PRIME MINISTER OF INDIA
The Prime Minister is the most Important and Powerful Executive in the Union
government. According to Article 75 (1) deals with the Appointment of the Prime minister of
India. After the completion of general Elections to the Loksabha, Normally the President
appoints the Majority party Leader in Loksabha, as the Prime Minister of the country. The
President used his Discretionary Powers in this Regard. When No single Party is able to secure
Majority seats in the Loksabha, He invites the Leader of a Coalition to form of Government. If
he is not a Member in Parliament at the time of Appointment, he has to acquire it within 6
Months from the date of his appointment as Prime minister. The Powers of the President in
Choosing, Inviting and Appointing the Prime minister cannot be questioned in any court of
Law.
The Prime Minister of India is the leader of the executive of the Government of India.
The prime minister is also the chief adviser to the president of India and head of the Council
of Ministers. They can be a member of any of the two houses of the Parliament of India the
LokSaba (House of the People) and the RajahSaba (Council of the States) but has to be a
member of the political party or coalition, having a majority in the LokSaba. The Prime
Minister is the senior-most member of cabinet in the executive of government in a
parliamentary system. The Prime Minister selects and can dismiss members of the cabinet;
allocates posts to members within the government; and is the presiding member and
chairperson of the cabinet. The Union Cabinet headed by the Prime Minister is appointed by
the President of India to assist the latter in the administration of the affairs of the executive.
Union cabinet is collectively responsible to the LokSaba as per article 75(3) of the Constitution
of India. The prime minister has to enjoy the confidence of a majority in the LokSaba and shall
resign if they are unable to prove majority when instructed by the president.
India follows a parliamentary system in which the Prime Minister is the presiding head
of the government and chief of the executive of the government. In such systems, the head of
state, or, the head of state's official representative (i.e., the Monarch, President, or Governor
general) usually holds a purely ceremonial position and acts on most matters only on the advice
of the Prime Minister. (The Prime Minister if they are not already shall become a member of
parliament within six months of beginning his/her tenure.) A prime minister is expected to
work with other central ministers to ensure the passage of bills by the parliament.
Eligibility: According to Article 84 of the Constitution of India, which sets the principal
qualification for the Member of Parliament, and Article 75 of the Constitution of India, which
sets the qualifications for the minister in the Union Council of Ministers, and the argument that
the position of Prime Minister has been described as primus inter pares (the first among equals),
A Prime Minister must:
Be a citizen of India.
Be a member of the LokSaba or the Rajah Saba. If the person chosen as the prime
minister is neither a member of the LokSaba nor the Rajah Saba at the time of selection,
they must become a member of either of the houses within six months.
Be above 25 years of age if they are a member of the LokSaba, or, above 30 years of
age if they are a member of the RajyaSaba.
Not hold any office of profit under the government of India or the government of any
state or under any local or other authority subject to the control of any of the said
governments.
Role and Powers of the Prime Minister of India
Executive powers: The Prime Minister leads the functioning and exercise of authority of the
government of India. The President of India—subject to eligibility—invites a person who is
commanding support of majority members of Lok Saba to form the government of India—also
known as the central government or Union government—at the national level and exercise its
powers. In practice the Prime Minister nominates the members of their council of ministers to
the president. They also work upon to decide a core group of ministers (known as the cabinet),
as in charge of the important functions and ministries of the government of India. The Prime
Minister is responsible for aiding and advising the president in distribution of work of the
government to various ministries and offices and in terms of the Government of India
(Allocation of Business) Rules, 1961. The co-ordination work is generally allocated to theCabinet Secretariat. While the work of the government is generally divided into various
Ministries, the Prime Minister may retain certain portfolios if they are not allocated to any
member of the cabinet. The Prime Minister—in consultation with the cabinet—schedules and
attends the sessions of the houses of parliament and is required to answer the question from the
Members of Parliament to them as the in-charge of the portfolios in the capacity as Prime
Minister of India. Some specific ministries/department is not allocated to anyone in the cabinet
but the prime minister themselves. The prime minister is usually always in charge/head of
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions (as Minister of Personnel, Public
Grievances and Pensions).
1. Cabinet Secretariat
2. Appointment Committee of the Cabinet
3. Cabinet Committee on Security
4. Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs
5. NITI AAYOG
6. Department of Atomic Energy
7. Department of Space
8. Nuclear Command Authority
The Prime Minister represents the country in various delegations, high level meetings and
international organizations that require the attendance of the highest government office, and
also addresses to the nation on various issues of national or other importance. As Per Article
78 of the constitution, the official communication between the union cabinet and the president
are through the prime minister. Otherwise constitution recognizes the prime minister as a
member of the union cabinet only outside the sphere of union cabinet.
