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

Total Questions: 42

21. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is a - [M.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2010]

Correct Answer: (d) Member of Rajya Sabha from Assam
Solution:Dr. Manmohan Singh served as Prime Minister from 2004 to 2014. He was first elected as a member of Rajya Sabha from Assam in 1991. Later, he again became a member of Rajya Sabha from Assam in the years 1996, 2001, 2007 and 2013. In 2019, he again got elected as a Rajya Sabha member representing Rajasthan.
  • Manmohan Singh, the 14th Prime Minister of India, served two consecutive terms from 2004 to 2014.
  • Renowned for his integrity, humility, and sharp intellect, Manmohan Singh holds a special place in India's political and economic history.
  • Before becoming Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh played a pivotal role in shaping India's economic policies, especially during his tenure as the Finance Minister in the early 1990s.

22. Assertion : (A) Ministers make policy and civil servants adhere to that policy. Reason : (R) Parliamentary form of government works on the Principle of "Cabinet Collective Responsibility". [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1993]

Correct Answer: (a) Both (A) and (R) are true, and (A) is correct explanation of (R).
Solution:Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A) as the Parliamentary form of government works on the principle of "Cabinet's Collective Responsibility and policies made by the Cabinet are adhered to by civil servants.

Features of the parliamentary system
1. Close relationship between the legislature and the executive: Here, the Prime Minister along with the Council of Ministers form the executive and the
Parliament is the legislature. The PM and the ministers are elected from the members of parliament, implying that the executive emerges out of the legislature.
2. Executive responsible to the legislature: The executive is responsible to the legislature. There is a collective responsibility, that is, each minister's responsibility is the responsibility of the whole Council.
3. Dual executive: There are two executives the real executive and the titular executive. The nominal executive is the head of state (president or monarch) while the real executive is the Prime Minister, who is the head of government.
4. Secrecy of procedure: A prerequisite of this form of government is that cabinet proceedings are secret and not meant to be divulged to the public.
5. Leadership of the Prime Minister: The leader of this form of government is the Prime Minister. Generally, the leader of the party that wins a majority in the
lower house is appointed as the PM.
6. Bicameral Legislature: Most parliamentary democracies follow bicameral legislature.
7. No fixed tenure: The term of the government depends on its majority support in the lower house. If the government does not win a vote of no confidence, the council of ministers has to resign. Elections will be held and a new government is formed

23. Consider the following statements and choose the correct answer from the code given below: [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2004]

Assertion (A): Describing a person as Deputy Prime Minister is a political decision.

Reason (R): It does not confer on him any power of the Prime Minister.

Correct Answer: (b) Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not a correct explanation of (A).
Solution:In the Constitution of India, the duty and office of the Deputy Prime Minister are not mentioned, but conventionally, a Cabinet Minister can be declared as a Deputy Prime Minister. It does not confer on him any power of the Prime Minister. So, both statements (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not a correct explanation of (A).

India chose a parliamentary form of government primarily because the constitution-makers were greatly influenced by the system in England. Another reason the founding fathers saw was that the parliamentary model would only work to accommodate the varied and diverse groups within our population. Also, the strict separation of powers in the presidential system would cause conflicts between the two branches, the executive and the legislature, which our newly-independent country could ill-afford.

24. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister- [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2009]

Correct Answer: (b) Is an extra-Constitutional growth.
Solution:The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is not mentioned anywhere in the Constitution of India. The post was created due to political necessity and is purely a non-Constitutional post.

India chose a parliamentary form of government primarily because the constitution-makers were greatly influenced by the system in England. Another reason the founding fathers saw was that the parliamentary model would only work to accommodate the varied and diverse groups within our population. Also, the strict separation of powers in the presidential system would cause conflicts between the two branches, the executive and the legislature, which our newly-independent country could ill-afford.

25. Consider the following statements: [I.A.S. (Pre) 2015]

1. The Executive Power of the Union of India is vested in the Prime Minister.

2. The Prime Minister is the ex-officio Chairman of the Civil Services Board.

Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?

Correct Answer: (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Solution:The executive power of the Union of India is not vested in the Prime Minister but in the President (Art. 53(1) The Constitutional head of the executive of the Union is the President. Article 74(1) of the Constitution provides that there shall be a Council of Ministers with the Prime Minister as its head to aid and advice the President, who shall, in the exercise of his/her functions, act in accordance with such advice. The Cabinet Secretariat is under the direct charge of the Prime Minister. The administrative head of the Secretariat is the Cabinet Secretary, who is also the ex-officio Chairman of the Civil Services Board. Thus, neither 1" nor 2 statement is correct.

26. With reference to Union Government, consider the following statements: [I.A.S. (Pre) 2009]

1. The Constitution of India provides that all Cabinet Ministers shall be compulsorily the sitting members of Lok Sabha only.

2. The Union Cabinet Secretariat operates under the direction of the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs. Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?

