The Prime Minister and his Council of Ministers formulate and implement the policies which govern the country. In this context, answer the following questions:
What is meant by the term Collective Responsibility of Ministers?
Topic: Collective responsibility
Answer
Collective responsibility means that the Council of Ministers is responsible to the Lok Sabha as a single body, not individually. All decisions taken in Cabinet meetings bind every minister, and each must defend and support them in public whatever his private opinion — a minister who cannot do so must resign.
The consequence is that if the Lok Sabha passes a vote of no confidence against even one minister, the ENTIRE Council of Ministers must resign together — they swim and sink together (Article 75(3)).
Two marks: one for the meaning and one for the consequence. The consequence is where candidates lose the mark — saying only "they are responsible together" explains nothing. The whole ministry falls, not merely the minister concerned, and that is the point. The phrase "they swim and sink together" is worth quoting; examiners recognise it at once.