The Council of Ministers (Indian Polity and Governance) Part-I

Total Questions: 40

1. As per Article 300 of the Constitution of India, the legal name of the Government of India is- [U.P.R.O.\A.R.O. (Mains) 2011]

Correct Answer: (b) The Union of India
Solution:As per Article 300 of the Constitution of India, the legal name of the government of India is 'The Union of India'.

The Government of India may sue or be sued by the name of the Union of India and the Government of a State may sue or be sued by the name of the State and may, subject to any provisions which may be made by Act of Parliament or of the Legislature of such State enacted by virtue of powers conferred by this Constitution, sue or be sued in relation to their respective affairs in the like cases as the Dominion of India and the corresponding Provinces or the corresponding Indian States might have sued or been sued if this (2) If at the commencement of this Constitution—

(a) any legal proceedings are pending to which the Dominion of India is a party, the Union of India shall be deemed to be substituted for the Dominion in those proceedings; and

(b) any legal proceedings are pending to which a Province or an Indian State is a party, the corresponding State shall be deemed to be substituted for the Province or the Indian

2. Consider the following statements and select the correct answer from the code given below: [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2011]

1. The executive power of the Union is vested in the Prime Minister.

2. The Prime Minister is appointed by the President.

3. The Prime Minister is the head of the Council of Ministers.

4. The Prime Minister, at the time of his appointment, needs not be a member of either House of Parliament.

Correct Answer: (c) Only 2, 3 and 4 are correct.
Solution:According to Article 53(1) of the constitution, the executive power of the Union shall be vested in the President and shall be exercised by him either directly or through officers subordinate to him. The Prime Minister is appointed by the President and is the head of the Council of Ministers, and it is not necessary for a person to be a member of either House of the Parliament at the time of his appointment as the Prime Minister of India.

3. Which of the following statements is correct about Prime Minister of India? [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2013]

Correct Answer: (d) Prime Minister is the real head of the Council of Ministers.
Solution:
  • A Prime Minister is the head of government in India's political setup. He is the de facto head of state.
  • The Prime Minister is appointed by the President of india and is the leader of the party or coalition that holds the majority of seats in the Lok Sabha, the lower house of India's parliament.
  • The Prime Minister is responsible for the administration of the government and serves as the chief spokesperson for the government's policies.
  • Under Article 75, the Council of Ministers shall be appointed by the President on the advice of the Prime Minister.
  • Also, Article 74(1) states that there shall be a Council of Ministers with a Prime Minister at the head to aid and advise the President. Thus, other ministers work under the direction of the Prime
    Minister.
  • Hence, in the parliamentary system of India, the role of the Prime Minister has become so significant and crucial that the form of government in India is called a 'Prime Ministerial Government'.

4. Prime Minister of India is- [Chhattisgarh P.C.S. (Pre) 2013]

Correct Answer: (d) Appointed
Solution:
  • A Prime Minister is the head of government in India's political setup. He is the de facto head of state.
  • The Prime Minister is appointed by the President of india and is the leader of the party or coalition that holds the majority of seats in the Lok Sabha, the lower house of India's parliament.
  • The Prime Minister is responsible for the administration of the government and serves as the chief spokesperson for the government's policies.
  • Under Article 75, the Council of Ministers shall be appointed by the President on the advice of the Prime Minister.
  • Also, Article 74(1) states that there shall be a Council of Ministers with a Prime Minister at the head to aid and advise the President. Thus, other ministers work under the direction of the Prime
    Minister.
  • Hence, in the parliamentary system of India, the role of the Prime Minister has become so significant and crucial that the form of government in India is called a 'Prime Ministerial Government'.

5. The Prime Minister of India is the head of the- [47th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2005]

Correct Answer: (b) Central Government
Solution:
  • A Prime Minister is the head of government in India's political setup. He is the de facto head of state.
  • The Prime Minister is appointed by the President of india and is the leader of the party or coalition that holds the majority of seats in the Lok Sabha, the lower house of India's parliament.
  • The Prime Minister is responsible for the administration of the government and serves as the chief spokesperson for the government's policies.
  • Under Article 75, the Council of Ministers shall be appointed by the President on the advice of the Prime Minister.
  • Also, Article 74(1) states that there shall be a Council of Ministers with a Prime Minister at the head to aid and advise the President. Thus, other ministers work under the direction of the Prime
    Minister.
  • Hence, in the parliamentary system of India, the role of the Prime Minister has become so significant and crucial that the form of government in India is called a 'Prime Ministerial Government'.

