the Cabinet and also advises the President on proroguing or dissolving the Lok Sabha. The Prime Minister can also expand his Cabinet.
- He advises the President on various appointments to important posts, such as Judges to the Supreme Court, Governors and Ambassadors, etc.
Related Questions
What are the two main functions of the Cabinet?
Name the three categories of the Union Ministers.
Do you think the President of India should be directly elected by the people? Why/why not?
Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow.
To seek election to the high office of the President of India, a candidate should be a citizen of India. He should be at least thirty-five years of age at the time of election. He should not hold any office of profit under the central or state government. The elected members of both the Houses of Parliament and the elected members of the Legislative Assemblies elect the President by casting their votes.
(i) To become the President of India, one should have completed the minimum age of
- 35 years
- 40 years
- 25 years
- 18 years
(ii) The tenure of the President is
- 2 years
- 10 years
- 3 years
- 5 years
(iii) Who among the following participate in the election of the President?
- Elected members of Lok Sabha
- Elected members of Rajya Sabha
- Elected members of the Legislative Assemblies
- All of the above
(iv) The President of India is the
- nominal head
- real head
- both (1) and (2)
- none of these