Indian Polity & Constitution

The Prime Minister and the Union Council of Ministers

By Examguru / 28 Sep, 2023 / Download PDF

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.:

  1. 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.

  1. 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.

  1. Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel was the first Deputy Prime Minister of India.
  2. Jawaharlal Nehru had the longest tenure as the Prime Minister (16 years, 9 months, 12 days)
  3. Atal Bihari Vajpayee was the Prime Minister for the shortest period of 13 days.
  4. V.P. Singh was the first Prime Minister to loose-confidence of the House.
  5. 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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