Composition of Council of Ministers & Council of Ministers Vs Cabinet: An Overview

Introduction

There is not a huge difference between the Council of Ministers and the cabinet, this is why many candidates who are preparing for competitive examinations, get confused between them.

Indeed, they are different and should be known by all those who want to know about them. That is why we have differentiated both the Council of Ministers and Cabinet in this article. if you are here to increase your knowledge about both of them, then please stay with us till the end of this article.

So, let's start-

Composition of Council of Ministers

In India, the Council of Ministers is the highest decision-making body of the government, and it is composed of the Prime Minister, Cabinet Ministers, Ministers of State (MoS), and Deputy Ministers.

The Prime Minister is the head of the Council of Ministers and is appointed by the President of India. The Prime Minister selects the other members of the Council of Ministers, and their appointment is also made by the President.

Cabinet Ministers

The Cabinet Ministers are the senior-most members of the Council of Ministers and are responsible for the major policy decisions of the government. They are appointed by the Prime Minister and are usually members of the Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha, the two houses of the Indian Parliament.

Ministers of State (MoS)

Ministers of State (MoS) are also appointed by the Prime Minister, and they assist the Cabinet Ministers in their work. MoS may be given independent charge of a ministry or may be assigned to work under a Cabinet Minister.

Deputy Ministers are appointed by the Prime Minister and assist the Ministers of State in their work.

The Council of Ministers

The Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha, the lower house of the Indian Parliament. The Prime Minister is also responsible to the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the Parliament, but the Council of Ministers is not directly responsible to the Rajya Sabha.

With relates to the Cabinet Ministers, MoS, and Deputy Ministers, there are also Ministers without Portfolios who are appointed by the Prime Minister. These ministers do not have any specific ministry or department to oversee but may be given specific responsibilities or tasks by the Prime Minister.

The number of members in the Council of Ministers is limited by the Indian Constitution, which specifies that the total number of ministers, including the Prime Minister, should not exceed 15% of the total number of members in the Lok Sabha. This means that the current maximum number of ministers in the Council of Ministers is 81.

Council of Ministers Vs Cabinet

We have added a few of the most important differences between the Council of Ministers and the Cabinet below:

Council of Ministers	Cabinet
The Council of Ministers includes all the ministers of the government, including the Cabinet Ministers, Ministers of State, and Deputy Ministers.	The Cabinet includes only the senior-most members of the Council of Ministers, who are responsible for major policy decisions.
The Council of Ministers is responsible for implementing the policies and programs of the government.	The Cabinet is responsible for the day-to-day administration of the government.
The Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to the Parliament or the legislative body.	The Cabinet is a subset of the Council of Ministers and is responsible to the Council of Ministers.
The number of members in the Council of Ministers is not limited by the Constitution.	The number of members in the Cabinet is limited by the Constitution.
The Council of Ministers can be restructured or reshuffled by the Prime Minister without any constitutional amendment.	The Cabinet cannot be restructured or reshuffled without a constitutional amendment.
The Council of Ministers includes Ministers without Portfolio who are appointed by the Prime Minister.	The Cabinet does not include Ministers without Portfolio.
The Council of Ministers is responsible for the overall governance of the country.	The Cabinet is responsible for the major policy decisions of the government.
The Council of Ministers may have ministers who are not members of the Parliament.	The Cabinet consists of only those ministers who are members of the Parliament.
The Council of Ministers may have ministers who are not affiliated with any political party.	The Cabinet consists of only those ministers who are affiliated with the political party or coalition that forms the government.
The Council of Ministers includes the Prime Minister as its head.	The Cabinet is headed by the Prime Minister.

FAQ's

Q1. What is the Council of Ministers?

Ans: The Council of Ministers is the highest decision-making body of the government, responsible for implementing the policies and programs of the government.

Q2. Who is the head of the Council of Ministers?

Ans: The Prime Minister is the head of the Council of Ministers.

Q3. How are members of the Council of Ministers appointed?

Ans: Members of the Council of Ministers are appointed by the Prime Minister and their appointment is made by the President.

Q4. What is the maximum number of ministers in the Council of Ministers?

Ans: The maximum number of ministers in the Council of Ministers is limited to 15% of the total number of members in the Lok Sabha.

Q5. What is the difference between Cabinet Ministers and Ministers of State?

Ans: Cabinet Ministers are the senior-most members responsible for major policy decisions, while Ministers of State Assist Cabinet Ministers in their work.

Q6. Can the Council of Ministers be reshuffled?

Ans: Yes, the Prime Minister can reshuffle the Council of Ministers without any constitutional amendment.