1. Prime Minister of India
Appointment, Powers and Position
BY:
POOJAR BASAVARAJ
HEAD DEPT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE

2. Appointment
Shall be appointed by the President in accordance with the well-established parliamentary practice of inviting the leader of the majority party in the Lok Sabha (Art.75).
President has discretionary power when no party or coalition commands a majority in the Lok Sabha to appoint PM

3. Qualifications Must be citizen of India
Must be member of either house of Parliament
If he is not, he must become the member within six months of appointment
Leader of the majority party or one who enjoys the majority support in the Lok Sabha

4. Tenure of PM No fix tenure
PM shall hold office as long as he enjoys the majority support in the Lok Sabha.
Lok Sabha can remove PM by way of carrying out a No Confidence Motion or Censor Motion or Cut Motion.
With the removal of PM, the entire Cabinet resigns.

5. Executive Powers of PM
Formation of Council of Ministers: appoints, removes and distributes portfolios to Ministers
Presides the Meetings of the Cabinet
Leader of the Council of Ministers
Prepares the list for various important appointments such as those of governors, judges of Supreme and High Court, members of UPSC, Election Commission, ambassadors and high Commissioners. These appointments are however made by the President.

6. Legislative Powers of PM
Fixes the Programme of the Parliament
Makes Important Policy Statements in the Parliament
Defends the Policies of the Government in the Parliament
Director of Foreign Policy
Director of Indian Economy
Leader of the Lok Sabha
Recommends Dissolution of the Lok Sabha

7. Changing Role of PM (in the Age of Coalition Politics)
Bound to follow the Common Minimum Programme
Bound to take Political Parties along side
Not independent enough in the formation of Council of Ministry
Important decisions are taken by the Co-ordination Committee made by the partner parties

8. Position of PM
The constitution envisages a scheme of affairs in which the President of India is the head of the executive in terms of Article 53 with office of the Prime Minister as heading the Council of Ministers to assist and advise the President in the discharge of the executive power. To quote, Article 53 and 74 provide as under:
The executive powers of the Union shall be vested in the President and shall be exercised either directly or through subordinate officers, in accordance with the Constitution.
— Article 53(1), Constitution of India
There shall be a Council of Ministers with the Prime Minister at the head to aid and advise the President who shall, in the exercise of his functions, act in accordance with such advice.

9. Position of PM — Article 74(1), Constitution of India
Unlike most parliamentary democracies where the Head of State's duties are only ceremonial, the Prime Minister of India is the head of government and has joint responsibility for executive powers along with the President of India.
Chief political strategist for the government and the nation

10. Can Indian PM be a Dictator ?
There are number of constraints on PM:
Control of Parliament
Control of Public Opinion
Control of Constitution
Control of Press
Control of the President
Control of Opposition

11. Reference Books
Avasthi, A.P, Indian Government and Politics, Narain Agarwal, Agra, 2001.
Badyal, J.S, Indian Government and Politics, Raj Publishers, Jalandhar, 2013.
Fadia, B.L, Indian Government and Politics, Sahitya Bhawan Publication, Agra, 2002
Ghai, U.R, Indian Government and Politics, New Academic Publishing, Jalandhar, 2002.
Gupta, D.C, Indian Government and Politics,Vikas Publishing House, New Delhi, 1978
Johari, J.C, Indian Government and Politics, Vishal Publication, 1979.