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 The incumbent Union Council of Ministers of theThird Modi ministry, 2024 at theirswearing in | |
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 15 August 1947; 78 years ago (1947-08-15) |
| Type | Highest executive body of theGovernment of India |
| Jurisdiction | Republic of India |
| Headquarters | New Delhi |
| Agency executives |
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| Child agencies |
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| Website | cabsec.gov.in |
TheUnion Council of Ministers is theprincipal executive organ of theGovernment of India, which serves to aid and advise thePresident of India in execution of their functions.[1] It is chaired by thePrime Minister of India and consists of the heads of each of the executive government ministries. Currently, the council is headed byNarendra Modi and consists of 71 fellow members. The council is answerable to theLok Sabha.[2]
A smaller executive body called theUnion Cabinet is the supreme decision-making body in India; it is a subset of the Union Council of Ministers who hold important portfolios andministries of the government.[3][failed verification]
Pursuant toArticle 75(3), the Council of Ministers is responsible collectively to the lower house of theIndian parliament, called theLok Sabha (House of the People).[4] The council of ministers upon losing the confidence of Lok Sabha shall resign to facilitate the formation of a new council.
A minister can take any decision without being considered by the council of ministers perArticle 78(c). If needed, all union cabinet members shall submit in writing to thePresident to propose a proclamation of emergency by the president in accordance withArticle 352.
According to theConstitution of India, the total number of ministers in the council of ministers must not exceed 15% of the total number of members of the Lok Sabha. Ministers must be members of parliament.[a] Any minister who is not a member of either of the houses of the parliament for six consecutive months is automatically stripped off his or her ministerial post.[4][b]
There are five categories of the council of ministers as given below, in descending order ofrank:
Pursuant toArticle 75, a minister is appointed by the President on the advice of the Prime Minister and functions until the pleasure of thePresident of India. Since at least the turn of the millennia, evidence indicates that anMP's electoral performance enhances the likelihood of being granted a ministerial portfolio.[6]
Every state in India is governed by its council of ministers with rules and procedures similar to the union council of ministers perArticles 163, 164 and 167(c).
In March 2020, the Supreme Court of India used its powers for the first time to do "complete justice" underArticle 142 of the Indian Constitution to remove a minister functioning in the state of Manipur.[7]
Council portfolios are as follows:[8]
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