Prime Minister and Council of Ministers Short Answer Questions

The three categories of Ministers in the Council of Ministers are-

Cabinet Ministers, Minister of State, Deputy Ministers
Cabinet Ministers are the most important category of ministers as they hold important
portfolios.
The principle of collective responsibility implies the following:
The decisions taken in the meetings of the Cabinet are equally applicable to all the Ministers
even though they may differ among themselves on a particular policy.
All Ministers jointly share the responsibility for the government's policies and performance.
The Ministers must function as a team in supporting and defending government policies inside
as well as outside Parliament.
A Vote of No-Confidence against one Minister is a vote against the whole Ministry. Such a
Ministry that has lost the confidence of the Lok Sabha has to resign.
Prime Minister is the head of the Union Council of Ministers.
A minister being a member of Parliament has a normal term of office of 5 years. But Prime
Minister and the Council of Ministers can remain in office so long as they enjoy the majority
support in the Lok Sabha. If the Lok Sabha passes a vote of no -confidence against the Council
of Ministers, then they have to resign collectively even before completion of their 5 years
term.
In case a non-member is appointed as a Minister, he must be elected or nominated to the
Parliament six months from the date of his appointment. Failing this, he will have to resign
from the post of a Minister.
The Council of Ministers is appointed by the President on the advice of the Prime Minister.
Each minister is individually responsible to the Parliament for the department under his/her
control. For this reason, if the Railway Minister is owning the responsibility of the mistakes and
shortcomings of his/her department then only he/she needs to resign. The rest of the
members of the cabinet will not resign and continue working.
Structured Questions
(a) Three administrative functions of the Cabinet are as follows-
Policy Making — The Cabinet formulates both external and domestic policies of the
Government. Individual Ministers have reasonable freedom of action, but on all major matters
they have to consult the Cabinet.
Implementation of Policies — Once a policy decision is taken by the Cabinet on any subject, it
is conveyed to the Minister of State and the Deputy Minister of the concerned Ministry. They
work out the details and pass it to the civil servants under that Ministry to implement the
decision.
Coordinating the Functioning of Various Ministers — The Cabinet coordinates the working of
various departments for the smooth implementation of government policies.
(b) Three legislative functions of the Cabinet are as follows-
Amendment to the Constitution — The Cabinet is instrumental in planning and moving the
Amendment to the Constitution.
Summoning the Houses of Parliament — Although the Houses are summoned by the
President, initiative in this matter is taken by the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs.
Issuing Ordinances — Cabinet also advises the President to issue ordinances when the
Parliament is not in session.
(c) Four financial functions of the Cabinet are as follows-
Budget — The Finance Minister prepares the Annual Budget containing estimates of income
and expenditure for the ensuing year.
Though the budget is passed by Parliament, usually no changes are made in the budget
figures against the wishes of the Cabinet.
Any amendment to the budget proposals against the wishes of the Cabinet that may be
passed by the Lok Sabha amounts to a vote of No-Confidence in the Ministry. It happens only
when the Ministry has lost the support of the majority in the Lok Sabha. In such a situation the
Ministry must resign.
Finances of the Government — The Cabinet is responsible for the expenditure of the
government for presenting the demand for grants and also for raising necessary income by
various means including taxation.
Introduction of Money Bills — A Money Bill can be introduced in the Lok Sabha only by a
Minister.
(a) Three functions of Council of Ministers are-
Policy Making — The Cabinet formulates both external and domestic policies of the
Government. Individual Ministers have reasonable freedom of action, but on all major matters
they have to consult the Cabinet.
Implementation of Policies — Once a policy decision is taken by the Cabinet on any subject, it
is conveyed to the Minister of State and the Deputy Minister of the concerned Ministry. They
work out the details and pass it to the civil servants under that Ministry to implement the
decision.
Finances of the Government — The Cabinet is responsible for the expenditure of the
government for presenting the demand for grants and also for raising necessary income by
various means including taxation.
(b) Parliament ensures Cabinet's responsibility to the people, in general, and to the Parliament
as a whole. The methods adopted by the Parliament are —
A vote of No-Confidence in the Council of Ministers.
