Indian Polity & Constitution
The Prime Minister and the Union Council of Ministers
More Articles
- The Prime Minister And The Union Council Of Ministers
- Introduction - Indian polity & Constitution
- Evolution of Indian Constitution
- Constituent Assembly and Making of the Constitution
- Different Sources of Indian Constitution
- Important Parts, Articles of the Constitution
- Schedules of Indian Constitution
- Special Features of Indian Constitution / Federal & Unitary
- The Preamble
- Lapse of Paramountcy
- Integration and Merger of Indian States
- The Union and its Territories
- Reorganization of States
- Citizenship
- Fundamental Rights
- The Writs
- Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP)
- Fundamental Duties
- Procedure for Amending the Constitution
- The Doctrine of Basic Features
- Some Important Constitutional Amendment Acts
- Executive of the Union The President (Art. 52)
- Emergency Provisions
- The Vice-President
- The Attorney & Auditor General of India
- The Parliament of India - President, Rajya Sabha & Lok Sabha
- Parliamentary Terms
- The Supreme Court
- The High Court
- Centre-State Relations
- Executive of the States - Governor, State Legislature
- Panchayati Raj
- Municipalities
- Inter-State Relations
- Planning Commission, NITI Aayog, NDC and Finance Commission
- Public Service Commissions
- Election & Election Commission
- Delimitation Commission of India
- The Official Language
- National Symbol (Flag, Emblem, Anthem, Song, Calendar, etc.)
- Some Important Comments and Statements
- Miscellaneous - Indian Polity & Constitution
The Prime Minister and the Union Council of Ministers
In a parliamentary system of Government, the Prime Minister occupies a unique position as the most powerful function that controls both the Parliament and the Executive.
Prime Ministers of India |
|||
S. |
Name |
Tenure |
Party |
1 |
Shri Jawaharlal Nehru |
August 15,1947-May 27, 1964 |
Congress |
2 |
Shri Gulzari Lai Nanda |
May 27, 1964-June 9,1964 |
Congress |
3 |
Shri Lai Bahadur Shastri |
June 9,1964-January 11,1966 |
Congress |
4 |
Shri Gulzari Lai Nanda |
January 11,1966-January 24, 1966 |
Congress |
5 |
Mrs. Indira Gandhi |
January 24, 1966-March 24, 1977 |
Congress |
6 |
Shri Morarji Desai |
March 24,1977-July 28, 1979 |
Janata Party |
7 |
Shri Charan Singh |
July 28,1979-January 14,1980 |
Janata Party |
8 |
Mrs. Indira Gandhi |
January 14,1980-0ctober 31,1984 |
Congress (I) |
9 |
Shri Rajiv Gandhi |
October 31,1984-December 2,1989 |
Congress (I) |
10 |
Shri Vishwanath Pratap Singh |
December 2,1989-November 10,1990 |
Janata Dal |
11 |
Shri Chandra Shekhar |
November 10,1990-June 21,1991 |
Janata Dal (S) |
12 |
Shri P. V. Narasimha Rao |
June 21,1991-May 16,1996 |
Congress (I) |
13 |
Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee |
May 16,1996-June 1, 1996 |
Bharatiya Janata Party |
14 |
Shri H. D. Deve Gowda |
June 1,1996-April 21,1997 |
Janata Dal |
15 |
Shri Inder Kumar Gujral |
April 21,1997-March 19,1998 |
Janata Dal |
16 |
Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee |
March 19,1998-May 22, 2004 |
Bharatiya Janata Party |
17 |
Dr. Manmohan Singh |
May 22,2004-May 26,2014 |
Indian National Congress (INC) |
18 |
Shri Narendra Damodardas Modi |
May 26,2014- |
Bharatiya Janata Party |
N.B.:
- The Prime Ministers, defeated by vote of no confidence are—
(a) V.P. Singh in 1990, (b) Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 1996 (defeated by only one vote) and (c) H.D. Deve Gowda in 1997.
- Three Prime Ministers who died in office were—
(a) Jawaharlal Nehru in May, 1964, (b) Lal Bahadur Shastri in January, 1966 (in Tashkent), and (c) Mrs. Indira Gandhi on 31st October, 1984.
- Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel was the first Deputy Prime Minister of India.
- Jawaharlal Nehru had the longest tenure as the Prime Minister (16 years, 9 months, 12 days)
- Atal Bihari Vajpayee was the Prime Minister for the shortest period of 13 days.
- V.P. Singh was the first Prime Minister to loose-confidence of the House.
- Jagjivan Ram has the record in his credit to remain in Central Cabinet for the longest period (32 years).
Rajya Sabha Member & who became Prime Minister
Indira Gandhi |
1966-1967 |
H.D. Devegowda |
1996-1997 |
I K. Gujral |
1997-1998 |
Dr. Manmohan Singh |
2004-2014 |
- Prime Minister is appointed by the President. Other ministers are appointed and/or dismissed by the President on the advice of the Prime Minister.
- Prime Minister, must be the leader of the party in majority in the Lok Sabha or a person who can win the confidence of the majority in that House.
- Prime Minister + Cabinet Ministers = The Council of Ministers.
- There are three types of ministers—
(a) Cabinet Minister (b) Minister of State and (c) Deputy Minister.
- As the head of the Council of Ministers, the Prime Minister (PM) is the head of the Government. Also, he/ she is the leader of his/her party or/and of a coalition of parties in Parliament and usually the Leader of the Popular House.
- The PM enjoys large powers of patronage. All the ministers are appointed at his/her recommendation and stand dismissed at his/her demand.
- The PM allots work among the ministers. Also, he/she can change their portfolios at will.
- The PM is the channel of communication between the Council of Ministers and the President.
- Ministers get the salaries and allowances etc as payable to members of parliament. In addition they get a sumptuary allowance at a varying scale and a residence, free of rent. Cabinet Ministers attend meeting of the Cabinet.
- Ministers of State are not members of the Cabinet and they can attend a Cabinet Meeting only if invited to attend any particular meeting.
- A Deputy Minister assists the Minister in discharge of his duties and takes no part in Cabinet meetings.
- There is no bar to the appointment of a non-MP as Minister, but he cannot continue as Minister for more than 6 months unless he secures a seat in either House of Parliament.
- Though the ministers are collectively responsible to the legislature, they are individually responsible to the President.
- A Minister can take part in the proceedings of both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, but he/she can vote only if he/ she is a member of that House.
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