Question
Download Solution PDFConsider 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?
Answer (Detailed Solution Below)
Detailed Solution
Download Solution PDFThe correct answer is 2 only.
Key Points
- Our constitution does not classify the ministers into four ranks viz. Cabinet Minister, Minister of State with Independent Charge, Minister of State, and Deputy Minister. We follow this classification from England but it was nowhere written in our constitution. Only the Council of Ministers is mentioned in Article 74.
- Hence, statement 1 is incorrect.
- As mentioned in the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha - “Minister” means a member of the Council of Ministers (and includes a member of the Cabinet), a Minister of State, a Deputy Minister or a Parliamentary Secretary.
- 91st amendment 2003 - The total number of Ministers, including the Prime Minister, in the Council of Ministers, shall not exceed 15% of the total number of members of the House of the People.
- Hence, statement 2 is correct.
- Article 74 - A Council of Ministers, led by the Prime Minister, will assist and advise the President in the performance of his duties.
- The Council of Ministers consists of Cabinet Ministers, Deputy Ministers, and Ministers of State.
- The word cabinet appears only once in our Indian constitution, in Article 352 (3).
Additional Information
- Cabinet Ministers - Many senior ministers occupy significant responsibilities like defence, home affairs, and education in the cabinet. A member of the executive branch of a government who has been nominated to the cabinet, which is made up of the prime minister's top policymakers, advisers, and overseers of government ministries.
- Deputy Ministers - A deputy minister works "under" a minister, who is a full member of the Cabinet and is in charge of a specific standing policy portfolio, as well as overseeing a connected civil service department.
- Minister of State - A Minister of State is a junior minister in the Union Government's Council of Ministers who may assist a cabinet minister or have independent charge of a ministry.
Last updated on Jul 2, 2025
-> UPSC Mains 2025 Exam Date is approaching! The Mains Exam will be conducted from 22 August, 2025 onwards over 05 days!
-> Check the Daily Headlines for 2nd July UPSC Current Affairs.
-> UPSC Launched PRATIBHA Setu Portal to connect aspirants who did not make it to the final merit list of various UPSC Exams, with top-tier employers.
-> The UPSC CSE Prelims and IFS Prelims result has been released @upsc.gov.in on 11 June, 2025. Check UPSC Prelims Result 2025 and UPSC IFS Result 2025.
-> UPSC Launches New Online Portal upsconline.nic.in. Check OTR Registration Process.
-> Check UPSC Prelims 2025 Exam Analysis and UPSC Prelims 2025 Question Paper for GS Paper 1 & CSAT.
-> UPSC Exam Calendar 2026. UPSC CSE 2026 Notification will be released on 14 January, 2026.
-> Calculate your Prelims score using the UPSC Marks Calculator.
-> Go through the UPSC Previous Year Papers and UPSC Civil Services Test Series to enhance your preparation