Indian Parliamentary System: Council of Ministers

Council of Ministers

• The Council of Ministers is the real executive authority in India's parliamentary system of government, modelled after the British system.
• The Prime Minister heads the Council of Ministers.
• The Constitution outlines the principles of parliamentary government in Articles 74 & 75.
• Article 74 covers the status of the Council of Ministers, while Article 75 governs appointments, tenure, responsibility, qualifications, oath, and salaries and allowances.
• The President, acting on the advice of the Council of Ministers, is the head of state.
• Courts cannot inquire into advice given to the President by the Council of Ministers.

Prime Minister and Ministers

• The President appoints the Prime Minister, and on the Prime Minister's advice, appoints other ministers.
• The total number of ministers is capped at 15% of the Lok Sabha's total strength (added by the 91st Amendment Act of 2003).
• Members of Parliament disqualified due to defections are also disqualified from being appointed as ministers (also added by the 91st Amendment Act of 2003).
• Ministers hold office "during the pleasure of the President," meaning the President can remove them, but typically only on the Prime Minister's advice.

Collective and Individual Responsibility

• The Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha.
• Ministers are also individually responsible for their actions.
• The Prime Minister can dismiss ministers for poor performance or differences in opinion, which ensures the principle of collective responsibility.
• Dr. B.R. Ambedkar emphasized that a Prime Minister's ability to nominate and dismiss ministers is crucial for achieving collective responsibility.

Legal Accountability

• In Britain, ministers countersign orders to allow for legal accountability.
• India does not have a similar system of legal accountability for ministers.

Composition of the Council of Ministers

• The Council of Ministers includes Cabinet Ministers, Ministers of State, and Deputy Ministers.
• Cabinet Ministers head important ministries, attend Cabinet meetings, and play a major role in policy decisions.
• The Prime Minister is the supreme governing authority.

Kitchen Cabinet

• The Cabinet, a smaller body of the most important Ministers, makes high-level decisions.
• An even smaller, informal group called the "Inner Cabinet" (or "Kitchen Cabinet") consists of the Prime Minister and a small group of trusted advisors.
• This informal body, often composed of family members, handles critical political and administrative issues.
• The Kitchen Cabinet is not unique to India and exists in other countries, such as the USA and Britain.

Cabinet Committees

• Cabinet Committees are subgroups established within the Cabinet to address specific issues.
• These committees allow for specialization and division of labor.
• They make recommendations for the Cabinet to consider.
• The Political Affairs Committee, chaired by the Prime Minister, is considered the most powerful, sometimes referred to as a "Super-Cabinet."

Groups of Ministers (GoMs)

• GoMs are ad hoc bodies formed by the government to handle urgent issues or problem areas.
• They are made up of Ministers from relevant ministries and typically dissolve once they provide recommendations to the Cabinet.
• The Second Administrative Reforms Commission recommended effective coordination and the use of GoMs with specific mandates and deadlines.

This quiz covers the role and functions of the Council of Ministers in India's parliamentary system, emphasizing its relationship with the Prime Minister and the President. It explores relevant constitutional articles and the structure of the ministerial body as outlined in the constitution. Test your understanding of these key concepts!