PRIME MINISTER AND THE UNION COUNCIL OF MINISTERS 

 Prime Minister is appointed by the President. He is the Real Executive Authority. 

 Other ministers are appointed and/or dismissed by the President on the advice of the Prime Minister. 

 Prime Minister must be the leader of the party in majority in the Lok Sabha or a person who can win the confidence of the majority in that House. 

 Ministers get the salaries and allowances etc. as payable to members of parliament. In addition they get a sumptuary allowance at a varying scale and a residence, free of rent. 

 Prime Minister gets the same salary as other MPs. In addition, PM gets other allowances. 

 Cabinet Ministers attend meeting of the Cabinet. 

 Ministers of State are not members of the Cabinet and they can attend a Cabinet Meeting only if invited to attend any particular meeting. 

 A Deputy Minister assists the Minister in discharge of his duties and takes no part in Cabinet meetings. 

 There is no bar to the appointment of a non – MP as Minister, but he cannot continue as Minister for more than 6 months unless he secures a seat in either House of Parliament. 

 Though the ministers are collectively responsible to the legislature, they are individually responsible to the President. 

 A Minister can take part in the proceedings of both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, but he can vote only if he is a member of the House. 

 Prime Minister is the Ex-officio Chairman of the Planning Commission, National Development Council, National Integration Council and InterState Council. 

Legislative powers of Prime Minister 

 The President convenes and prorogues all sessions of parliament in consultation with him. He is the Leader of the House. 

 He appoints the Council of Ministers, allocate portfolios. He can ask a Minister to resign or can get him dismissed by recommending the same to the President. 

 He can recommend dissolution of Lok Sabha before its expiry. 

 He assists the President in appointment of all high ranking Officials. 

 He can recommend to the President to declare Emergency on grounds of War, External aggression or Armed rebellion. He advises President about President’s Rule in the State or Emergency due to financial instability.

Prime minister                       tenure 

1 Jawahar Lal Nehru   15 Aug., 1947–27 May, 1964

2 Guljari Lal Nanda     27 May, 1962–09 June, 1964

3 Lal Bahadur Shashtri  09June,1967 –11Jan.,1966 

4 Gulzari Lal Nanda     11 Jan.,1966 – 24 Jan., 1966  

5 Indira Gandhi            24 Jan.,1966– 24 Mar., 1977 

6 Morarji Desai             24 Mar.,1977– 28 July, 1979 

7 Charan Singh              28 July,1979 – 14 Jan., 1980 

8 Indira Gandhi           14 Jan., 1980 – 31 Oct., 1984  

9 Rajeev Gandhi         31 Oct., 1984 –01 Dec., 1989 

10 V P Singh                 01 Dec.,1989 –10 Nov., 1990 

11 Chandra Sekhar    10 Nov.,1990–21 June, 1991 

12 P V Narasimha Rao  21 June,1991–16 May, 1996 

13 Atal Bihari Vajpayee 16 May,1996–01June, 1996 

14 HD Dave Gowda     01 June,1996 –21 Apr. 1997 

15 Indra kumar Gujral  21Apr.,1997 –19Mar., 1998 

16 Atal Bihari Vajpayee 19 Mar.,1998–22May, 2004 

17 Dr. Manmohan Singh  22 May,2004–26May,                                                                                          2014 

18 Narendra Modi       26 May,2014– continued