Council of Ministers Quiz

The Role of the Council of Ministers

• The President exercises executive power with the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers
• The President's satisfaction is considered to be the satisfaction of the Council of Ministers
• The Prime Minister is appointed by the President
• Other Ministers are appointed by the President on the advice of the Prime Minister
• Members of Parliament from the Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha are typically appointed as Ministers
• Non-MPs can also be appointed as Ministers, but they must become members of Parliament within six months
• A Minister who is a member of one House of Parliament has the right to speak and participate in the proceedings of the other House, but can only vote in the House they're a member of

Oath and Salary of Ministers

• Before assuming office, Ministers are sworn in by the President
• Ministers take oaths of office and secrecy
• The oath of office includes a pledge to uphold the Constitution, sovereignty, and integrity of India
• The oath of secrecy commits Ministers to confidentiality regarding information brought under their consideration or becoming known to them
• The Supreme Court has ruled that describing a person as Deputy Prime Minister is only descriptive and doesn't confer any additional powers
• The salaries and allowances of Ministers are determined by Parliament, and they receive the same salary and allowances as members of Parliament
• Ministers also receive additional allowances including a sumptuary allowance based on their rank

Responsibility of Ministers

• The principle of collective responsibility governs the parliamentary system of government
• The Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha
• If the Lok Sabha passes a no-confidence motion against the Council of Ministers, all Ministers must resign
• The Council of Ministers can advise the President to dissolve the Lok Sabha and call for fresh elections
• Cabinet decisions are binding on all Ministers, even if they disagreed during the meeting
• Ministers are expected to defend cabinet decisions, both inside and outside Parliament
• Ministers who disagree with a cabinet decision must resign
• Article 75 also enshrines the principle of individual responsibility, allowing the President to remove a Minister during the pleasure of the President, upon the advice of the Prime Minister
• Dr. B.R. Ambedkar emphasized the importance of the Prime Minister's role in enforcing collective responsibility

Composition of the Council of Ministers

• The Council of Ministers is composed of three categories of ministers: Cabinet Ministers, Ministers of State, and Deputy Ministers
• Cabinet Ministers head important ministries and are members of the Cabinet, actively involved in policy decisions
• Ministers of State can have independent charge of ministries/departments or be attached to Cabinet Ministers
• Deputy Ministers are attached to Cabinet Ministers or Ministers of State and have no independent charge, providing administrative and parliamentary support
• Parliamentary Secretaries, a fourth category, assist senior Ministers with parliamentary duties but don't have control over any department, and have not been appointed since 1967 (with the exception of the first Rajiv Gandhi government)
• Deputy Prime Ministers may be appointed for political reasons

Council of Ministers vs. Cabinet

• The terms "Council of Ministers" and "Cabinet" are often used interchangeably, but there are distinctions in composition, functions, and role
• The Cabinet is the highest decision-making authority in the politico-administrative system
• The Cabinet plays a crucial role in policy formulation and serves as the supreme executive authority of the government
• The Cabinet acts as the chief coordinator of the Central administration

Kitchen Cabinet

• The Cabinet is the formal highest decision-making body, but a smaller "Inner Cabinet" or "Kitchen Cabinet" has emerged as a center of power
• The Kitchen Cabinet consists of the Prime Minister and a small circle of trusted colleagues who provide advice and assistance
• This informal body may include individuals outside of the Cabinet
• The Kitchen Cabinet, though efficient, can reduce the authority of the Cabinet and allow outsiders to influence government functioning
• This phenomenon of informal groups is not unique to India, and is also prevalent in countries like the USA and Britain.