6. Article 78 of the Constitution of India lays down the duties of the- [U.P.P.S.C. (R.L) 2014]

Correct Answer: (d) Prime Minister
Solution:Article 78 envisages the duties of the Prime Minister in respect of furnishing information to the President. (1) Relating to the administration of affairs of the Union (1) If the President requires, submit for the consideration of the Council of Ministers any matter on which a decision has been taken by a minister but not considered by the Council.

7. Consider the following statements: [I.A.S. (Pre) 2022]

1. The Constitution of India classifies the ministers Into four ranks viz. Cabinet Minister, Minister of State with Independent Charge, Minister of State and Deputy Minister.

2. The total number of ministers in the Union Government, including the Prime Minister, shall not exceed 15 percent of the total number of members in the Lok Sabha.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Correct Answer: (b) 2 only
Solution:Article 74(1) says that there shall be a council of ministers with the Prime Minister at the head to aid and advise the President Thus, the council of ministers is a constitutional body. In the Indian constitution, there is no provision for the classification of ministers. It is based on British Parliamentary tradition However, in the Indian parliamentary system at present time, instead of Prime Minister, there are the Cabinet Ministers, Ministers of State (Independent Charge), Minister of State and Deputy Ministers. As per Article 75(1A) inserted through the 91st Constitutional Amendment, 2003, total number of ministers, including the Prime Minister, in the council of ministers shall not exceed 15% of total strength of Lok Sabha. Similar amendments were also made under Article 164, inserted clause 1A, which says that total number of ministers, including the Chief Minister, in the council of ministers in a state shall not exceed 15% of the total number of members of the Legislative Assembly of that state.

8. Cabinet means- [Uttarakhand P.C.S. (Mains) 2006]

Correct Answer: (b) Ministers with Cabinet Rank
Solution:In a parliamentary democracy, the Cabinet is the highest decision-making body in the government, consisting of the Prime Minister and other senior ministers who are appointed by the head of state, usually a President or Monarch.
  • The Cabinet is the pivot around which the whole political machinery revolves.
  • Cabinet ministers are typically members of the majority party or coalition in the parliament. The Cabinet is responsible for making and implementing policy decisions, and for coordinating the work of the government.
  • Cabinet ministers typically meet regularly to discuss and decide on important issues facing the country. The Cabinet is responsible to the Parliament, and its members are accountable to the Parliament for their actions.
  • The concept of cabinet in parliamentary democracy is important as it represents the executive branch of the government, responsible for implementing laws and policies and ensuring the smooth functioning of the administration.

9. Cabinet included- [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1992]

Correct Answer: (a) Ministers with Cabinet-rank
Solution:In a parliamentary democracy, the Cabinet is the highest decision-making body in the government, consisting of the Prime Minister and other senior ministers who are appointed by the head of state, usually a President or Monarch.
  • The Cabinet is the pivot around which the whole political machinery revolves.
  • Cabinet ministers are typically members of the majority party or coalition in the parliament. The Cabinet is responsible for making and implementing policy decisions, and for coordinating the work of the government.
  • Cabinet ministers typically meet regularly to discuss and decide on important issues facing the country. The Cabinet is responsible to the Parliament, and its members are accountable to the Parliament for their actions.
  • The concept of cabinet in parliamentary democracy is important as it represents the executive branch of the government, responsible for implementing laws and policies and ensuring the smooth functioning of the administration.

10. The word 'Mantrimandal' (cabinet) is mentioned only once in Constitution, and that is in- [41th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 1996]

Correct Answer: (a) Article 352
Solution:In a parliamentary democracy, the Cabinet is the highest decision-making body in the government, consisting of the Prime Minister and other senior ministers who are appointed by the head of state, usually a President or Monarch.
  • The Cabinet is the pivot around which the whole political machinery revolves.
  • Cabinet ministers are typically members of the majority party or coalition in the parliament. The Cabinet is responsible for making and implementing policy decisions, and for coordinating the work of the government.
  • Cabinet ministers typically meet regularly to discuss and decide on important issues facing the country. The Cabinet is responsible to the Parliament, and its members are accountable to the Parliament for their actions.
  • The concept of cabinet in parliamentary democracy is important as it represents the executive branch of the government, responsible for implementing laws and policies and ensuring the smooth functioning of the administration.