Notes on Relationship between Prime Minister and Council of Ministers

According to the Indian Constitution, the Ministers are appointed by the President on the advice of the Prime Minister. In actual practice, they are selected by the Prime Minister and appointed by the President. It is the Prime Minister who fixes the number of ministers.

He prepares a list of ministers who are formally appointed by the President. He distributes portfolios among them. The Prime Minister can ask any minister to resign and if the minister does not oblige, the Prime Minister can get him dismissed by the President. He can exclude that minister by reshuffling his ministry.

The Prime Minister presides over the meetings of the Cabinet. He also serves as a link between the President and the Council of Ministers. In short, Prime Minister is the leader of the Council of Ministers.