Powers & Functions of the Prime Minister
1. In Relation to the Council of Ministers
(a) The Prime Minister recommends persons
who can be appointed as ministers by
the President.
(b) He allocates and also can change the
portfolios among the ministers according
to his will.
(c) If a difference in opinion arises between
the Prime Minister and any of his
ministers, he can ask the minister to
resign or can advice President to dismiss
him.
(d) Prime Minister presides over the meeting
of the Council of Ministers and he also
influences the decision of the meeting.
(e) He guides, directs, controls and
coordinates the activities of all the
ministers.
(f) By resigning from office, the Prime
Minister can bring about the collapse of
the council of Ministers.
2. In Relation to the President
(a) Prime Minister is the principal channel
of communication between the President
and the Council of Ministers. He
communicates with the President
regarding all decisions of the Council of
Ministers relating to administration of
the affairs of the Union and proposals
for legislation.
(b) He furnishes such information relating
to administration of the affairs of the
Union and proposals for legislation as
the President may call for and if the
President so requires, Prime Minister
submits for the consideration of the
council of ministers any matter on which
a decision has been taken by a minister
but which has not been considered by
the council.
(c) Regarding 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, etc. the Prime Minister
advises the President.
3. In Relation to Parliament
(a) The Prime Minister is the leader of the
lower House i.e. the Lok Sabha. He
advises the President with regard to
summoning and proroguing of the
sessions of the Parliament.
(b) He can recommend dissolution of the
Lok Sabha to President at any time.
(c) He announces government policies on
the floor of the house.
4. Position of the Prime Minister
Prime Minister is described as primus inter
pares (first among equals). Also called interstellar
minories (little moon among stars). He is the
‘Keystone of The Cabinet Arch”. Prime Minister
is generally a Member of Parliament and elected
according to the same procedure similar to all
MPs. He is PM only because he is the leader of
the majority party in the Lok Sabha.
However, in actual practice, he is more than
his colleagues. Under Article 74, Council of
Minister, is headed by PM. When PM resigns or
dies, entire CoM goes out of office. But when an
individual minister resigns or dies there is only
vacancy in CoM. Besides PM alone can constitute
CoM but without PM, CoM can’t exist and
function. Thus he is central to the survival &
death of CoM
It is the PM who selects members of CoM
and distribute portfolio among them. He can
reshuffle CoM the way he likes. It is PM who coordinates
the functions of various ministries. He
alone enjoys right to call for files or information
from any ministry to other ministry.
PM convenes the cabinet meeting and
decides on the agenda of such meetings. He also
gives general direction for the administration of
the country. He is the chief spokesman of CoM
both in & outside the Parliament. It is his
prerogative to announce important policy
decisions.
He is also the link between President and
CoM. Ministers individually can also call upon
the President but not as a matter of right. It is
the PM who periodically calls upon the President
and apprises him about administration of the
country. PM is also the chief link between CoM
and the Parliament. He can participate in any
issue relating to any ministry during discussion
held in Parliament. A minister normally
participates on issues relating to his own
ministry.
