THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS OATH OF OFFICE CATEGORIES

THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS OATH OF OFFICE CATEGORIES OF MINISTERS CABINET & COUNCIL OF MINISTERS POWERS AND FUNCTIONS OF CABINET MINISTERIAL RESPONSIBILITY

OATH OF OFFICE AFTER THE GENERAL ELECTIONS, THE PRESIDENT OF INDIA, ON THE ADVICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, APPOINTS THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS. EVERY MINISTER OF THE GOVERNMENT HAS TO TAKE AN OATH OF OFFICE AND SECRECY AFFIRMING TO BE FAITHFUL TO THE CONSTITUION OF INDIA, TO UPHOLD THE INTEGRITY OF THE NATION AND TO DISCHARGE DUTIES FAITHFULLY AND FEARLESSLY.

CATEGORIES OF MINISTERS 1. CABINET MINISTERS – MOST IMPORTANT MINISTERS OF THE COUNCIL THEY HOLD IMPORTANT PORTFOLIOS SUCH AS DEFENCE, FINANCE, EXTERNAL AFFAIRS, etc. THEY ALONE ARE ENTITLED TO ATTEND THE CABINET MEETINGS. THEY TAKE DECISIONS ON THE POLICIES AND PROGRAMMES OF THE GOVERNMENT.

MINISTERS OF STATE THEY BELONG TO THE SECOND CATEGORY OF MINISTERS IN THE COUNCIL. THEY ARE NOT A PART OF THE CABINET. THEY ASSIST THE CABINET MINISTERS OR HOLD INDEPENDENT CHARGE OF LESS IMPORTANT MINISTRIES. THEY ARE NOT ENTITLES TO ATTEND CABINET MEETINGS. THEY MAY BE, HOWEVER, ASKED TO ATTEND CABINET MEETINGS BY THE PRIME MINISTER IF REQUIRED.

DEPUTY MINISTERS THEY ARE THE LOWEST RANKED MINISTERS IN THE COUNCIL. THEY ASSIST THE CABINET MINISTERS AND THE MINISTERS OF STATE.

CABINET AND COUNCIL OF MINISTERS THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS IS A WIDER BODY THAN ALL THE OTHER CATEGORIES OF MINISTERS. THE CABINET IS ONLY A PART OF THE COUNCIL. IT CONSISTS OF THE MOST IMPORTANT MINISTERS OF THE GOVERNMENT AND IS ALWAYS CONSULTED BY THE PRIME MINISTER MAY OR MAY NOT CONSULT ALL THE MINISTERS OF THE COUNCIL ON EVERY MATTER. HOWEVER, ALL THE DECISIONS TAKEN BY THE CABINET ARE BINDING ON THE ENTIRE COUNCIL.

POWERS AND PUNCTIONS OF THE CABINET EXECUTIVE POWERS LEGISLATIVE POWERS FINANCIAL POWERS ADMINISTRATIVE POWERS

EXECUTIVE POWERS OF THE CABINET FORMULATES THE GENERAL POLICIES OF THE COUNTRY. ALL DECISIONS RELATED TO DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN POLICIES ARE MADE BY THE CABINET DECIDES ON MATTERS RELATED TO FOREIGN AFFAIRS, DEFENCE, BUDGET, etc. THE ENTIRE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS IS BOUND TO THE DECISIONS OF THE CABINET.

LEGISLATIVE POWERS OF THE CABINET THE MINISTERS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING LAWS. THEY PREPARE THE BILLS AND PRESENT THEM BEFORE THE PARLIAMENT FOR ITS APPROVAL. THE CABINET ADVICES THE PRESIDENT TO PROMULGATE ORDINANCES WHEN THE PARLIAMENT IS NOT IS SESSION.

FINANCIAL POWERS OF CABINET THE CABINET RAISES REVENUE TO MEET THE EXPENSES OF THE STATE. MONEY BILL CAN ONLY BE INTRODUCED BY A CABINET MINISTER. THE CABINET CAN SUGGEST SUITABLE CAHNGES IN THE BUDGET.

ADMINISTRATIVE POWERS OF CABINET THE CABINET IS INCHARGE OF THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE NATION. IT COORDINATES THE WORKING OF THE VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS. THE FOREIGN POLICY AND INDIA’S RELATION WITH OTHER COUNTRIES ARE DETERMINED BY THE CABINET. IT FORMULATES TREATIES WITH FOREIGN COUNTRIES. ALL IMPORTANT APPOINTMENTS LIKE THOSE OF GOVERNORS, JUDGES OF THE SUPREME COURT AND THE HIGH COURTS ARE MADE BY THE CABINET.

MINISTERIAL RESPONSIBILITY THE MINISTERS IN THE COUNCIL ARE RESPONSIBLE TO THE LOK SABHA FOR EVERY ACTION THEY TAKE. THE MINISTERIAL RESPONSIBILITIES ARE OF TWO TYPES – COLLECTIVE RESPONSIBILITY & INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY

COLLECTIVE RESPONSIBILTY IT INDICATES THAT ALL MINISTERS OF THE COUNCIL ARE COLLECTIVELY RESPONSIBLE TO THE LOK SABHA. THE CABINET MINISTERS SWIM AND SINK TOGETHER. ALL DECISIONS OF THE CABINET ARE TAKEN COLLECTIVELY BY THE MINISTERS. THE CABINET MI NISTERS SUPPORT THE DECISIONS WITHOUT HESITATION. THE ENTIRE MINISTRY IS BOUND TO RESIGN IF A NO-CONFIDENCE MOTION IS PASSED AGAINST EVEN ONE MINISTER.

INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY A MINISTER HOLDS OFFICE AT THE PLEASURE OF THE PRESIDENT. IT MEANS THAT THE PRESIDENT HAS THE POWER TO DISMISS A MINISTER FOR VIOLATING THE TERMS OF THE CONSTITUTION OR CARRYING OUT ANY UNDESIRABLE ACTIVITIES. THE MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT ARE ENTITLED TO QUESTION A MINISTER ON THE POLICIES ADOPTED BY HIM / HER IN THE ADMINISTRATION.