Q. With reference to the differences between the Council of Ministers (CoM) and the Cabinet, consider the following statements:
1. Unlike the Cabinet, the CoM does not usually meet as a body to transact government business and has no collective functions.
2. While the CoM is a constitutional body, the term ‘Cabinet’ is not mentioned in the Constitution.
3. While the CoM is presided over by the Prime Minister, the Cabinet Secretary presides over Cabinet meetings.
How many of the above given statements are correct?
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
The Cabinet is a smaller and more central part of the Council of Ministers which handles all the core and most important decision making of the government.
Statement 1 is correct: The Council of Minister (COM) is a very wide body, containing various levels and types of Ministers. CoM does not usually meet as a body to transact government business and has no collective functions. On the other hand, the Cabinet consists of Ministers holding the most important portfolios as well as the Prime Minister. It is this cabinet which takes all the important politicoadministrative decisions, and tenders the advice to the President, that is often found mentioned in the constitution.
Statement 2 is incorrect: The CoM finds mention in the Indian constitution in Article 74 and 75 which details its structure and role in the Parliamentary democracy. The word cabinet was not found originally in the constitution, but by the 44th constitutional amendment of 1978, the word ‘cabinet’ was inserted in Article 352.
Statement 3 is incorrect: The Prime Minister is the de jure (real) head of the Executive. So, it is the Prime Minister only who presides over both, the CoM and the Cabinet meetings.
