Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers

Question 1

appointment of PM

Answer 1

1. appointed by the president
2. president invites the leader of the major party in Lok Sabha to form the government
3. members of the majority party elect leader
4. when no single party commands majority, the president can choose PM

Question 2

three types of ministers

Answer 2

1. cabinet ministers
2. ministers of state
3. deputy ministers

Question 3

cabinet ministers

Answer 3

1. hold important portfolios like Home, Defence, Finance, External Affairs, etc
2. only they have the right to attend Cabinet meetings
3. determine the policy and programme of the government
4. direct contact with president and PM
5. small group

Question 4

ministers of state

Answer 4

1. may or may not hold an independent charge of any portfolio
2. PM may or may not consult them
3. large group
4. do not participate in cabinet meetings, but may be invited when matters related to their departments are considered
5. no direct contact with president or PM

Question 5

deputy ministers

Answer 5

1. junior ministers who are placed under senior ministers whom they have to assist
2. take no part in cabinet deliberations

Question 6

composition of council of ministers

Answer 6

COM at centre and state to 15% of the strength of the Lok Sabha and state legislatures
for smaller states, max no. of ministers is 12

Question 7

appointment of the cabinet

Answer 7

appointed by the president on the advice of the PM, trusted colleagues of the PM

Question 8

term of office of cabinet

Answer 8

1. hold office during the pleasure of the president. PM and COM are directly responsible to the Lok Sabha and can hold an office as long as they maintain majority in the House
2. COM are collectively responsible to Lok Sabha
3. before a minister enters upon his office, president administers him the oath of office and secrecy
4. every minister must be a member of the parliament or must become one within six months of his appointment
5. salaries and allowances of COM are such as parliament from time to time by law determines

Question 9

administrative powers of the cabinet

Answer 9

1. policy making: formulates both external and domestic policies of the government
2. implementation of policies: once a policy decision is taken by the cabinet, the message is conveyed to the Minister of State and the deputy minister of the concerned ministry
3. coordinating the functioning of ministers: coordinates the working of various departments for the smooth implementation of govt policies
4. appointments: advise the president on appointing judges of supreme court and high courts, governors of state, CEC

Question 10

legislative powers of the cabinet

Answer 10

1. introduction of bills
2. source of information: answer questions put to them by members of Lok Sabha
3. amendment to constitution
4. summoning houses of the parliament: take initiative, President summons
5. president’s special address: prepares it, setting forth its legislative programme at the commencement of first session of Lok Sabha, and first session of parliament each year
6. issuing ordinances: advises president

Question 11

Official bills

Answer 11

the legislative proposals that the cabinet formulates. they are given priority and preference over private bills

Question 12

financial powers of the cabinet

Answer 12

1. budget: Finance minister prepares annual budget containing estimates of income and expenditure for ensuing year
2. finances of the government: responsible for the expenditure of the government, presenting the demand for grants, making necessary income by taxation
3. introduction of money bills

Question 13

emergency powers

Answer 13

cannot declare a proclamation of general emergency, without receiving in writing the decision of the cabinet to this effect

Question 14

prime minister and the president

Answer 14

1. all authority vested in the president is exercised by the PM. advisor of the president
2. it is on the advice of the PM that the president summons and prorogues the Parliament, and dissolves Lok Sabha
3. PM chooses the ministers, and on his advice, president appoints them
4. PM advices the president on appointments like judges, governors, ambassadors
5. PM is link between president and COM
6. president can ask COM to reconsider any matter which has not been considered by the cabinet and on which a decision has been taken by a minister

Question 15

GR: president is nominal head and PM is the real executive

Answer 15

all authority vested in the president is exercised by the PM. advisor of the president

Question 16

prime minister and the cabinet

Answer 16

1. leader of the cabinet
2. power to allocate portfolios and to reshuffle COM
3. power to select and dismiss ministers
4. power to direct and coordinate policy
5. resignation of PM leads to resignation of the whole cabinet

Question 17

prime minster inside the parliament

Answer 17

1. leader of the lok sabha
2. spokesperson of the government
3. defender of government policies
4. intervention in case of controversial issues

Question 18

prime minister as leader of the nation

Answer 18

1. represents the whole nation
2. during national crisis, even opposition parties support PM
3. decides what kind of relations India should have with other countries
4. PM tries to protect interests of the country in international forums
5. at general election, it is the PM for whom or against whom people vote
6. ex-offcio chairman of Niti Aayog and Atomic Energy Commission

Question 19

check on authority of PM

Answer 19

1. has to ensure support of his ministers and his party
2. in case of coalitions, when PM does not have an absolute majority, his position is more vulnerable
3. opposition parties look for a chance to criticise PM
4. press and public opinion act as effective checks on PM’s authority

Question 20

collective responsibility

Answer 20

1. the COM is collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha
2. decisions taken in meetings of cabinet is equally applicable to all ministers even though they may differ amongst themselves on a particular policy
3. all ministers jointly share the responsibility for the government’s policies and performance
4. a vote of no confidence against one minister is a vote against the entire ministry

Question 21

individual responsibility

Answer 21

1. ministers are individually responsible to the president, and hold office during the pleasure of the president
2. each minister is answerable to the parliament for the department under his control.
3. every minister is responsible for matters such as- personal lapse, departure from official policy by him, breach of oath of secrecy.