Which one of the following Amendments to the Constitution of India has prescribed that the Council of Ministers shall not exceed 15 percent of total number of members of the House of the People or Legislative Assembly in the States?
- A.91st Amendment
- B.87th Amendment
- C.97th Amendment
- D.90th Amendment
Correct answer
Explanation
The correct answer is 91st Amendment. The 91st Amendment Act, 2003 inserted Article 75(1A), which says the total number of ministers, including the Prime Minister, in the Union Council of Ministers shall not exceed 15% of the total number of members of the Lok Sabha, and Article 164(1A), which applies the same limit to the States, with a minimum of 12 ministers. It also barred a member disqualified for defection from being appointed a minister, and strengthened the anti-defection law by deleting the provision that allowed "splits".
The other amendments are from around the same time but on different subjects. The 97th Amendment (2011) dealt with co-operative societies. The 87th Amendment (2003) provided for delimitation of constituencies on the basis of the 2001 census. The 90th Amendment (2003) concerned representation in the Assam Legislative Assembly from the Bodoland Territorial Areas District. The 15% cap was meant to stop jumbo ministries formed to reward supporters and hold coalitions together.
Read the full article: Prime Minister and Council of Ministers: Notes, Articles and PYQs
Practice Questions
View allArticle 74 of the Constitution elaborates on which of the following?
- A.Appointment of Chief Justice by President
- B.Appointment of Vice President by President
- C.Council of Ministers to aid and advise President
- D.Appointment of Chairman of Finance Commission
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Article 74(1) says there shall be a Council of Ministers with the Prime Minister at its head to aid and advise the President, who shall act in accordance with that advice.
Read the full explanation →The Prime Minister and the other Ministers of the Indian Union are appointed by the President under ______ of the Constitution of India.
- A.Article 70
- B.Article 79
- C.Article 75
- D.Article 85
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Article 75(1) says the Prime Minister shall be appointed by the President and the other ministers shall be appointed by the President on the advice of the Prime Minister.
Read the full explanation →Article 77 of the Indian Constitution deals with the ________.
- A.term of office of the Vice-President
- B.Vice-President of India
- C.oath of office by the Vice-President
- D.conduct of business of the Government of India
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Article 77 says all executive action of the Government of India shall be expressed to be taken in the name of the President, and that the President shall make rules for the more convenient transaction of the government's business and for allocating it among ministers.
Read the full explanation →Which of the following is dealt in Article 78 of the Constitution?
- A.President's power to send advisory messages to the Parliament
- B.Emergency powers of the President
- C.President's power to get information from the Council of Ministers
- D.Prime Minister's duty regarding keeping the President informed about the government's decisions and policies
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Article 78 makes it the duty of the Prime Minister to communicate to the President all decisions of the Council of Ministers relating to the administration of the Union and proposals for legislation; to furnish such information about them as the President may call for; and, if the President so…
Read the full explanation →For how long a person can serve as a minister without being a member of either House of Parliament of India?
- A.6 consecutive months
- B.3 consecutive months
- C.12 consecutive months
- D.2 consecutive month
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Article 75(5) says a minister who for any period of six consecutive months is not a member of either House of Parliament shall, at the end of that period, cease to be a minister.
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