Eleanor Finch
The Prime Minister of India is the head of the country's Government and is responsible for its administration. The Prime Minister is mentioned in only four articles of the Constitution of India (Articles 74, 75, 78 and 336). The President of India appoints the Prime Minister, who may be a member of either the Lok Sabha or the Rajya Sabha. The Prime Minister's role is to aid and advise the President and act as a bridge between them and the Council of Ministers. The Prime Minister's term is not fixed and they serve at the pleasure of the President, but they cannot be dismissed by the President as long as they maintain majority support in the Lok Sabha.
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What You'll Learn
The Prime Minister's role and responsibilities
The Prime Minister of India is the head of the Union Council of Ministers and the head of the Government of India. They are appointed by the President of India and serve at the pleasure of the President. The Prime Minister is responsible for the administration of the government and plays a crucial role in the country's politico-administrative structure.
The Prime Minister's role includes:
- Presiding over cabinet meetings and coordinating the activities of various ministries and departments.
- Recommending individuals for appointment as ministers by the President, who can only appoint those recommended by the Prime Minister.
- Assigning and reassigning portfolios among ministers.
- Asking for a minister's resignation or advising the President to dismiss them in case of conflicting opinions.
- Guiding, directing, controlling, and coordinating the activities of all ministers.
- Representing the country in various delegations, high-level meetings, and international organisations.
- Communicating with the union cabinet and the President, and acting as the bridge between the President and the Council of Ministers.
- Serving as the chairperson of the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) and deciding the postings of top civil servants and military personnel.
The Prime Minister's salary and benefits are set by the Parliament and include the compensation and perks given to a member of Parliament. The Prime Minister's term is not fixed, and they hold the position as long as they have the majority support of the Lok Sabha and the confidence of the President.
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Appointment and oath
The Indian Constitution does not specify a particular process for selecting and appointing a Prime Minister. However, according to Article 75, the Prime Minister is appointed by the President. The President typically appoints the leader of the majority party in the Lok Sabha as Prime Minister. The Prime Minister may be a member of either the Lok Sabha or the Rajya Sabha.
The President is the nominal executive power (de jure executive) conferred by the Constitution, while the Prime Minister is the real executive authority (de facto executive). The Prime Minister is the head of the Union Council of Ministers and the head of the Government of India. They are responsible for the administration of the government and play a crucial role in the country's politico-administrative structure.
The Prime Minister's salary and allowances are set by Parliament regularly. They are paid the same salary and allowances as a member of Parliament. The Prime Minister's term is not fixed, and they hold the position at the pleasure of the President. However, as long as the Prime Minister maintains majority support in the Lok Sabha, they cannot be dismissed by the President.
Before assuming office, the President administers the oaths of office and secrecy to the Prime Minister-elect. The oath of office includes swearing allegiance to the Constitution of India and promising to uphold the sovereignty and integrity of India. The oath of secrecy includes a promise not to reveal any matter that comes under the Prime Minister's consideration unless required for the due discharge of their duties.
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Salary and benefits
The Prime Minister of India is the head of the Government of India and is responsible for leading the nation and managing its administration. The Prime Minister is accountable to the Parliament, particularly the Lok Sabha, the lower house of Parliament.
The Prime Minister's salary and benefits are determined by the Parliament of India, as outlined in Article 75 of the Constitution of India. The salary is funded by the Government of India and is specified in the Prime Minister's Salary, Allowances, and Pension Act, 1954. The basic salary of the Prime Minister, as of 2024, is ₹2,00,000 per month or an annual salary of 19,20,000 INR. This basic salary is just a part of the total package, which includes various allowances, benefits, and other perks. The salary has undergone revisions over the years to keep up with inflation and changing economic conditions.
The Prime Minister receives a monthly allowance of ₹50,000 as basic pay, with an additional ₹6,000 for office and household expenses. As a member of Parliament, they receive an extra ₹3,000 per month, known as the sumptuary allowance. When travelling for official purposes, the Prime Minister is entitled to a daily allowance of ₹3,000 to cover accommodation, food, and other related expenses.
