Consider the following statements: 1. The Council of Ministers in the Centre shall be collectively responsible to the Parliament. 2. The Union Ministers shall hold the office during the pleasure of the President of India. 3. The Prime Minister shall communicate to the President about the proposals for legislation. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Contents16
- A1 only
- B2 and 3 only
- C1 and 3 only
- D1, 2 and 3
Show answer
Answer: (B) 2 and 3 only
Statement 1 is tricky and wrong as worded.
Article 75(3) says the Council of Ministers shall be collectively responsible to the 'House of the People' (Lok Sabha), NOT to 'Parliament' as a whole.
Parliament includes both Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha, but collective responsibility is specifically to the Lok Sabha only.
This is a common UPSC trap.
Statement 2 is correct — Article 75(2) says Union Ministers hold office during the pleasure of the President.
Statement 3 is correct — Article 78 says the Prime Minister shall communicate to the President all decisions relating to administration and proposals for legislation.
So statements 2 and 3 are correct.
The Council of Ministers is collectively responsible only to the Lok Sabha, not to Parliament as a whole, despite Parliament including both houses.
UPSC frequently uses the word 'Parliament' instead of 'Lok Sabha' to test whether students know collective responsibility applies specifically to the lower house only.
This tests precise constitutional vocabulary where similar terms like Parliament vs Lok Sabha have different legal meanings.
Collective Responsibility of Council of Ministers
Indian Polity Council of Ministers collectively responsible Parliament
Collective Responsibility: Council of Ministers to Lok Sabha Only
Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to Lok Sabha only, not entire Parliament
Article 75(3) uses term 'House of the People' (Lok Sabha), not 'Parliament'
Rajya Sabha cannot pass vote of no confidence against Council of Ministers
If Lok Sabha passes no confidence motion, entire Council must resign
Constitutional Provision
Article 75(3) states that the Council of Ministers shall be collectively responsible to the House of the People (Lok Sabha). This is the cornerstone of India's parliamentary system — the executive derives its legitimacy from the directly elected lower house.
Responsibility Framework
Aspect | To Lok Sabha | To Rajya Sabha | Constitutional Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
Collective Responsibility | Yes | No | Article 75(3) |
Vote of No Confidence | Can pass | Cannot pass | Article 75(3) |
Individual Responsibility | Yes | Limited | Parliamentary convention |
Question Hour | Yes | Yes | Rules of Procedure |
Why Only Lok Sabha
Direct mandate: Lok Sabha members are directly elected by people, giving them democratic legitimacy to hold executive accountable
Money Bills: Lok Sabha has exclusive power over money matters, so executive (which controls finances) must be responsible to it
Westminster model: India follows UK parliamentary system where executive is responsible to lower house only
Trap: Statement uses 'Parliament' instead of 'Lok Sabha' — Constitution specifically says 'House of the People'
Confusion: Students think 'collective responsibility to Parliament' sounds correct because ministers answer questions in both houses
Key distinction: Answering questions ≠ collective responsibility — only Lok Sabha can remove government
Ministers' Tenure - President's Pleasure
Indian Polity Union Ministers pleasure of the President
Union Ministers Hold Office During President's Pleasure
Article 75(2): Union Ministers hold office during pleasure of President
President acts on Prime Minister's advice in practice for dismissals
No fixed tenure — ministers can be removed anytime without assigning reasons
Constitutional Framework
Article 75(2) clearly states that Ministers hold office during the pleasure of the President. This means the President has the constitutional power to dismiss any minister at any time without assigning reasons.
Comparison of Tenure
Position | Tenure | Removal Authority | Constitutional Article |
|---|---|---|---|
Prime Minister | Pleasure of President | President (on Lok Sabha's loss of confidence) | Article 75 |
Union Ministers | Pleasure of President | President (on PM's advice) | Article 75(2) |
Supreme Court Judges | Till age 65 | Parliament (impeachment) | Article 124 |
CAG | 6 years or age 65 | Parliament (impeachment) | Article 148 |
Practical Reality
PM's recommendation: President removes ministers only on Prime Minister's advice in practice
Cabinet reshuffle: PM uses this power during cabinet reshuffles to drop non-performing ministers
No security of tenure: Unlike judges, ministers have no constitutional protection against arbitrary removal
Students confuse: Ministers' tenure with MPs' tenure — MPs have 5-year term, ministers don't
Common error: Thinking ministers hold office 'during pleasure of PM' — Constitution says 'President'
PM's Communication Duties to President
Indian Polity Prime Minister communicate President proposals for legislation
Prime Minister's Constitutional Duty to Inform President
Article 78: PM must communicate all decisions and legislative proposals to President
President has right to be informed about all government activities
PM must furnish information when President seeks it
Constitutional Mandate
Article 78 creates a constitutional bridge between the President (ceremonial head) and the Prime Minister (real executive head). The PM must keep the President informed to maintain constitutional propriety in India's parliamentary system.
PM's Communication Duties
What PM Must Communicate | Constitutional Provision | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
All decisions relating to administration | Article 78(a) | Keep President informed |
Proposals for legislation | Article 78(b) | Presidential assent process |
Information when President seeks | Article 78(c) | President's right to be consulted |
Matters decided by individual minister if President asks | Article 78(c) | Collective decision-making |
Practical Importance
Weekly meetings: PM typically meets President weekly to brief on major decisions and policies
Legislative process: President needs information before giving assent to bills passed by Parliament
Constitutional head: President represents India internationally, so must be aware of government positions
Students miss: This is a constitutional duty, not just political courtesy
Scope confusion: Article 78 covers both administrative decisions AND legislative proposals
Parliament vs Lok Sabha - Key Distinction
Indian Polity Parliament Lok Sabha
Parliament vs Lok Sabha: Critical UPSC Distinction
Parliament = Lok Sabha + Rajya Sabha + President (in legislative capacity)
Lok Sabha = House of the People, lower house, directly elected
Constitution uses specific terms — 'Parliament' and 'Lok Sabha' are not interchangeable
Constitutional Definition
Article 79 defines Parliament as consisting of the President and two Houses — Rajya Sabha (Council of States) and Lok Sabha (House of the People). When the Constitution says 'Parliament', it means all three components together.
Powers Exclusive to Each
Power/Function | Parliament (Both Houses) | Lok Sabha Only | Rajya Sabha Only |
|---|---|---|---|
Money Bills | No | Yes (Article 109) | No |
No Confidence Motion | No | Yes (Article 75) | No |
Impeachment (President/Judges) | Yes (both houses) | Initiates charges | Conducts trial |
Constitutional Amendments | Yes (special majority) | Equal power | Equal power |
All India Services | No | No | Yes (Article 312) |
Parliament Structure
# Parliament (Article 79)
## President
- Legislative capacity only
- Assent to bills
- Summons Parliament
## Rajya Sabha
- 245 members max
- Indirectly elected
- 6-year term
- Permanent body
## Lok Sabha
- 552 members max
- Directly elected
- 5-year term
- Can be dissolvedMajor trap: Questions use 'Parliament' when answer requires 'Lok Sabha' — read carefully
Collective responsibility trap: Council responsible to 'Lok Sabha', not 'Parliament'
Money Bill trap: 'Lok Sabha' has exclusive power, not 'Parliament'
Terminology precision: Constitution uses exact terms — 'House of the People' means Lok Sabha