Multiple Choice Questions

Question 1

Who heads the Council of Ministers?

1. President
2. Prime Minister
3. Council Minister
4. Chief Justice of India

Question 2

What happens if a non-member of Parliament is appointed as a Minister?

1. He/she has to become one within six months of appointment

2. He/she has to become a member in the next elections
3. He/she can defer the appointment until he/she becomes a member
4. He/she cannot be appointed.

Question 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.

1. P and Q
2. P and R
3. P and S
4. R and S

Question 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.

1. P and Q
2. P and R
3. Q and S
4. R and S

Question 5

Who assist the Cabinet Ministers and the Council of Ministers?

1. Deputy Ministers
2. Ministers of State
3. Governors
4. None of the above

Question 6

The President's Special Address to Parliament is prepared by ............... .

1. The Prime Minister

2. The Vice President
3. The Cabinet
4. The Speaker of the Lok Sabha

Question 7

Which amongst the following is not a Financial Powers of the Cabinet?

1. Budget
2. Summoning the Lok Sabha
3. Finances of the Government
4. Introduction of Money Bills

Question 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 answers questions put to them by the members of the Lok Sabha.

S : The Cabinet directly advises the President of India.

1. Q and R
2. P and Q
 3. Q and S
4. R and S

Question 9

Whose resignation implies resignation of the whole cabinet?

1. Prime Minister
2. President
3. Chief Justice of India
4. Deputy Minister

Question 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 new Prime Minister after a gap of three years.

S : By passing an amendment to a bill against the wishes of the Government.

1. Q and R
2. P and S
3. R and S
4. P and R

Question 11

Who amongst the following has the power to select and dismiss Ministers?

1. President
2. Chief Justice of India
3. Cabinet Minister
4. Prime Minister

Question 12

The initiative of summoning the Houses of Parliament is taken by ................ .

1. the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs

2. the Prime Minister
3. the President
4. the Chief Justice

Question 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.

1. P and R
2. R and S
3. P and Q
4. 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?

i.Cabinet Ministers

ii.Minister of State

iii.Deputy Ministers

Cabinet Ministers are the most important category of ministers as they hold important
portfolios.

……………………………………………………………………..

2.Explain the term 'Collective Responsibility'. Who is the head of the Union Council of
ministers?

i.The Council of ministers is collectively responsible to the House of the People

ii.When a decision taken in the Cabinet, every minister has to stand by it

iii.If a Vote of No-Confidence against one Minister it is a vote against the whole

Ministry. Such a Ministry that has lost the confidence of the Lok Sabha has to

resign

……………………………………………………………………………………………..

3.How long can a Minister stay in office? Under what provision can a non-member of
Parliament be made a Minister?
i.A minister being a member of Parliament has a normal term of office of 5 years.

ii.But Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers can remain in office so long as they enjoy
the majority support in the Lok Sabha.

iii.In case a non-member is appointed as a Minister, he must be elected or nominated to the

Parliament six months from the date of his 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?

i.The Council of Ministers is appointed by the President on the advice of the Prime Minister.

ii.Each minister is individually responsible to the Parliament for the department under his/her
control.

iii.For this reason, if the Railway Minister is owning the responsibility of the mistakes and
shortcomings of his/her department then only he/she needs to resign.

iv.The rest of the members of the cabinet will not resign and continue working.

Structured Questions :

I.With reference to the powers and functions of the Cabinet, briefly state the following:

(a) Three Administrative Functions.

i.Policy Making — The Cabinet formulates both external and domestic policies of the
Government. Individual Ministers have reasonable freedom of action, but on all major
matters they have to consult the Cabinet.

ii.Implementation of Policies — Once a policy decision is taken by the Cabinet on any

subject, it is conveyed to the Minister of State and the Deputy Minister of the concerned
Ministry. They work out the details and pass it to the civil servants under that Ministry to
implement the decision.

iii.Coordinating the Functioning of Various Ministers — The Cabinet coordinates

the working of various departments for the smooth implementation of government

policies

………………………………………………………………..

