Question

Assertion A: Ministers shall hold office during the pleasure of the President.
Reason R: The Council of Ministers shall be collectively responsible to the House of the People.
In the light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below:

• A. Both A and R are correct and R is the correct explanation of A
• B. Both A and R are correct but R is not the correct explanation of A
• C. A is correct but R is not correct
• D. A is not correct but R is correct

Hint:

To test if R explains A, use the word "because".
"Ministers hold office at the President's pleasure \textit{because} they are collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha."
This sentence does not make logical sense, confirming that R is not the correct explanation.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
In the Indian Parliamentary system, the executive is responsible to the legislature. There are two types of responsibility: individual and collective.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
- Assertion A is Correct: According to Article 75(2) of the Constitution, ministers hold office during the "pleasure of the President". This refers to the principle of Individual Responsibility. A minister can be removed by the President (on the advice of the PM) even if the ministry as a whole enjoys the confidence of the Lok Sabha.
- Reason R is Correct: According to Article 75(3), the Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha (House of the People). This is the bedrock of the parliamentary system.
- Relationship between A and R: While both are fundamental constitutional provisions, they represent two different principles. Individual responsibility (A) ensures a minister's accountability to the head of government/state, whereas collective responsibility (R) ensures the government's accountability to the people's elected house. Collective responsibility is not the reason why ministers serve at the President's pleasure.
Step 3: Final Answer:
Both statements are legally correct constitutional provisions, but the reason does not explain the assertion.