Prime Minister of India is the head of the government of the Republic of India under Article 75. In the parliamentary form of government Powers and Functions of the Prime Minister established by the constitution.The Prime Minister is the actual executive power (de facto executive), while the President serves as the de facto executive authority (de jure executive). Thus, he serves as the representative of the people. 

There have been questions on the topic of the Powers and Functions of the Prime Minister in the UPSC exams earlier. This article explains the Powers and Functions of the Prime Minister, which is useful for Prelims 2023 preparation and UPSC Mains 2023 as well.

The Prime Minister Of India

• In the parliamentary system of government provided by the constitution, the President is the nominal executive authority (de jure executive) and Prime Minister is the real executive authority (de facto executive).
• In other words, the President is the head of the State while the Prime Minister is the head of the government.
• The Constitution does not contain any specific procedure for the selection and appointment of the Prime Minister.
• Article 75 says only that the Prime Minister shall be appointed by the President.
• The Prime Minister presides over the Cabinet. At the Center, he and the Council of Ministers comprise the executive power.

Powers and Functions of the Prime Minister

In Relation to the Council of Ministers

In Relation to the President

• The Prime Minister enjoys the following powers in relation to the President:
• He/she is the principal channel of communication between the President and the council of ministers. It is the duty of the prime minister:

In Relation to the Parliament

• The Prime Minister is the leader of the Lower House. And thus he/she enjoys the following powers:
• He advises the President with regard to summoning and proroguing of the sessions of the Parliament.
• He can recommend the dissolution of the Lok Sabha to the President at any time.
• He announces government policies on the floor of the House.

Other Powers and Functions

• He/she is the chairman of the NITI Ayog (which succeeded the planning commission), National Integration Council, InterState Council, National Water Resources Council, and some other bodies.
• He plays a significant role in shaping the foreign policy of the country.
• He is the chief spokesman of the Union government.
• Crisis manager: He is the crisis manager-in-chief at the political level during emergencies.
• 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.
• Leader of the party: He is the leader of the party in power and is the political head of the services.

Limitations To The Power Of Prime Minister

• Vote of no confidence: Under the Parliamentary system of government, the Prime Minister is not performing to the satisfaction of the Members of Parliament and not meeting the aspirations for which he was put there, they could pass a vote of no confidence in him. 
• Under such a situation, the Prime Minister must resign. The fear of being pushed out of power serves as a limitation to his powers.
• Toeing the party line: The party, to which the Prime Minister belongs, has an ideology and policies manifesto they would like to implement. 
• The Prime Minister can, therefore, not act outside the policies that the party professes.
• Advice from the head of State: From time to time, the Head of State may advise the Prime Minister on one issue or the other. 
• He or she may draw the attention of the Prime Minister to certain pertinent issues confronting the country. In that sense, the Head of State serves as a limitation to the Prime Minister.
• Public opinion: The Prime Minister could be influenced by the public. 
• This may happen when he leads the introduction of a policy that the public thinks is inimical to their interest. 
• Also, the prime minister counseling may not want to be in the news for the wrong reasons. In that sense, he is limited by the opinions of the public.

Misuse Of Power By Prime Minister

• Shah Commission Report: It was a commission of inquiry appointed by the Government of India in 1977 to inquire into all the excesses committed in the Indian Emergency (1975 - 77).
• The commission stated that the decision to impose Emergency was made by prime minister Indira Gandhi alone, without consulting her cabinet colleagues, and was not justified.
• To check the misuse of power by Prime Ministers, the Lokpal has been provided the jurisdiction to inquire into allegations of corruption against anyone who is or has been Prime Minister.
• But there is a problem that it cannot inquire into any corruption charge against the Prime Minister if the allegations are related to international relations, external and internal security, and public order, unless a full Bench of the Lokpal, consisting of its chair and all members, considers the initiation of a probe, and at least two-thirds of the members approve it.

Conclusion

The Prime Minister is sometimes referred to as the "Keystone of the Cabinet Arch." The Prime Minister may be a Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha member. He is the leader of the ruling party and the political head of the armed forces. The Prime Minister is in charge of ensuring good government and corruption-free ministries. Thus, the Prime Minister plays a very significant and highly crucial role in the politico-administrative system of the country. As 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’.

