Q. With reference to Prime Minister of India, consider the following statements:
1. He/she is the head of the State in Indian parliamentary form of government.
2. In case of death of an incumbent Prime Minister, the council of ministers is automatically dissolved.
3. Person who is not a member of either House of Parliament can be appointed as Prime Minister.
How many statements given above are correct?
Exp) Option b is the correct answer
Statement 1 is incorrect. In India, President is the head of the State while Prime Minister is the head of the government. In the scheme of parliamentary system of government provided by the constitution, the President is the nominal executive authority (de jure executive) and Prime Minister is the real executive authority (de facto executive).
Statement 2 is correct. Since the Prime Minister stands at the head of the council of ministers, the resignation or death of an incumbent Prime Minister automatically dissolves the council of ministers. On the other hand, the resignation or death of any other minister merely creates a vacancy which the Prime Minister may or may not like to fill.
Statement 3 is correct. Supreme Court held that a person who is not a member of either House of Parliament can be appointed as Prime Minister for six months, within which, he should become a member of either House of Parliament; otherwise, he ceases to be the Prime Minister. Constitutionally, the Prime Minister may be a member of any of the two Houses of parliament.
