1. Indian Cabinet and Prime Minister
JYOTI
Assistant Professor
Department of Political Science
PGGC-11
Chandigarh

2. The second and the most important organ of the Union executive is the Indian Cabinet or Council of Ministers. The Indian Cabinet is the real executive of the country. The President is the nominal head of the executive. His powers are actually used by the Council of Ministers.
Formation and Organization of Indian Cabinet:
Constitutional Basis of Council of Ministers
Appointment of Prime Minister
Appointment of Other Ministers
Ministers must be Members of Parliament
Oath of Office and Secrecy
Number of Ministers

3. Categories of Ministers:
Cabinet Ministers
Ministers of State
Deputy Minister
Parliamentary Secretaries
Distribution of Portfolios
Tenure of Council of Ministers
Salary and Allowances of Ministers
Meetings of Cabinet

4. Difference between Cabinet and Council of Ministers
The Council of Ministers consists of all big and small ministers (cabinet , state , deputy) but in the cabinet only the heads of important departments or senior ministers are included.
The Cabinet is the real ruler and determines policies regarding administration.
All the members of the cabinet are the members of the Council of Ministers but all the members of the Council of Ministers are not the members of the Cabinet.
The basis of the Council of Ministers is Constitutional but of the cabinet it is the convention.

5. Basic Principles of the working of Cabinet System in India
President is the nominal head of the State
President does not attend the meetings of the Cabinet
Close relationship between Cabinet and Parliament
The Council of Ministers is the real executive
Collective Responsibility
Individual Responsibility of Ministers
Leadership of the Prime Minister
Co-ordination between the Council of ministers and Parliament
Political Homogeneity
Principle of Secrecy
Uncertain Tenure of the Real Executive
Right to dissolve the Lok Sabha

6. Powers and Functions of the Cabinet
Formulation of Policies
Administrative Policies
Legislative Functions
Financial Functions
Appointments
Diplomatic Functions
Proclamation of Emergency
A Co-ordinating Agency
As an Advisor to the President

7. Prime Minister
In Parliamentary system, the office of the Prime Minister is one of greatness and glory. If President is the Constitutional head of the State, the Prime Minister is the real head of the government. Prime Minister is the key stone of cabinet arch. The Prime Minister is the pivot around which the whole system of Government revolves. Appointment: Constitutionally, the President appoints the Prime Minister but in practice the President does not act according to his will and discretion while appointing the Prime Minister. He has to appoint that person the Prime Minister who is the leader of the majority party in the Lok Sabha.

8. Powers and Role of the Prime Minister
Formation of Council of Minister
Distribution of Portfolio
Re-organization of Council of Minister
Presides over the meeting of Cabinet
Co-ordination of different Department
Chief Advisor of the President
Link between the Cabinet and the President
Leader of Lok Sabha
Leader of the Nation
Leader of the party
Chief spokesman of the Government in foreign Policy
Right to dissolve the Parliament
Arbitrator of Inter-State Disputes
Power of making appointments and granting Honours