(b) Three Legislative Functions.

i.Introduction of Bills:The Cabinet and the Department of Administration take initiative in

legislation. In fact, the Cabinet initiates almost 95% of the bills.
The legislative proposals that the cabinet formulates are called official bills.

ii.Amendment to the Constitution — The Cabinet is instrumental in planning

and moving the Amendment to the Constitution.

iii.Issuing Ordinances — Cabinet also advises the President to issue ordinances when the
Parliament is not in session.

……………………………………………………………………….

(c) Four financial functions of the Cabinet are as follows-

1. Budget — The Finance Minister prepares the Annual Budget containing estimates of
income and expenditure for the ensuing year.
2. Finances of the Government — The Cabinet is responsible for the expenditure of
the government for presenting the demand for grants and also for raising necessary
income by various means including taxation.
3. Introduction of Money Bills — A Money Bill can be introduced in the Lok Sabha
only by a Minister.

……………………………………………………………………………………..

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.

i.Policy Making — The Cabinet formulates both external and domestic policies of the
Government.

ii.Implementation of Policies — Once a policy decision is taken by the Cabinet on

any subject, it is conveyed to the Minister of State and the Deputy Minister of the

concerned Ministry. They work out the details and pass it to the civil servants under

that Ministry to implement the decision.

iii. Appointments- The appointments of judges of Supreme Court, High Courts,

Governors of States, Chief Election Commissioner, other dignitaries are decided by the

cabinet

.……………………………………………………

(b) Parliament ensures Cabinet's responsibility to the people, in general, and to the
Parliament as a whole. The methods adopted by the Parliament are —
 i.A vote of No-Confidence in the Council of Ministers.

ii.Rejection of a Government bill.

iii.Passing a bill opposed by the Government.

iv.Voting a cut in the Budget.

…………………………………………………

C) State the Cabinet’s role in the formulation of the policies of the government.

i.The Cabinet formulates both external and domestic policies of the Government.

ii.It takes decisions on matters such as defence, economic policy, security needs, President's
rule in State, formation of new States, industrial policy, imports and electoral reforms.

iii.Individual Ministers have reasonable freedom of action, but on all major matters they have
to consult the Cabinet.

…………………………………………………………………….

Question 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.

i.He should be a citizen of India.

ii.He must have completed 25 years of age in case he is a member of Lok Sabha and

30 ears in case of Rajya Sabha.

iii.He must be a member of either house of Parliament.

………………………………………………………

(b) What is the position of the Prime Minister under the Parliamentary system of
government?

While the President is the nominal head of State, the Prime Minister is the real head of the
nation.

i.Leader of the Lok Sabha — As the Prime Minister is the leader of the majority party in
Parliament, he is said to be the leader of the House.
ii.Spokesperson of the Government — The Prime Minister is the chief spokesman of the
Government in the Parliament. He makes all important announcements on national policies
on the floor of the House.

iii.Defender of Government Policies — The Prime Minister defends the Government in the
Parliament. When a policy or a Minister comes under attack in the Parliament, the Prime
Minister comes to defend the issue involved.

………………………………………………………….

(c) How is the Prime Minister a link between the Cabinet and the President?

i.He/she is a link between the Cabinet and the President.

ii.Our Constitution lays down that it shall be the duty of the Prime Minister to communicate
to the President all decisions of the Council of Ministers relating to the administration of the
Union and the proposals for legislation.

iii.A Minister cannot discuss any matter of national policy with the President on his/her own.

………………………………………………………………………………..

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?

The Prime Minister is the real head of the nation

i.Leader of the Lok Sabha — As the Prime Minister is the leader of the majority party in
Parliament, he is said to be the leader of the House.

ii.Spokesperson of the Government — The Prime Minister is the chief spokesman of the
Government in the Parliament. He makes all important announcements on national policies
on the floor of the House.

iii.Defender of Government Policies — The Prime Minister defends the Government in the
Parliament. When a policy or a Minister comes under attack in the Parliament, the Prime
Minister comes to defend the issue involved.

………………………………………………………………………

(b) State any three powers of the Prime Minister as a Chairperson of the Cabinet?

