Get notes, summary, questions and answers, MCQs, extras, and PDFs of Chapter 3 “Prime Minister and Council of Ministers” which is part of ICSE Class 10 Civics (Morning Star). However, the notes should only be treated as references and changes should be made according to the needs of the students.
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Summary
The chapter “Prime Minister and Council of Ministers” provides an overview of the structure, powers, and responsibilities of the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers in India. The Constitution of India establishes a Parliamentary system, where the President is the nominal head, and the Prime Minister is the real executive authority. The Prime Minister is appointed by the President, typically from the majority party in the Lok Sabha. If no single party has a majority, the President may choose a leader who can secure support from other groups to form the government.
The Council of Ministers is headed by the Prime Minister and includes different categories of ministers: Cabinet Ministers, Ministers of State, and Deputy Ministers. Cabinet Ministers are senior members who hold important portfolios and attend Cabinet meetings where significant decisions are made. Ministers of State may or may not hold independent charge of a ministry, while Deputy Ministers assist the senior ministers.
The Prime Minister holds significant power within the government, including the ability to select and dismiss ministers, allocate portfolios, and coordinate policy across various departments. The Prime Minister also serves as the chief spokesperson of the government in Parliament and represents India on international platforms.
The Cabinet, a smaller group within the Council of Ministers, plays a central role in decision-making and policy formulation. It is responsible for implementing policies, coordinating government activities, and managing the administration. The Cabinet also advises the President on various matters, including the declaration of emergencies and the introduction of legislation.
The chapter also highlights the concept of collective responsibility, where the entire Council of Ministers is accountable to the Lok Sabha. If the Lok Sabha passes a vote of no confidence against the Council, the entire ministry must resign. Individual ministers are also responsible to the President and can be dismissed on the Prime Minister’s advice.
Video tutorial
Textbook (Total History) solutions
Multiple-Choice Questions
1. Who heads the Council of Ministers?
A. President
B. Prime Minister
C. Council Minister
D. Chief Justice of India
Answer: B. Prime Minister
2. What happens if a non-member of Parliament is appointed as a Minister?
A. He/she has to become one within six months of appointment
B. He/she has to become a member in the next elections
C. He/she can defer the appointment until he/she becomes a member
D. He/she cannot be appointed
Answer: A. He/she has to become one within six months of appointment
3. Which of the following statements about the Prime Minister of India are correct?
P: The Prime Minister is the head of the Council of Ministers to aid and advise the President.
Q: The Prime Minister is not answerable to the people of the country.
R: The members of the majority party in the Lok Sabha elect their leader to be appointed as the Prime Minister.
S: The Prime Minister is the nominal head of the nation.
A. P and Q
B. P and R
C. P and S
D. R and S
Answer: B. P and R
4. Which of the following statements about the Council of Ministers are correct?
P: The ministers hold office during the pleasure of the Prime Minister.
Q: The Council of Ministers are collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha.
R: Every minister must be a member of Lok Sabha.
S: The Prime Minister selects his/her senior and trustworthy colleagues as Cabinet Ministers.
A. P and Q
B. P and R
C. Q and S
D. R and S
Answer: C. Q and S
5. Who assist the Cabinet Ministers and the Council of Ministers?
A. Deputy Ministers
B. Ministers of State
C. Governors
D. None of the above
Answer: A. Deputy Ministers
6. The President’s Special Address to Parliament is prepared by
A. The Prime Minister
B. The Vice President
C. The Cabinet
D. The Speaker of the Lok Sabha
Answer: C. The Cabinet
7. Which amongst the following is not a Financial Power of the Cabinet?
A. Budget
B. Summoning the Lok Sabha
C. Finances of the Government
D. Introduction of Money Bills
Answer: B. Summoning the Lok Sabha
8. Identify the Legislative powers of the Cabinet.
P: The Cabinet has no role in the Amendment to the Constitution.
Q: The Cabinet initiates almost 95 per cent of the Bills.
R: The ministers answer questions put to them by the members of the Lok Sabha.
S: The Cabinet directly advises the President of India.
A. Q and R
B. P and Q
C. Q and S
D. R and S
Answer: A. Q and R
9. Whose resignation implies resignation of the whole cabinet?
A. Prime Minister
B. Chief Justice of India
C. President
D. Deputy Minister
Answer: A. Prime Minister
10. Identify the methods by which Parliament maintains control over the Executive.
P: By passing a vote of No-confidence in the Council of Ministers.
Q: By changing the Council of Ministers after every six months.
R: By electing a new Prime Minister after a gap of three years.
S: By passing an amendment to a bill against the wishes of the Government.