FAQs

Question: What are the key functions of the Prime Minister of India?

Question: How is the Prime Minister appointed?

Question: What role does the Prime Minister play in the Parliament?

Question: What is the relationship between the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers?

Question: Can the Prime Minister be removed from office?

MCQs

1. Who appoints the Prime Minister of India?

a) Vice President

b) Chief Justice of India

c) President of India

d) Governor

2. Which of the following is a key function of the Prime Minister?

a) Enacting laws

b) Administering justice

c) Leading the Council of Ministers

d) Issuing ordinances

3. How can the Prime Minister be removed from office?

a) Through impeachment

b) By losing a vote of no-confidence in the Lok Sabha

c) By the President

d) By the Supreme Court

4. The Prime Minister plays a key role in which of the following?

a) Interpreting laws

b) Running the judiciary

c) Formulating policies and driving the legislative agenda

d) Issuing writs

5. Which body is the Prime Minister responsible to?

a) Rajya Sabha

b) Supreme Court

c) Lok Sabha

d) Election Commission

GS Mains Questions and Model Answers

Q1: Examine the role of the Prime Minister as the head of the Council of Ministers and its impact on Indian governance.

Answer: As the head of the Council of Ministers, the Prime Minister plays a crucial role in decision-making, guiding policy formulation, and maintaining collective responsibility. The Prime Minister also ensures coordination among ministers and represents the Cabinet's decisions in Parliament. This central position makes the Prime Minister the key driver of governance in India. The ability to lead and maintain unity within the Council directly impacts the effectiveness of the government in executing policies and ensuring administrative coherence.

Q2: Discuss how the Prime Minister’s role as the leader of the majority in Lok Sabha influences the legislative process in India.

Answer: As the leader of the majority party in the Lok Sabha, the Prime Minister plays a pivotal role in shaping and driving the legislative agenda. They ensure the government's policies are passed in the Parliament and navigate political challenges to gain support. This leadership also allows the Prime Minister to oversee debates and guide important bills through the parliamentary process. Thus, the Prime Minister's influence significantly shapes the legislative framework and policy direction in India.

Q3: Analyze the powers of the Prime Minister in India with reference to the checks and balances that limit these powers.

Answer: The Prime Minister wields significant executive power, including leading the government, driving policy, and advising the President. However, several checks and balances limit these powers: the Prime Minister must maintain the confidence of the Lok Sabha, and decisions are taken collectively by the Council of Ministers. Additionally, the judiciary ensures the legality of the executive's actions, while the opposition in Parliament holds the Prime Minister accountable. These mechanisms ensure that the Prime Minister’s power is exercised responsibly within the framework of the Constitution.

Previous Year Questions on Powers and Functions of Prime Minister 

1. UPSC CSE Prelims 2018:

Question: The Prime Minister of India is:

A. Head of State

B. Head of Government

C. Head of Judiciary

D. Chief Election Commissioner

Answer: B

Explanation: The Prime Minister is the head of the government, responsible for running the executive functions and leading the Cabinet.

2. UPSC CSE Mains 2017 (GS Paper 2):

Question: Discuss the role of the Prime Minister in maintaining collective responsibility of the Council of Ministers.

Answer: The Prime Minister is the key figure in maintaining the collective responsibility of the Council of Ministers. As the head, the Prime Minister ensures that all ministers work in unison and are accountable to the Lok Sabha. Decisions are taken collectively, and the Prime Minister represents the Council in interactions with the Parliament and President. If the government loses the confidence of the Lok Sabha, the entire Council must resign, highlighting the importance of the Prime Minister in keeping the Council's unity intact.

3. UPSC CSE Prelims 2017:

Question: The Prime Minister is the link between the President and:

A. Parliament

B. Judiciary

C. Legislature

D. Council of Ministers

Answer: D

Explanation: The Prime Minister acts as the primary communication link between the President and the Council of Ministers, advising on all matters of governance.