Part of: Miscellaneous Indian Gk set 125

Who's resignation means the resignation of the entire Council of Ministers?

Category: Miscellaneous Indian Gk

Hint: Consider the Prime Minister's role in the formation and continuation of the government.

Correct Answer: D) Prime minister.

Exam Relevance: UPSC, SSC, State PSC

Difficulty: Moderate

Explanations:

In the Indian political system, the Prime Minister holds a central and pivotal role. The Prime Minister is the head of the government and is responsible for the day-to-day functioning of the government. The Council of Ministers, which includes the Prime Minister and other ministers, is collectively responsible to the Prime Minister and the Parliament. This means that the Prime Minister has the authority to appoint and remove ministers, and the Council of Ministers must resign if the Prime Minister resigns or loses the confidence of the Parliament.

The Prime Minister is appointed by the President, but the Prime Minister must have the support of a majority in the Lok Sabha (the lower house of the Parliament) to form a government. If the Prime Minister resigns, the entire Council of Ministers is expected to resign as well, as they are collectively responsible to the Prime Minister. This resignation is a constitutional requirement and is based on the principle of collective responsibility, which means that the Council of Ministers must act as a single entity and share the responsibility for the government's actions.

The resignation of the Prime Minister can occur for various reasons, such as losing a vote of confidence in the Parliament, a major policy failure, or personal reasons. When the Prime Minister resigns, the President may then invite another leader to form a government, or in some cases, a caretaker government may be formed until a new government is formed.

It is important to note that the resignation of the Prime Minister does not automatically lead to the dissolution of the Parliament. The President may dissolve the Lok Sabha and call for new elections, but this is a separate process and is not directly linked to the resignation of the Prime Minister. The resignation of the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers is a significant event in the political landscape of India and can lead to a change in the government and the political dynamics of the country.

Option Analysis:
  • Option A: The President is the ceremonial head of state and does not directly lead the government. The resignation of the President does not affect the Council of Ministers. The Prime Minister's resignation is what triggers the resignation of the entire Council of Ministers.
  • Option B: The Vice President's role is primarily to act as the Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha and to assume the role of the President in the event of a vacancy. The Vice President's resignation does not lead to the resignation of the Council of Ministers.
  • Option C: The State Legislative Assembly is a body that operates at the state level and does not have a direct impact on the Council of Ministers at the national level. The resignation of the Prime Minister is what leads to the resignation of the Council of Ministers.
  • Option D: The Prime Minister is the head of the government and the leader of the Council of Ministers. The resignation of the Prime Minister leads to the resignation of the entire Council of Ministers, as they are collectively responsible to the Prime Minister and the Parliament.

Mnemonic: Prime Minister = Prime in power, pivotal in politics

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