Q. Consider the following statements:
- The Council of Ministers in the Centre shall be collectively responsible to the Parliament.
- The Union Ministers shall hold the office during the pleasure of the President of India.
- The Prime Minister shall communicate to the President about the proposals for legislation.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (UPSC Prelims 2013)
Answer:
2 and 3 only
Notes: The correct answer is
[B] 2 and 3 only. This question tests your precision regarding the specific constitutional provisions of the Indian Parliamentary system.
- Collective Responsibility (Statement 1 is Incorrect): While it is a common misconception that the Council of Ministers is responsible to the "Parliament" (which includes the Rajya Sabha), Article 75(3) specifically states that the Council of Ministers shall be collectively responsible to the House of the People (Lok Sabha) only. They do not owe collective responsibility to the Upper House.
- Pleasure of the President (Statement 2 is Correct): According to Article 75(2), the Ministers shall hold office during the pleasure of the President. However, in a practical sense, the President exercises this "pleasure" only on the advice of the Prime Minister. As long as the Ministry enjoys the majority in the Lok Sabha, the President cannot dismiss a minister arbitrarily.
- Communication with the President (Statement 3 is Correct): Under Article 78, it is the constitutional duty of the Prime Minister to communicate to the President all decisions of the Council of Ministers relating to the administration of the affairs of the Union and proposals for legislation. The President can also call for any such information.