Correct Answer: (d) Neither nor 2
Solution:The Council of Ministers seldom meets as a body. It is the Cabinet, an inner body within the Council, that shapes the policies of the Government. Cabinet Ministers hold the charge of key portfolios. There is no bar on the appointment of a person from outside the legislature as a minister, but he cannot continue for more than six months unless he secures a seat in either House of the Parliament in the meantime. A minister, who is a member of one House has the right to speak and to take part in the proceedings of the other House, though he has no right to vote in the house of which he is not a member. The Union Cabinet Secretariat is not operated under the direction of the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs. Union Cabinet Secretariat is under the supervision of the Prime Minister's Office. Its administrative Chief is the Cabinet Secretary, who is the Ex-officio Chairman of the Civil Services Board. The cabinet secretary is the highest civil services officer of the central government. Hence both the statements are false.

27. Read the following statements related to Cabinet Committees and choose the correct option: [Chhattisgarh P.C.S.C. (Pre) 2020]

I: Cabinet Committees are not mentioned in the constitution.

II: Cabinet Committees are set up by the Prime Minister according to the exigencies of the time and requirements of the situation.

III: If Prime Minister is the member of Committee, he may not necessarily be the Chairman of Committee.

IV: Parliamentary Affairs Committee is chaired by the Prime Minister.

Correct Answer: (d) Statements I and II are true, but Statement III and IV are false
Solution:Cabinet Committees are not mentioned in the Constitution. So they are extra-constitutional bodies. Rules of Business Provide for their establishment. Thus, Statement I is true. Cabinet Committees are set up by the Prime minister a cording to the exigencies of the time and requirements of the situation. Thus, Statement II is true.

Cabinet Committees are mostly Chaired by the Prime Minister. Some times, other Cabinet Ministers, the Finance Minister or the Home Minister also acts as chairman but in case if the Prime Minister is the member of the Commit tee, he is necessarily the Chairman of the Committee. Thus, Statement III is false.

Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs is chaired by the Minister of Defence, not by the Prime Minister. Thus, Statement IV is false.

28. Which one of the following Constitutional Amendments states that the total number of Ministers, including the Prime Minister in the Council of Ministers, shall not exceed fifteen percent of the total number of members of the House of the People? [I.A.S. (Pre) 2009]

Correct Answer: (b) 91st 
Solution:Salient Features of the 91st Amendment Act
  • The total number of ministers, including the Prime Minister, in the council of Ministers shall not exceed 15% of the total number of the members of the House of the people.
  • Members barred under anti defection from either house of the parliament shall be barred from serving as a minister.
  • The total number of Ministers, including the Chief Minister, in the Council of Ministers in a State shall not exceed fifteen per cent. of the total number of members of the Legislative Assembly of that State.
  • The number of Ministers, including Chief Minister in a State shall not be less than twelve.
  • Members barred under anti defection from either house of the state legislature shall be barred from serving as a minister.
  • Any member of either house of the parliament or state legislature barred by defection shall also be barred from holding any remunerative political office.
  • The exemption given under 10th Schedule from disqualification was abolished

29. Which of the following Constitutional Amendment Acts restricted the sire of the Council of Ministers 15 percent of the total members of the Lok Sabha? [66th B.P.S.C. (Pre) (Re-Exam), 2020]

Correct Answer: (c) 91st Constitutional Amendment Act, 2003
Solution:Salient Features of the 91st Amendment Act
  • The total number of ministers, including the Prime Minister, in the council of Ministers shall not exceed 15% of the total number of the members of the House of the people.
  • Members barred under anti defection from either house of the parliament shall be barred from serving as a minister.
  • The total number of Ministers, including the Chief Minister, in the Council of Ministers in a State shall not exceed fifteen per cent. of the total number of members of the Legislative Assembly of that State.
  • The number of Ministers, including Chief Minister in a State shall not be less than twelve.
  • Members barred under anti defection from either house of the state legislature shall be barred from serving as a minister.
  • Any member of either house of the parliament or state legislature barred by defection shall also be barred from holding any remunerative political office.
  • The exemption given under 10th Schedule from disqualification was abolished

30. With reference to Union Government, consider the following statements: [I.A.S. (Pre) 2009]

70. With reference to Union Government, consider the following statements:

1. The number of Ministries at the Centre on 15 August, 1947 was 18.

2. The number of Ministries at the Centre at present is 36.

Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?

Correct Answer: (a) 1 only
Solution:The number of Ministries at the Centre on 15 August, 1947 was 18. At present the number of ministries at the centre is 53.

Salient Features of the 91st Amendment Act

  • The total number of ministers, including the Prime Minister, in the council of Ministers shall not exceed 15% of the total number of the members of the House of the people.
  • Members barred under anti defection from either house of the parliament shall be barred from serving as a minister.
  • The total number of Ministers, including the Chief Minister, in the Council of Ministers in a State shall not exceed fifteen per cent. of the total number of members of the Legislative Assembly of that State.
  • The number of Ministers, including Chief Minister in a State shall not be less than twelve.
  • Members barred under anti defection from either house of the state legislature shall be barred from serving as a minister.
  • Any member of either house of the parliament or state legislature barred by defection shall also be barred from holding any remunerative political office.
  • The exemption given under 10th Schedule from disqualification was abolished