Features of Indian Cabinet
The Indian Cabinet system is blindly copied from the British and is based on mutatis mutandis, upon the same principles and has the same features as the British. following are the features of Indian cabinet in the constitution of India.
Exclusion of the President
Like the British Monarch, the Indian President is excluded from the cabinet. He does not attend its meetings. The reason for this practice is that he is not responsible for the decisions of the Cabinet, although it takes all decisions in his name He is the constitutional head of State, and not responsible for what the cabinet does in his name.
Primary of the Prime Minister
Another essential feature is the ascendancy of the Prime Minister in the Council of Ministers. He is the key man in it. The Indian constitution clearly recognizes his leadership by providing that “There will be a Council of Ministers with the Prime Minister as its head”. Indeed he makes the cabinet and when he resigns, the Cabinet also goes out with him. He is the spokesman of his Cabinet before Parliament as well as the President.
Ministerial Responsibility
The Cabinet as a whole and an individual Minister as such are responsible to the Lok Sabha, which mean that they hold office so long as they have the confidence of the majority in the House of the People. It is collectively responsibility for the Cabinet as a whole is responsible for its policy as well as the decisions of each Minister in his own department, unless it is ready to drop him by not defending him on the floor of the House. It is done when the acts of a Minister do not have the support of his Cabinet colleagues. It means the Cabinet sinks or swims together. A vote of no confidence against one Minister is a vote of no confidence against the whole Council of Ministers.
Close Relationship between Executive and Legislative
The Cabinet is the link between the legislature and the executive departments of the Indian Government. Every Minister is a member of either House of Parliament. If not, he must seek election to it within six months of his appointment otherwise he will cease to be so.
Political Homogeneity
It is essential that the Ministers in the Cabinet should hold similar political ideas and views, so that they May Work as a team. If it is a coalition ministry, it comprises such political parties as have a common political program.
Unity of Action
The Cabinet acts as a single team. The Ministers may have differences of view regarding a policy but these differences are not publicly expressed before the public. The Council of Ministers always presents a united front. If a minister does not agree with the decision of the Council of Minister, the only alternative for him is to resign.
Secrecy
The meetings of the Council of Ministers are secret. Every Minister is required by ale Act of official secrets to take an oath of secrecy.