Appointed Leader - Prime Minister Invoking Article 75
In the vibrant democracy of India, the Council of Ministers (CoMs) plays a pivotal role in governing the nation under the Westminster model of government. This system, originally developed in the United Kingdom, has been adopted by various countries, including India, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
The Role of the Council of Ministers in India
The Council of Ministers, collectively, formulates government policy and administers executive functions. They are responsible to the Lok Sabha (the directly elected lower house) or the State Legislative Assembly at the state level. In essence, the Council of Ministers, headed by the Prime Minister, exercises real executive power, despite the President being the constitutional head of state.
The Council manages and directs various government departments, implements laws, and coordinates administration and fiscal policy to ensure smooth governance. Ministers are responsible individually and collectively, meaning they must publicly support Cabinet decisions even if they have private reservations, according to cabinet collective responsibility, a key feature of the Westminster system.
Composition of the Council of Ministers in India
The Council of Ministers includes the Prime Minister, who is appointed by the President, and other ministers classified broadly as Cabinet Ministers, Ministers of State (with and without independent charge), and Deputy Ministers. The Prime Minister selects the Council of Ministers, and the President formally appoints them on the PM’s advice.
The Chief Minister (at the state level) nominates ministers and allocates portfolios, while the Governor appoints them on the Chief Minister’s advice. The Prime Minister or Chief Minister exercises significant control over the Council, allocating portfolios, guiding and coordinating ministerial functions, and recommending ministerial dismissal or reshuffles.
Key Features Specific to India’s Westminster Model
In the Indian Westminster system, the President acts as a constitutional sentinel, ensuring the proper constitutional process, but does not exercise independent executive authority apart from formal actions based on ministerial advice. Ministers hold office at the President’s pleasure but effectively at the Prime Minister’s advice, making the PM-led Council dominant in executive governance.
The Council is collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha or state assembly and must resign if it loses majority support, maintaining legislative-executive accountability. Thus, in the Indian Westminster system, the Council of Ministers is the real executive power centre, led by the Prime Minister (or Chief Minister), responsible for policy-making and administration, with a composition reflecting parliamentary majority dynamics and the need for collective responsibility.
In conclusion, the Council of Ministers in India, under the Westminster model, is a crucial component of the nation's democratic structure. It plays a significant role in policy-making, administration, and accountability, ensuring that the government functions smoothly and effectively.
- In India's democratic structure, the Council of Ministers, collectively responsible for policy-making, administration, and accountability, is a pivotal part of the Westminster model, with key features such as policy-and-legislation formulation, parliamentary majority dynamics, and collective responsibility.
- engaging in politics and general news, the Council of Ministers in India, despite the President being the constitutional head of state, holds real executive power, formulating policies, administering executive functions, and coordinating administration and fiscal policy, while retaining collective responsibility for the actions of its members.
