Question 1

Describe the powers and functions of the Prime Minister of India.

Accepted Answer

There is no direct election to the post of the Prime Minister. The President appoints the Prime Minister. But the President cannot appoint anyone he likes. He appoints the leader of the majority party or the coalition of parties that commands a majority in the Lok Sabha, as Prime Minister. In case no single party or alliance gets a majority, the President appoints the person most likely to secure a majority support. The Prime Minister does not have a fixed tenure. He continues in power so long as he remains the leader of the majority party or coalition. Since the Prime Minister is the head of the government, he enjoys wide-ranging powers : (i) He chairs Cabinet meetings and coordinates the work of different Departments. His decisions are final in case disagreements arise between Departments. (ii) He exercises general supervision of different ministries. All ministers work under his leadership. (iii) The Prime Minister distributes and redistributes work to the ministers. (iv) He also has the power to dismiss ministers. When the Prime Minister quits, the entire ministry quits. Thus, the Prime Minister is the most powerful person within the Cabinet.

Question 2

The minimum age required for becoming the Prime Minister of India is _______________.

Accepted Answer

A person will be eligible to become the Prime Minister if he is a citizen of India and a member of either house of the Parliament. He must have completed 25 years of age in case he is a member of Lok Sabha and 30 years in case of Rajya Sabha.

Question 3

How is the Prime Minister elected?

Accepted Answer

The Prime Minister is elected by the Members of Parliament. Out of 545 seats in Lok Sabha, any party who wins a majority of seats choose their leader to be the head of the Government. Article 75 of the Constitution provides that the Prime Minister shall be appointed by the President but the President has to appoint the leader of the majority party in Lok Sabha as the Prime Minister. But when no party has a clear majority in the Lok Sabha the President can exercise his personal discretion in the appointment of Prime Minister.

Question 4

Describe the three categories of ministers which constitute the Council of Ministers.

Accepted Answer

The Council of Ministers is the official name for the body that includes all the Ministers. It usually has 60 to 80 Ministers of different ranks (i) Cabinet Ministers are usually top-level leaders of the ruling party or parties who are in-charge of the major ministries. Usually the Cabinet Ministers meet to take decisions in the name of the Council of Ministers. Cabinet is thus the inner ring of the Council of Ministers. It comprises about 20 ministers. (ii) Ministers of State with independent charge are usually in-charge of smaller ministries. They participate in the Cabinet meetings only when specially invited. (iii) Ministers of State are attached to and required to assist Cabinet Ministers.

Question 5

Who among the following is a part of Political Executive?

Accepted Answer

Out of the given option Home minister is the political executive. One that is elected by the people for a specific period is called the political executive.

Question 6

How is the President of India elected? Describe the powers and functions of the President?

Accepted Answer

The President of India is the head of the State. He exercises only nominal powers. He is not elected directly by the people. All the members of Parliament i.e. MPs and Members of State Legislative Assemblies i.e. MLAs elect him. A candidate standing for President's post has to get a majority of votes to win the election. This ensures that the President can be seen to represent the entire nation. The President supervises the overall functioning of all the political institutions in the country so that they operate in harmony to achieve the objections of the State. He exercises the following powers : (i) All the governmental activities take place in the name of the President. (ii) All laws and major policy decisions of the government are issued in his name. (iii) All major appointments are made in the name of the President. These include the appointment of the Chief Justice of India, the Judges of the Supreme Court and the High Courts of the States, the Government of the States, the Election Commissioners, ambassadors to other countries, etc. (iv) All international treaties and agreements are made in the name of the President. (v) The President is the supreme commander of the defence forces of India. But the President exercises all these powers only on the advice of the Council of Ministers. The President can ask the Council of Ministers to reconsider its advice. But if the same advice is given again, he is bound to act according to it. In the same way, a bill passed by the Parliament becomes a law only after the President gives assent to it. If the President wants, he can delay this for some time and send the bill back to the Parliament for reconsideration. But if the Parliament passes the bill again, he has to sign it.

Question 7

Why is the Prime Minister in India not directly elected by the people? Choose the most appropriate answer and give reasons for your choice.

Accepted Answer

In a Parliamentary democracy only the leader of the majority party in the Lok Sabha can become the Prime Minister. This is to ensure that the Prime Minister secures a majority support. This prevents him/her from being either a puppet or a dictator since he/she has to function along with a council of ministers.

Question 8

Who was the first woman prime Minister of India?

Accepted Answer

Indira Gandhi was the first women Prime Minister of India who served for three consecutive terms. She succeeded Lal Bahadur Shastri as the PM. Indira Gandhi was the only child of Jawaharlal Nehru. She was the second longest serving Indian PM and was a central figure of Indian National Congress.

Question 9

'The Prime Minister of a coalition government faces certain constraints'. Explain.

Accepted Answer

(i) The rise of coalition politics has imposed certain constraints on the power of the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister of a coalition government cannot take decisions as he likes. (ii) He has to accommodate different groups and factions in his party as well as among the alliance partners. (iii) He also has to heed to the views and positions of the coalition partners and other parties, on whose support the survival of the government depends.

Question 10

State any one reason why the President is elected indirectly.

Accepted Answer

Under the system of Parliamentary Democracy present in India, the President is only the nominal executive and the real power resides with the Council of Ministers headed by the Prime Minister which is the real executive. The President is elected indirectly as spending huge amount of money, time and other resources for direct election of the nominal executive was not considered necessary by our Constitution makers.

Revise with Concepts

President

Powers and Functions of the President of India

Prime Minister

Council of Ministers

Quick Summary With Stories

Introduction to the President of India

Parliamentary and Presidential Democracy

The President of India: Qualification and Election

Appointment of the Prime Minister