Q. Consider the following assertion and reason type statements:

1. Assertion (A): In India, the Prime Minister enjoys a pre-eminent place in the Government.
2. Reason (R): The Council of Ministers cannot exist without the Prime Minister.

Which of the above is / are correct?
Answer: Both A and R are individually correct and R is the correct explanation of A.
Notes: Both A and R are individually correct and R is the correct explanation of A. In India, the Prime Minister enjoys a pre-eminent place in the Government. The Council of Ministers cannot exist without the Prime Minister. The Council comes into existence only after the Prime Minister has taken the oath of office. The death or resignation of the Prime Minister automatically brings about the dissolution of the Council of Ministers but the demise, dismissal or resignation of a minister only creates a ministerial vacancy. The Prime Minister acts as a link between the Council of Ministers on the one hand and the President as well as the Parliament on the other. It is this role of the Prime Minister which led Pt. Nehru to describe him as ‘the linchpin of Government.’