Administrative and Appointment Powers: The Prime Minister recommends to the President
among others names for the appointment of:
Chief Election Commissioner of India (CEC) and other Election Commissioners of
India (ECs)
Comptroller and Auditor General of India (C&AG)
Chairperson and members of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)
Chief Information Commissioner of India (CIC) and Information Commissioners of
India
Chairperson and members of the finance commission (FC)
Attorney General of India (AG) and Solicitor General of India (SG)
Legislative Powers: The Prime Minister acts as the leader of the house of the chamber of
parliament generally the LokSabha he/she belongs to. In this role, the prime minister is tasked
with representing the executive in the legislature, he/she is also expected to announce important
legislation, and is further expected to respond to the opposition's concerns. Article 85 of the
Indian constitution confers the President with the power to convene and end extraordinary
sessions of the parliament, this power, however, is exercised only on the advice of the prime
minister and his/her council, so, in practice, the Prime Minister does exercise some control over
the affairs of the parliament.
Powers and Functions of the Prime minister:
The Prime Minister is the most Important and Powerful Executive in the Union
government. According to Article 74 (1) He, as the Head of the Union council of Ministers.
According to Article 75 (1) deals with the Appointment of the Prime minister of India. After
the completion of general elections to the Loksabha, normally the president appoints the
Majority party leader in Loksabha, as the Prime Minister of the country.
1. Leader of the Union Cabinet: The Prime minister is the Leader of the Union cabinet and
Union council of Ministers. He select some eminent members of his Party in Parliament
and See that they are appointed as Ministers by the President. He has a free choice of both
allocating Portfolios and Reshuffling the Ministry. All the Ministers are personally and
politically loyal to the Prime minister. He Decides the Agenda of the Cabinet meetings.
Further, he presides over the Cabinet meetings.
2. Leader of the Union Government: The Prime minister acts as the Leader of the Union
government. All the Ministers in the Union ministry assume their Office, and Excercise
their powers along with the Prime minister. In fact, the Prime Minister influences the nature
and working of the Union Government. The Prime minister has complete control over the
affairs of the Union government. At the High level officers and the Entire Ministry in the
Union government behave and act according to the wishes of the Prime minister.
3. Leader of the Parliament: The Prime minister acts as the Leader of the Parliament. He is
primarily a Member of Parliament and extends Cooperation to the presiding officers in the
smooth conduct of the Both Houses. He was complete control over his Party members in
the Parliament. He ensures that his Party members maintain Discipline during the Sessionsof the Parliament. He inform out the Cabinet decisions to the Parliament. He announces
government policies in the Parliament.
4. Link between the President and Union Council of Ministers: The Prime Minister acts
as the main link between the President and the Union council of ministers. It is his duty to
communicate to the President about the Decisions of the Union council of ministers. All
the Ministers shall formally meet the President only with the Consent of the Prime minister.
He advises the President with regard to the appointment of important officials like Attorney
General of India, Comptroller and Auditor General of India, chairman and members of
UPSC, Election Commission members, Chairman and members of Finance Commission.
or Group in the Lower house of Parliament. He Participates in the meetings of the Party
and inform his party members on various issues and steps taken by his ministry
implementing the Party promises. He utilizes the Services of the senior party Leaders in
Running the Government. He acts as the main link between the Party and the Government.
6. Leader of the Nation: The Prime minister acts as the Leader of the Nation. Being the
leader of the Loksabha and that the Loksabha Represents Public opinion, he views are
treated as the views of the Nation as a Whole. His statements in and outside of the
Parliament are of great significance. He plays a key role in influencing the Public opinion.
7. Determines the Foreign Policy: The Prime minister always plays a key role in determining
the Foreign policy of the country and India’s Relation with other Countries. He is mainly
responsible for country’s Prestige and Participation in International Relations. He
represents the country in all important International conferences.
8. Chairman of NITI Aayog: The Prime minister heads the NITI Aayog (National Institution
for Transforming India). NITI Aayog means Policy Commission. It will provide strategic
and Technical advices to the Central and State governments. It will have a Governing
council comprising Chief Ministers of all the states, Governors of Union Territories. Union
Government set up the NITI Aayog on January 1, 2015.
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