Council of Ministers
Council of Ministers is the collective body of ministers in the Government of India led by the Prime Minister of India. It exercises the executive authority of the nation under Article 74 and Article 75 of the Constitution of India. The President appoints the Prime Minister, who then recommends the appointment of other ministers.[1]
Constitutional Basis
According to Article 74(1) of the Constitution: "There shall be a Council of Ministers with the Prime Minister at the head to aid and advise the President who shall, in the exercise of his functions, act in accordance with such advice."
Classification
The Council of Ministers is divided into different categories based on rank and responsibility:
- Cabinet Ministers – Senior-most ministers in charge of key ministries like Home, Finance, Defence, External Affairs. They form the Cabinet, the core decision-making body.
- Ministers of State (Independent Charge) – Handle specific portfolios independently, without reporting to a Cabinet Minister.
- Ministers of State – Assist Cabinet Ministers in various ministries and may hold responsibilities for specific areas.
Role and Functions
The Council of Ministers plays a central role in the governance of the country. It is responsible for formulating and implementing national policies that guide the executive functions of the Government of India. The Council oversees the functioning of all ministries and departments, ensuring coherence and coordination in policy execution. It holds the responsibility of preparing and presenting the annual budget and framing the nation’s financial strategy. The Council also initiates most of the bills and legislations in the Parliament of India, especially in the Lok Sabha. Another critical function is maintaining internal law and order as well as external defense and diplomacy, through control over agencies like the Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of External Affairs. Furthermore, the Council represents India in international forums and summits, projecting the country’s interests on the global stage.
The Council operates on the principle of collective responsibility to the Lok Sabha. This means all ministers, including the Prime Minister of India, are accountable as a group to the lower house of Parliament. If the Lok Sabha passes a vote of no-confidence against the Council, the entire Council, including the Prime Minister, is constitutionally required to resign.
Cabinet vs Council of Ministers
Although the terms "Cabinet" and "Council of Ministers" are sometimes used interchangeably, they refer to two distinct bodies within the executive framework. The Council of Ministers is a broad body that includes all categories of ministers—Cabinet Ministers, Ministers of State (Independent Charge), and Ministers of State. In contrast, the Cabinet refers to a narrower and more powerful group composed only of senior ministers in charge of key portfolios like Finance, Home, Defence, and External Affairs. The Cabinet functions as the highest decision-making authority in the government, whereas the full Council is responsible for implementing decisions and supporting the Cabinet’s directives.
Decision-Making and Meetings
The Cabinet is the nerve center of policy-making in India. It meets frequently—usually weekly—to deliberate on critical national and international issues. These meetings are chaired by the Prime Minister and are attended only by Cabinet Ministers. The decisions made in Cabinet meetings are binding on all members of the Council of Ministers, even if they were not part of the deliberations. Other ministers (Ministers of State and Deputy Ministers) are kept informed of decisions or consulted based on relevance. Once decisions are made, the Prime Minister communicates them to the President of India for formal approval. This collective procedure ensures unity and coherence within the executive branch of the government.