1. Power to Allocate Portfolios and to Reshuffle the Council of Ministers — It is the

Prime Minister who allocates departments or portfolios to the Ministers. He can
reshuffle his Council of Ministers whenever he pleases.
2. Power to Select and Dismiss Ministers — The Prime Minister chooses the Ministers
and has the power to dismiss them too. He can ask an erring Minister to resign.
3. Power to Direct and Coordinate Policy — The Prime Minister coordinates the
working of various departments so that administration is carried on smoothly. In
 critical matters such as, foreign, defence, economic and technological affairs, he
coordinates the policy of the Government.

……………………………………………………………………………

(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.

Three ways in which the Constitution ensures the pre-eminent position of the Prime Minister
in relation to the Union Council of Ministers are as follows-

1. Appointment of Council of Ministers — The Prime Minister chooses the ministers

and, on his advice, the President appoints them.
2. Power to Allocate Portfolios and to Reshuffle the Council of Ministers — It is the
Prime Minister who allocates departments or portfolios to the Ministers. He can
reshuffle his Council of Ministers whenever he pleases.
3. Power to Dismiss Ministers — The Prime Minister has the power to dismiss the
ministers. He can ask an erring Minister to resign.

Picture Study

Question 1

Study the figure and answer the following questions:

(a) What is meant by the term 'Cabinet'? Who comprises the Cabinet?

i.The Cabinet a small but important body of Senior Ministers holding

important portfolios such as Defence, Finance, Foreign Affairs, railways etc.

ii.They decide major policies and programmes of the Government.

iii.They, are trusted colleagues of the Prime Minister, form the nucleus of the administration.

………………………………………………………..

(b) State three points of difference between the Cabinet and the Council of Ministers.
 Cabinet Ministers Council of Ministers

i.The Council of Ministers

i.The 'Cabinet' is a smaller group
consists of all categories of
consisting of senior Ministers holding
Ministers — Cabinet Ministers,
important portfolios such as Defence,
Ministers of State and Deputy
Finance, Home, etc.
Ministers.

ii.They are the most trusted colleagues

ii.The Prime Minister may or
of the Prime Minister. The Prime
may not consult the other
Minister always consults them. The
Ministers, below the rank of
decisions of the Cabinet are binding on
Cabinet Ministers.
all the ministers.

iii.The Cabinet is a small cohesive

iii.In the day-to-day working of
group of senior Ministers who
the government, the Council of
determine the policy and programme of
Ministers as a whole rarely
the Government; so they meet as
meets.
frequently as possible.

(c) Distinguish between individual responsibility and collective responsibility.

The differences between collective responsibility and individual responsibility of the Council
of Ministers are as follows:

Collective Responsibility Individual Responsibility

i.The Ministers are individually

i.According to Article 75(3) of the
responsible to the
Constitution, the Council of Ministers
President.They hold office
shall be collectively responsible to the
during the pleasure of the
Lok Sabha.
President

ii.The decisions taken in the meetings of ii.Each Minister is answerable to

the Cabinet are equally applicable to all Parliament for the department
the Ministers even though they may under his control.
differ among themselves on a particular
policy.

iii.A Vote of No-Confidence against one iii.It is obligatory for him to

Minister is a vote against the whole answer all the questions asked
Ministry. by the MPs, regarding the
functioning his /her department
Such a Ministry that has lost the
confidence of the Lok Sabha has to
 Collective Responsibility Individual Responsibility

resign.

Thinking Skills

Question 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 I am appointed as the Prime Minister of India, my guiding principles for choosing my

cabinet will be firstly, to have only people without any criminal background considered for
my cabinet. Secondly, my ministers should be honest, dedicated, self-less and above all not
corrupt. I will also appoint young men who are technically sound as Ministers in my cabinet
so that their experience and passion could be used to develop the country.

Question 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

Yes, historically we have seen that when a number of parties join together to form a coalition
government, such a government is weak. Due to the conflicting interests of the different
parties involved, compromise and tolerance becomes the norm and the narrow agenda of
regional parties takes priority over national needs. National economy becomes weak as the
fiscal requirements of individual states and regions takes precedence.

The coalition partners have no common ideology. As a result, they are always living in this
fear that the government can fall anytime. So, they try to maximise the financial gains for
their respective parties in a short span of time. This combined with a lack of accountability in
a coalition towards the people increases corruption leading to major scams.
Hence, a coalition government is weak and unable to strengthen the nation.