A. Q and R
B. P and S
C. R and S
D. P and Q
Answer: B. P and S
11. Who amongst the following has the power to select and dismiss Ministers?
A. President
B. Chief Justice of India
C. Cabinet Minister
D. Prime Minister
Answer: D. Prime Minister
12. The initiative of summoning the Houses of Parliament is taken by
A. the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs
B. the Prime Minister
C. the President
D. the Chief Justice
Answer: A. the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs
13. Which of the following statements are correct?
P: The Council of Ministers are collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha.
Q: A Vote of No-confidence against one Minister does not have any effect on the entire Ministry.
R: The Ministers are individually responsible to the Prime Minister of India.
S: Every Minister is answerable to Parliament for the department under his/her control.
A. P and R
B. R and S
C. P and Q
D. P and S
Answer: D. P and S
Short Answer Questions
1. State the three categories of Ministers in the Council of Ministers. Which category of ministers are the most important?
Answer: The three categories of Ministers in the Council of Ministers are Cabinet Ministers, Ministers of State, and Deputy Ministers. The most important category of ministers is the Cabinet Ministers.
2. Explain the term ‘Collective Responsibility’. Who is the head of the Union Council of Ministers?
Answer: Collective Responsibility refers to the principle that all members of the Council of Ministers are collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha for all decisions and actions taken by the government. The head of the Union Council of Ministers is the Prime Minister.
3. How long can a Minister stay in office? Under what provision can a non-member of Parliament be made a Minister?
Answer: A Minister can stay in office as long as they enjoy the confidence of the majority in the Lok Sabha and during the pleasure of the President. A non-member of Parliament can be made a Minister, but they must be elected or nominated to either House of Parliament within six months of their appointment.
4. By whom and on whose advice is the Council of Ministers appointed? A large number of people are killed in a major rail accident. What happens if the Railway Minister resigns from the post on moral grounds?
Answer: The Council of Ministers is appointed by the President of India on the advice of the Prime Minister. If the Railway Minister resigns from the post on moral grounds after a major rail accident, the resignation would be accepted, and the Prime Minister would likely advise the President on appointing a new Railway Minister. The resignation also implies the minister’s acceptance of responsibility for the accident.
Structured Questions
1. With reference to the powers and functions of the Cabinet, briefly state the following:
(a) Three Administrative Functions.
(b) Three Legislative Functions.
(c) Four Financial Functions.
Answer: (a) Three Administrative Functions: Policy making, implementation of policies, coordinating the functioning of various ministries.
(b) Three Legislative Functions: Introduction of bills, amendment to the Constitution, issuing ordinances.
(c) Four Financial Functions: Preparation of the budget, control over government finances, introduction of money bills, allocation of financial resources.
2. The Constitution provides a Council of Ministers to aid and advise the President. In this context, answer the following questions:
(a) Briefly mention three of their functions.
(b) How does the Parliament exercise an effective control over the Council of Ministers?
(c) State the Cabinet’s role in the formulation of policies of the Government.
Answer: (a) Three functions: Advising the President, implementing government policies, and coordinating between different ministries.
(b) Parliament exercises control by passing a vote of No-Confidence, rejecting bills, and questioning ministers.
(c) The Cabinet formulates major policies of the Government, coordinates their implementation, and advises the President on key decisions.
3. With reference to the Prime Minister of India, answer the following questions:
(a) State any three qualifications which a person should possess to be eligible for appointment as Prime Minister.
(b) What is the position of the Prime Minister under the Parliamentary system of government?
(c) How is the Prime Minister a link between the Cabinet and the President?
Answer: (a) Three qualifications: Must be a member of the Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha, must be the leader of the majority party in the Lok Sabha, and must have the confidence of the Lok Sabha.
(b) The Prime Minister is the head of the government, leading the Council of Ministers and advising the President on all executive decisions.
(c) The Prime Minister communicates the decisions of the Cabinet to the President and ensures that the President’s directions are implemented by the Cabinet.
4. With reference to the Prime Minister of India, answer the following questions:
(a) How can we say that the Prime Minister occupies a unique position in the Parliament?
(b) State any three powers of the Prime Minister as a Chairperson of the Cabinet.
(c) Mention three ways in which the Constitution ensures the pre-eminent position of the Prime Minister in relation to the Union Council of Ministers.
Answer: (a) The Prime Minister occupies a unique position by being the leader of the majority party in the Lok Sabha, the head of the government, and the primary spokesperson in Parliament.
(b) Three powers: Allocating portfolios among ministers, reshuffling the Cabinet, and presiding over Cabinet meetings.
