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1. It is the highest decision-making authority in our politico- administrative system.
2. It is the chief policy formulating body of the Central government.
3. It is the supreme executive authority of the Central government.
4. It is chief coordinator of Central administration.
5. It is an advisory body to the president and its advice is binding on him.
6. It is the chief crisis manager and thus deals with all emergency situations.
7. It deals with all major legislative and financial matters.
8. It exercises control over higher appointments like constitutional authorities and senior secretariat administrators.
9. It deals with all foreign policies and foreign affairs.
Table 20.1 Distinction Between Council of Ministers and Cabinet
Council of ministers | Cabinet |
1. It is a wider body consisting of 60 to 70 ministers. | 1. It is a smaller body consisting of 15 to 20 ministers. |
2. It includes all the three | 2. It includes the cabinet |
categories of ministers, that | ministers only. Thus, it is a |
is, cabinet ministers, | part of the council of |
ministers of state, and | ministers. |
deputy ministers. | |
3. It does not meet, as a body, | 3. It meets, as a body, |
to transact government | frequently and usually once |
business. It has no | in a week to deliberate and |
collective functions. | take decisions regarding |
the transaction of | |
government business. |
4. It is vested with all powers but in theory.
5. Its functions are determined by the cabinet.
6. It implements the decisions taken by the cabinet.
7. It is a constitutional body, dealt in detail by the Articles 74 and 75 of the Constitution. Its size and classification are, however, not mentioned in the Constitution. Its size is determined by the prime minister according to the exigencies of the time and requirements of the situation. Its classification into a three-tier body is based on the conventions of parliamentary government as developed in Britain. It has, however, got a legislative sanction. Thus, the Salaries and Allowances Act of 1952 defines a 'minister’ as a 'member of the council of ministers, by whatever
Thus, it has collective functions.
4. It exercises, in practice, the powers of the council of ministers and thus, acts for the latter.
5. It directs the council of ministers by taking policy decisions which are binding on all ministers.
6. It supervises the implementation of its decisions by the council of ministers.
7. It was inserted in Article
352 of the Constitution in 1978 by the 44th Constitutional Amendment Act. Thus, it did not find a place in the original text of the Constitution. Now also, Article 352 only defines the cabinet saying that it is 'the council consisting of the prime minister and other ministers of cabinet rank appointed under Article 75’ and does not describe its powers and functions. In other words, its role in our politico-administrative system is based on the conventions of
parliamentary government as developed in Britain.
name called, and includes a deputy minister’.
8. It is collectively responsible to the Lower House of the Parliament.
8. It enforces the collective responsibility of the council of ministers to the Lower House of Parliament.