With reference to the 'Ministerial Responsibility', explain the meaning of the following statements or provisions of the Constitution of India:

(a) The Council of Ministers shall be Collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha

(b) Ministers shall be Individually responsible to the President
Or
The Ministers shall hold Office during the pleasure of the President.

(a) Under Article 75(3) of the Constitution "the Council of Ministers shall be collectively responsible to the House of the People."

1. The Ministers are responsible to the Lok Sabha not as individuals alone, but collectively also.
2. Members of the Cabinet swim and sink together.
3. When a decision has been taken by the Cabinet, every Minister has to stand by it without hesitation.
4. The essence of Collective Responsibility is that "a measure accepted by the Cabinet is regarded as the joint responsibility of every one, whether or not he was present at the meeting which reached the conclusion or whether he opposed it when discussed."
5. If the Motion of No-Confidence is passed, the Ministry has to resign.

(b) Though the Ministers are collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha, they shall be individually responsible to the President.

1. They hold office "during the pleasure of the President."
2. It implies that the Ministers shall be liable to be dismissed by the President for their undesirable activities, such as breach of Oaths of Office and Secrecy.
3. However, in these matters the President acts on the advice of the Prime Minister.
4. Usually, because of something that the Minister has done, the Prime Minister asks him to resign, which he readily does.
5. Every Minister is obliged to answer questions pertaining to his department.