(c) The Constitution ensures the Prime Minister’s pre-eminence by requiring the President to act on the Prime Minister’s advice, giving the Prime Minister authority to select and dismiss ministers, and making the Prime Minister the link between the President and the Cabinet.
Picture Study
(a) What is meant by the term ‘Cabinet’? Who comprises the Cabinet?
Answer: The ‘Cabinet’ refers to a small, cohesive group of senior ministers who hold key portfolios such as Defence, Finance, and Home Affairs. The Cabinet is composed of the Prime Minister and these senior ministers, who are responsible for making major decisions and determining the policies of the government.
(b) State three points of difference between the Cabinet and the Council of Ministers.
Answer:
- The Cabinet is a smaller group consisting of senior ministers, whereas the Council of Ministers includes all categories of ministers: Cabinet Ministers, Ministers of State, and Deputy Ministers.
- The Cabinet meets regularly to make important decisions, while the Council of Ministers as a whole rarely meets.
- The President acts on the advice of the Cabinet in day-to-day governance, whereas the Constitution states that the President should act on the advice of the Council of Ministers.
(c) Distinguish between individual responsibility and collective responsibility.
Answer:
- Individual responsibility refers to the accountability of each minister to the President for the operations of their respective departments. A minister may be dismissed for personal lapses or departmental failures.
- Collective responsibility means that all ministers are collectively accountable to the Lok Sabha for the policies and actions of the government. If the Lok Sabha passes a vote of no confidence, the entire Council of Ministers must resign.
Thinking Skills
1. Suppose you are appointed as the Prime Minister of India. How will you choose your Cabinet and whom would you appoint as Ministers?
Answer: If appointed as the Prime Minister of India, I would choose my Cabinet based on a combination of expertise, experience, and representation. I would ensure that key portfolios are assigned to individuals with proven track records in those areas. Additionally, I would aim to include diverse representation from different regions, communities, and genders to reflect the diversity of the nation. Trustworthiness and loyalty would also be important criteria, as the Cabinet should function cohesively as a team.
2. In a coalition government, a number of parties join together to form the government. There occurs a clash of interests among different parties that makes the government weak. Give your views and reasons to justify them.
Answer: In a coalition government, it is common for clashes of interest to arise due to the differing agendas and priorities of the various parties involved. This can lead to a lack of cohesion and difficulty in decision-making, weakening the government’s ability to implement policies effectively. Such a situation requires strong leadership and negotiation skills to manage conflicts and maintain stability. It is crucial for coalition partners to find common ground and work together for the greater good of the country, setting aside narrower party interests.
Extra/additional MCQs
1. Who appoints the Prime Minister of India?
A. Lok Sabha
B. President
C. Vice President
D. Chief Justice of India
Answer: B. President
33. Who holds the real executive power under the Indian Constitution?
A. The President
B. The Prime Minister
C. The Union Council of Ministers
D. The Lok Sabha
Answer: C. The Union Council of Ministers
Extra/additional questions and answers
1. Who appoints the Prime Minister of India?
Answer: The President appoints the Prime Minister.
41. Explain the concept of collective responsibility in the context of the Indian Council of Ministers.
Answer: The concept of collective responsibility is a fundamental principle in the functioning of the Indian Council of Ministers. It means that the entire Council of Ministers, led by the Prime Minister, is collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha, the lower house of Parliament. This principle has several key implications:
- Unified Front: All ministers, regardless of their individual opinions, are expected to present a unified front in supporting and defending government policies. Once a decision is taken by the Cabinet, it becomes the collective decision of the entire Council, and all ministers must adhere to it.
- Parliamentary Accountability: The Council of Ministers must retain the confidence of the Lok Sabha to remain in power. If the Lok Sabha passes a vote of No-Confidence against the government, the entire Council of Ministers, including the Prime Minister, must resign. This ensures that the executive branch of government remains accountable to the legislature.
- Resignation in Case of Defeat: In situations where a significant government bill is defeated in the Lok Sabha or the government faces serious setbacks, the principle of collective responsibility may lead to the resignation of the entire Council of Ministers. This underscores the importance of maintaining majority support in the Lok Sabha.
- Coordination and Cohesion: Collective responsibility fosters coordination and cohesion within the government. Ministers must work together as a team, ensuring that government policies are consistent and effectively implemented. This principle also prevents ministers from publicly dissenting from government policies, as such dissent would undermine the unity of the Council.
- Cabinet Decisions Binding on All: The decisions made by the Cabinet are binding on all ministers, even those who were not part of the decision-making process. This ensures that the government speaks with one voice and that policies are implemented consistently across different ministries.
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