UPSC Prelims 2013 · Question 18 of 99
UPSC Prelims 2013 question on Collective Responsibility Council Ministers
Consider the following statements:
1. The Council of Ministers in the Centre shall be collectively responsible to the Parliament.
2. The Union Ministers shall hold office during the pleasure of the President of India.
3. The Prime Minister shall communicate to the President about the proposals for legislation.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Show answer
Answer: B. 2 and 3 only
Verdict
Correct Answer: 2 and 3 only
Statements 2 and 3 are correct because they follow Articles 75(2) and 78, while statement 1 is incorrect because collective responsibility is to the Lok Sabha, not Parliament.
Analysis
According to the official UPSC Answer Key for Prelims 2013, the correct option is 2 and 3 only.
This question tests exact constitutional wording. The Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha, not to Parliament as a whole.
Statement by statement
1. The Council of Ministers in the Centre shall be collectively responsible to the Parliament — Incorrect
Article 75(3) says that the Council of Ministers shall be collectively responsible to the House of the People, that is, the Lok Sabha.
It is not collectively responsible to the Rajya Sabha or Parliament as a whole.
The word “Parliament” makes the statement incorrect.
2. The Union Ministers shall hold office during the pleasure of the President — Correct
Article 75(2) states that ministers hold office during the pleasure of the President.
In practice, the President exercises this pleasure on the advice of the Prime Minister.
3. The Prime Minister shall communicate to the President about proposals for legislation — Correct
Article 78 makes it the duty of the Prime Minister to communicate to the President all decisions of the Council of Ministers relating to administration and proposals for legislation.
The Prime Minister acts as the link between the Council of Ministers and the President.
Extra UPSC info
* Article 75 deals with the appointment, tenure and responsibility of Union Ministers.
* Article 75(3) establishes collective responsibility to the Lok Sabha.
* If a no-confidence motion is passed in the Lok Sabha, the entire Council of Ministers must resign.
* Article 78 deals with the duties of the Prime Minister towards the President.
* Other ministers are appointed by the President on the advice of the Prime Minister.
* India does not follow the British convention of legal responsibility through countersignature of every presidential act.