The Prime Minister also has access to an official residence, 7, Lok Kalyan Marg in New Delhi, which is maintained and secured by the government. They can utilize the official aircraft of the Indian Air Force for domestic and international travel. The office and residence are staffed with multiple government employees to assist in day-to-day operations and duty management.
Upon leaving office, the Prime Minister is entitled to retirement benefits, including a pension calculated based on their last drawn salary and pro-rata for the number of years served. They also receive perks such as free accommodation and healthcare services post-retirement.
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Relationship with the President
The Indian Constitution recognises the Prime Minister as a member of the union cabinet, and the head of the Council of Ministers. The President of India is the head of state, and the Prime Minister is the head of the government. The President's constitutional duty is to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution and the law per Article 60.
The President appoints the Prime Minister under Article 75 of the Indian Constitution. There is no specific procedure for the Prime Minister's election or appointment, and the Constitution does not categorise ministers into ranks. The President typically appoints the leader of the majority party in the Lok Sabha as Prime Minister. When no party holds a clear majority in the Lok Sabha, the President may use their discretion in selecting and appointing the Prime Minister. In such cases, the President usually chooses the leader of the largest party or coalition in the Lok Sabha as Prime Minister and requests that they obtain a vote of confidence from the House within a month. The President administers the oaths of office and secrecy to the Prime Minister-Elect.
The Prime Minister is the real executive authority in the parliamentary form of government. The Prime Minister, in consultation with the cabinet, schedules and attends the sessions of the houses of parliament and is required to answer questions from Members of Parliament. The Prime Minister is also the chairperson of the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) and decides the postings of top civil servants and top military personnel. The Prime Minister also represents the country in various delegations, high-level meetings, and international organisations.
The Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha. The Prime Minister, as the head of the Council of Ministers, has several functions and responsibilities. They make recommendations to the President for ministerial appointments, and the President can only appoint ministers who the Prime Minister has proposed. They also assign and reassign certain portfolios to ministers and may ask a minister to resign or suggest the President fire them. The Prime Minister presides over the meetings of the Council of Ministers and influences its decisions.
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Relationship with the Council of Ministers
The Prime Minister of India is the head of the Union Council of Ministers and the head of the Government of India. They are responsible for the administration of the government and play a crucial role in the country's politico-administrative structure. The Prime Minister is appointed by the President of India and serves at their pleasure, although they must have the support of the majority in the Lok Sabha to remain in office.
The Prime Minister's role in relation to the Council of Ministers includes:
- Presiding over cabinet meetings and coordinating the activities of the various ministries and departments.
- Recommending individuals for appointment as ministers to the President, who can only appoint those recommended by the Prime Minister.
- Assigning and reassigning portfolios among ministers.
- Asking for a minister's resignation or advising the President to dismiss them in case of conflicting opinions.
- Guiding, directing, controlling, and coordinating the activities of all ministers.
- Bringing about the collapse of the council of ministers by resigning from office.
The Prime Minister is also the chairperson of the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) and, in this capacity, decides the postings of top civil servants and military personnel. They are also in charge of specific ministries/departments, such as the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions.
The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) is the administrative body that assists the Prime Minister in managing the Government of India and exercising their constitutional, executive, and administrative functions. The PMO is headed by the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister and includes several other senior officials who provide support to the Prime Minister.
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Frequently asked questions
The President of India appoints the Prime Minister. The President typically appoints the leader of the majority party in the Lok Sabha as Prime Minister. However, there is no specific procedure for the Prime Minister's appointment or election.
The term of the Prime Minister is not fixed. They serve at the pleasure of the President and can remain in office indefinitely as long as they have the majority support of the Lok Sabha.
The Prime Minister is the head of the Union Council of Ministers and the head of the Government of India. They are responsible for the administration of the government and hold executive power.
