QUES . “Prime Minister is the nucleus of the Indian political system.” Discuss. UPSC IES/ISS EXAM 2024 General Studies. 200 Words. 5 Marks
HINTS:
In the scheme of parliamentary system of government provided by the constitution, the President is the nominal executive authority and Prime Minister is the real executive authority. The Prime Minister plays a very significant and highly crucial role in the politico-administrative system of the country which can be summarised as:
Head of the Union council of ministers
The Prime Minister enjoys the following powers as head of the Union council of ministers:
He recommends persons who can be appointed as ministers by the president.
He allocates and reshuffles various portfolios among the ministers.
He can ask a minister to resign or advise the President to dismiss him in case of difference of opinion.
He presides over the meeting of council of ministers and influences its decisions.
He guides, directs, controls, and coordinates the activities of all the ministers.
He can bring about the collapse of the council of ministers by resigning from office.
Principal channel of communication between the President and the council of ministers
He is the principal channel of communication between the President and the council of ministers.
Adviser to the President
He advises the president with regard to the appointment of important officials like attorney general of India, Comptroller and Auditor General of India, chairman and members of the UPSC, election commissioners, chairman and members of the finance commission and so on.
Leader of the Lower House
The Prime Minister is the leader of the Lower House. In this capacity, he enjoys the following powers:
He advises the President with regard to summoning and proroguing of the sessions of the Parliament.
He can recommend dissolution of the Lok Sabha to President at any time.
He announces government policies on the floor of the House.
Chairman of various bodies
He is the chairman of the NITI Ayog , National Integration Council, Inter State Council, National Water Resources Council and some other bodies.
Crisis manager-in-chief
He is the crisis manager-in-chief at the political level during emergencies.
Chief spokesman
He is the chief spokesman of the Union government.
Role in shaping foreign policy
He plays a significant role in shaping the foreign policy of the country.
Other powers
As a leader of the nation, he meets various sections of people in different states and receives memoranda from them regarding their problems, and so on.
He is leader of the party in power.
He is political head of the services.
Must read: Need for impartiality and integrity in the functioning of Speakers in Indian legislative bodies
Due to the immense powers Prime Minister is often regarded as ‘key stone of the cabinet arch’ ; ‘inter stellas luna minores’ (a moon among lesser stars) ; ‘a sun around which planets revolve’, ‘key stone of the constitution’ ; ‘the captain of the ship of the state’ ; ‘the steersman of steering wheel of the ship of the state’ , etc.
Inspite of enormous powers Prime Minister cannot become an autocrat because he is responsible towards the Parliament. Parliament (Lok Sabha) can remove him by passing a no-confidence motion against the Council of Ministers. He cannot work against the public opinion.
External link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prime_Minister_of_India