Rejection of a Government bill.
Passing a bill opposed by the Government.
Voting a cut in the Budget.
Passing an amendment to a bill against the wishes of the Government.
Reducing the salaries of the Ministers.
Asking questions.
Adjournment motions.
Rejecting some government measures.
(c) The Cabinet formulates both external and domestic policies of the Government.
It takes decisions on matters such as defence, economic policy, security needs, President's
rule in State, formation of new States, industrial policy, imports and electoral reforms.
Individual Ministers have reasonable freedom of action, but on all major matters they have to
consult the Cabinet.
(a) Three qualifications which a person should possess to be eligible for appointment as Prime
Minister are-
He should be a citizen of India.
He must have completed 25 years of age in case he is a member of Lok Sabha and 30 years in
case of Rajya Sabha.
He must be a member of either house of Parliament.
(b) While the President is the nominal head of State, the Prime Minister is the real head of the
nation.
Leader of the Lok Sabha — As the Prime Minister is the leader of the majority party in
Parliament, he is said to be the leader of the House.
Spokesperson of the Government — The Prime Minister is the chief spokesman of the
Government in the Parliament. He makes all important announcements on national policies on
the floor of the House.
Defender of Government Policies — The Prime Minister defends the Government in the
Parliament. When a policy or a Minister comes under attack in the Parliament, the Prime
Minister comes to defend the issue involved.
Intervention in case of Controversial Issues — There are some controversial issues like the
language issue, Centre-State relations, price-rise and atrocities on women over which
members lose their temper. If an ugly situation arises in any of the Houses, the matter
generally ends with the intervention of the Prime Minister.
(c) The Prime Minister is a link between the Cabinet and the President.
Our Constitution lays down that it shall be the duty of the Prime Minister to communicate to
the President all decisions of the Council of Ministers relating to the administration of the
Union and the proposals for legislation.
A Minister cannot discuss any matter of national policy with the President on his/her own.
(a) The Prime Minister occupies a unique position in the Parliament as can be seen by the
following points-
Leader of the Lok Sabha — As the Prime Minister is the leader of the majority party in
Parliament, he is said to be the leader of the House.
Spokesperson of the Government — The Prime Minister is the chief spokesman of the
Government in the Parliament. He makes all important announcements on national policies on
the floor of the House.
Defender of Government Policies — The Prime Minister defends the Government in the
Parliament. When a policy or a Minister comes under attack in the Parliament, the Prime
Minister comes to defend the issue involved.
Intervention in case of Controversial Issues — There are some controversial issues like the
language issue, Centre-State relations, price-rise and atrocities on women over which
members lose their temper. If an ugly situation arises in any of the Houses, the matter
generally ends with the intervention of the Prime Minister.
(b) Three powers of the Prime Minister as a Chairperson of the Cabinet are as follows-
Power to Allocate Portfolios and to Reshuffle the Council of Ministers — It is the Prime Minister
who allocates departments or portfolios to the Ministers. He can reshuffle his Council of
Ministers whenever he pleases.
Power to Select and Dismiss Ministers — The Prime Minister chooses the Ministers and has the
power to dismiss them too. He can ask an erring Minister to resign.
Power to Direct and Coordinate Policy — The Prime Minister coordinates the working of various
departments so that administration is carried on smoothly. In critical matters such as, foreign,
defence, economic and technological affairs, he coordinates the policy of the Government.
(c) Three ways in which the Constitution ensures the pre-eminent position of the Prime
Minister in relation to the Union Council of Ministers are as follows-
Appointment of Council of Ministers — The Prime Minister chooses the ministers and, on his
advice, the President appoints them.
Power to Allocate Portfolios and to Reshuffle the Council of Ministers — It is the Prime Minister
who allocates departments or portfolios to the Ministers. He can reshuffle his Council of
Ministers whenever he pleases.
Power to Dismiss Ministers — The Prime Minister has the power to dismiss the ministers. He
can ask an erring Minister to resign.
(a) Madhavrao's resignation reflects Individual Responsibility. This is because he was
directly in charge of the Civil Aviation Ministry and not the entire Council of Ministers.