Hello future champions,
In our last post, we discussed the President of India, the dignified head of our state. But as we know, in India’s parliamentary system, the President is the nominal head. The real executive power—the engine that drives the government—lies with the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers.
Today, we'll dive into the heart of the Indian government's machinery. Understanding this topic is non-negotiable for scoring well in the Polity section of the SSC CGL exam, as it deals with who holds the actual power and how they are held accountable.
The Prime Minister: The Real Boss
While the President is the head of the State, the Prime Minister (PM) is the head of the Government. He or she is the most powerful political figure in the country.
Key Facts for Your SSC Notes: 📝
Appointment (Article 75): The Prime Minister is appointed by the President. The President appoints the leader of the party that has a majority in the Lok Sabha.
De Facto Head: The PM is the real (de facto) executive head, exercising the powers that are formally vested in the President.
Term: The PM holds office as long as he/she enjoys the majority support in the Lok Sabha. There is no fixed term.
The Council of Ministers (CoM): The PM's Team
The Prime Minister leads a team of ministers, known collectively as the Council of Ministers (CoM). They are the ones who run the various government departments (like Finance, Defence, Home Affairs).
The Three Tiers of Ministers:
Cabinet Ministers: The senior-most ministers who head important ministries. They form the Cabinet, which is the nucleus of power and the highest decision-making body.
Ministers of State (MoS): They can either be given independent charge of a ministry or be attached to a Cabinet Minister to assist them.
Deputy Ministers: They are not in charge of any ministry and are attached to Cabinet Ministers or MoS to assist them with their administrative duties.
Exam Goldmine: Must-Know Constitutional Provisions
This section contains direct, high-yield questions for your SSC exam. Pay close attention!
Article 74: The Advisory Role
This article states that there shall be a Council of Ministers with the Prime Minister at the head to aid and advise the President. The advice given by the CoM is binding on the President.
Article 75: Collective Responsibility (⭐ Most Important Concept)
This is the bedrock of our parliamentary system. Article 75(3) states that the Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha.
What it means: The entire ministry is a single unit. If a No-Confidence Motion is passed against the government in the Lok Sabha, the entire Council of Ministers, including the PM, must resign. They "swim and sink together."
Size of the CoM (🔥 Exam Hotspot)
Originally, there was no limit on the number of ministers.
The 91st Constitutional Amendment Act, 2003, put a cap on it.
The Rule: The total number of ministers, including the PM, in the Council of Ministers shall not exceed 15% of the total strength of the Lok Sabha.
Membership Requirement:
A person can be appointed as a minister only if they are a Member of Parliament (MP) in either the Lok Sabha or the Rajya Sabha. If a non-MP is appointed, they must become a member of either House within six months.
Powers of the Prime Minister
The PM's power is immense and stems from his leadership of the Council of Ministers, the Lok Sabha, and his party.
Heads the Government: He allocates portfolios among ministers and can ask any minister to resign.
Link between President and Cabinet: He is the principal channel of communication.
Leader of the Parliament: As the leader of the majority party in the Lok Sabha, he has significant influence over the legislative agenda.
Chairman of Key Bodies: The PM is the ex-officio chairman of important bodies like NITI Aayog, the National Integration Council, and the National Disaster Management Authority.
We have now seen how the real executive power flows from the Prime Minister and his council. But where do these ministers sit and make laws? Where are they held accountable? That brings us to our next topic: the supreme legislative body of our country, The Parliament of India.
Keep revising, and let's continue this journey together!
#SSCCGL #GeneralAwareness #IndianPolity #PrimeMinister #ConstitutionofIndia
