Why is it in the news?
- The Union Council of Ministers, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, took office on June 9, 2024.
- The current Council comprises the Prime Minister, 30 Cabinet Ministers, 5 Ministers of State with independent charge, and 36 Ministers of State.
Composition of the Council of Ministers · The Council of Ministers in India, at both the Centre and in States, plays a crucial role in governance. · Article 74 of the Constitution outlines the formation of the Council, headed by the Prime Minister to aid and advise the President. · Membership in the Council requires individuals to be members of either the Lok Sabha or the Rajya Sabha. · The structure typically includes Cabinet Ministers, Ministers of State with independent charge, Ministers of State, and Deputy Ministers, with informal classifications based on responsibilities. Historical Context · The first Council of Ministers post-independence had 15 Ministers, headed by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. · Subsequent governments saw the Council grow in size, with instances such as the United Front governments having fewer Ministers. · To address the issue of an unwieldy Council, the Venkatachaliah Commission recommended a maximum of 15% of the total strength of the Lok Sabha/State Legislative Assembly for Ministerial positions. · This led to the 91st Constitutional amendment in 2003, imposing limits on the number of Ministers in the Council. Challenges and Controversies · Despite the constitutional limits, the appointment of Parliamentary Secretaries in States has been a contentious issue. · Various States have used Parliamentary Secretaries to bypass the maximum Ministerial limit, leading to legal challenges. · Recent instances, such as in Himachal Pradesh, have highlighted the need to enforce the constitutional restrictions on Ministerial appointments effectively. |