What are powers of PM in relation to President?
Q. Which of the following is/are true?
1) PM is the chairman of the Planning Commission.
2) PM is the principal channel of communication between the President and the council of Ministers.
3) He advises the president with regard to the appointment of chairman of UPSC.- Published on 01 Mar 17a. 2, 3
b. 1, 3
c. 1, 2
d. All of the above
ANSWER: All of the above
Powers in relation to the President -
1. He is the principal channel of communication between the President and the council of Ministers (Article 78).
2. As per Article 78, it is the duty of the prime minister -
a) to communicate to the President all decisions of the council of ministers relating to the administration of the affairs of the Union and proposals for legislation;
b) to furnish such information relating to the administration of the affairs of the Union and proposals for legislation as the President may call for; and
c) if the President so requires, to submit 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.
3. 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 etc.
Other Powers and functions are -
1. He is the chairman of the Planning Commission, National Development Council, National Integration Council, Inter-State Council and National Water Resources Council.
2. He plays a significant role in shaping the foreign policy of the country.
3. He is the chief spokesman of the Union government.
4. He is the crisis manager-in-chief at the political level during emergencies.
5. 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.
6. He is leader of the party in power.
7. He is political head of the services.
- Dr. B. R. Ambedkar stated, ‘If any functionary under our constitution is to be compared with the US president, he is the Prime Minister and not the president of the Union’.
