UPSC Prelims 2022 · Question 14 of 98
UPSC Prelims 2022 question on Council of Ministers Ranks
Consider the following statements:
1. The Constitution of India classifies the ministers into four ranks viz. Cabinet Minister, Minister of State with Independent Charge, Minister of State and Deputy Minister.
2. The total number of ministers in the Union Government, including the Prime Minister, shall not exceed 15 percent of the total number of members in the Lok Sabha.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Show answer
Answer: B. 2 only
Verdict
Correct statement: 2 only → Option (b).
Statement by statement
Statement 1 – INCORRECT: Article 74 of the Constitution provides that there shall be a Council of Ministers with the Prime Minister at the head to aid and advise the President. However, the classification of the central council of ministers into a three-tier body (Cabinet Ministers, Ministers of State, and Deputy Ministers) is based on British parliamentary conventions and is NOT mentioned in the Constitution.
Statement 2 – CORRECT: The 91st Amendment, 2003 to the Constitution introduced Article 75(1A), which states that the Union Council of Ministers cannot exceed more than 15 percent of the number of MPs in the Lok Sabha.