Consider the following statements about the powers of the Prime Minis...
The Prime Minister enjoys the following powers as head of the Union council of ministers
1. He recommends persons who can be appointed as ministers by the president. The President can appoint only those persons as ministers who are recommended by the Prime Minister.
2. He allocates and reshuffles various portfolios among the ministers.
3. He can ask a minister to resign or advise the President to dismiss him in case of difference of opinion.
4. He presides over the meeting of the council of ministers and influences its decisions.
5. He guides, directs, controls and coordinates the activities of all the ministers.
6. He can bring about the collapse of the council of ministers by resigning from office.
Since the Prime Minister stands at the head of the ministers' council, the other ministers cannot function when the Prime Minister resigns or dies. In other words, the resignation or death of an incumbent Prime Minister automatically dissolves the ministers' council and thereby generates a vacuum. The resignation or death of any other minister, on the other hand, merely creates a vacancy which the Prime Minister may or may not like to fill.
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Consider the following statements about the powers of the Prime Minis...
Explanation:
The correct answer is option 'D', which means all of the above statements are correct. Let's discuss each statement in detail.
Statement 1:
The President can appoint only those persons as ministers who are recommended by the Prime Minister.
This statement is correct. According to the Constitution of India, the President appoints the Prime Minister, who in turn recommends the names of other ministers to be appointed. The President does not have the power to appoint ministers without the recommendation of the Prime Minister.
Statement 2:
The Prime Minister can bring about the collapse of the ministers' council by resigning from office.
This statement is also correct. In the parliamentary system of government, the Prime Minister is the head of the Council of Ministers. If the Prime Minister resigns from office, it leads to the collapse of the ministers' council as the Prime Minister is the leader of the government. The resignation of the Prime Minister generally results in the fall of the government or the dissolution of the Parliament.
Statement 3:
The Council of Ministers cannot function when the Prime Minister resigns.
This statement is correct as well. The Council of Ministers is headed by the Prime Minister, and the functioning of the council depends on the leadership and coordination provided by the Prime Minister. When the Prime Minister resigns, the council loses its leader and the ability to function effectively. The resignation of the Prime Minister creates a power vacuum and often leads to the dissolution of the council.
Conclusion:
Based on the above explanations, all three statements about the powers of the Prime Minister are correct. The President can appoint only those persons as ministers who are recommended by the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister can bring about the collapse of the ministers' council by resigning from office. And the Council of Ministers cannot function when the Prime Minister resigns. Therefore, the correct answer is option 'D' - All of the above.