Central Council of Ministers

Central Council of Ministers

Article 74th of the Constitution lays down that there shall be a Council of Ministers with the Prime Minister as the head to aid and advise the President, who shall in the exercise of his functions, act in accordance with the advice of the Council of Ministers. That means, there shall always be a Council of Ministers. The President accepts the advice of the Council of Ministers. The Council of Ministers consists of three categories of ministers, namely, Cabinet Ministers, Ministers of State and Deputy Ministers. While the Cabinet Ministers are involved in policy decision making, the other two categories have mere administrative responsibilities. The difference between them lies in their respective ranks, emoluments and political importance. At the top stands the Prime Minister, the supreme governing authority of the country.

Appointment of the Council of Ministers

Under Article 75th of the Constitution, the Prime Minister is appointed by the President and the other ministers are appointed by the President on the advice of the Prime Minister. The ministers hold office during the pleasure of the President. While the ministers are also appointed by the President and are said to hold office during the pleasure of the President as per the Constitution, in actual practice, the ministers are selected by the Prime Minister and the President cannot appoint anyone not recommended by the Prime Minister.

Shadow Cabinet

In England, opposition party in parliament constitutes, a group of its members to examine portfolio wise issue through they are not the real executive. This tradition keeps the opposition well informed and makes the government always on alert.

Collective and Individual responsibility of the Council of Ministers

The Constitution of India provides that the Ministers are collectively and individually responsible to the Lok Sabha. The collective responsibility of the Council of Ministers means that the entire Council of Ministers is jointly responsible to the Lok Sabha for all the acts of the government. It also means that the ministers must not speak in public in different voices. All the ministers of the government are expected to be unanimous in support of policies on all public occasions and issues.

Have you heard of Kitchen Cabinet….?

A Kitchen Cabinet is a still smaller body or a Cabinet within a Cabinet. It is an informal body and the real centre of power. Every Prime Minister in India had a Kitchen Cabinet or Inner Cabinet. A circle within a circle. It helps the Prime Minister in maintaining secrecy in making decisions on important political issues.

Activity

Students are requested to form groups and show the Shadow Cabinet model in India.