What is difference between Cabinet and Council of Ministers?

Q.  Which of the following is/are true regarding the Cabinet and Council of Ministers (CoM)?

1) Cabinet’s functions are determined by the CoM.
2) Cabinet meets more frequently than theCoM.
3) CoM includes all 3 categories of ministers.
- Published on 01 Mar 17

a. 2, 3
b. 1, 3
c. 1, 2
d. All of the above

ANSWER: 2, 3
 
    Role and importance of Cabinet -

    1. It is the highest decision-making authority in our politico-administrative system.

    2. It is the chief policy formulating body of the Central Government.

    3. It is the supreme executive authority of the Central Government.

    4. It is chief coordinator of Central administration.

    5. It is an advisory body to the president and its advice is binding on him.

    6. It deals with all major legislative and financial matters including emergency situations.

    7. It exercises control over higher appointments like constitutional authorities and senior secretariat administrators.

    8. It deals with all foreign policies and foreign affairs.

  • There is a difference between CoM and Cabinet.

    • It is as follows -

Sr. No.Council of MinistersCabinet
1.Wider body of 60 to 70 ministers.Smaller body of 15 to 20 ministers.
2.Includes all the 3 categories of ministers, that is, cabinet ministers, ministers of state and deputy ministers.It includes the cabinet ministers only.

Thus, it is a part of the council of ministers.
3.It does not meet, as a body, to transact government business.

It has no collective functions.		It meets, as a body, frequently and take decisions regarding the transaction of government business.

Thus, it has collective functions.
4.It is vested with all powers but in theory.It exercises, in practice, the powers of the council of ministers and thus, acts for the latter.
5.Its functions are determined by the cabinet.It directs the council of ministers by taking policy decisions which are binding on all ministers.
6.It implements the decisions taken by the cabinet.It supervises the implementation of its decisions by the council of ministers.
7.It is a constitutional body, dealt in detail by the Articles 74 and 75 of the Constitution.

Its classification into a three-tier body is based on the conventions of parliamentary government as developed in Britain.

It has, however, got a legislative sanction.

Thus, the Salaries and Allowances Act of 1952 defines a ‘minister’ as a ‘member of the council of ministers, by whatever name called, and includes a deputy minister’.		It was inserted in Article 352 of the Constitution in 1978 by the 44th Constitutional Amendment Act.

Article 352 only defines the cabinet saying that it is ‘the council consisting of the prime minister and other ministers of cabinet rank appointed under Article 75’ and does not describe its powers and functions.

Its role is based on the conventions of parliamentary government as developed in Britain.
8.It is collectively responsible to the Lower House of the Parliament.It enforces the collective responsibility of the council of ministers to the Lower House of Parliament.

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