Difference between Cabinet and Council of Ministers

Politics is one of the interesting topics that everyone discusses about. Every second day the news and media houses are flooded with political reports, political parties, etc. The Government of India has set ministers and officials who take the necessary steps to develop the nation. For instance, amidst the corona pandemic, the government is making sure that people stay in their homes and are provided with necessary medication when required. These ministers play an important role in building up the government and developing the nation. Now, who select these ministers? Well, these ministers are either selected by the government officials or the general public. There are different kinds of ministers like MLAs, MPs, Cabinet, Council of ministers, etc. So, today we will discuss about the cabinet and council of ministers. Let us understand the basic meaning of these terms.

Cabinet

A cabinet is defined as the body of state officials. It is basically the body of advisers who serve several government departments. The officials or members of the branch are called Cabinet Ministers. According to Article II of the constitution, the role of the cabinet is to advise the President on several subjects related to the responsibilities he/ she has to perform. Historically, the cabinet was formed along with the presidency. The Cabinet functions under the Prime Minister. Cabinets are nominated by the President of the nation. The officials under the cabinet are led by the Prime Minister, i.e., they are directly in contact with the PM. The Cabinet Ministers perform two main functions, i.e., first, they serve as administrative heads to several government departments, and second, they are advisors to the President of the country.

Council of Ministers

The council of ministers is defined as the supreme organ. The term 'council of ministers' is almost equal to the cabinet. But they do have some differences. The council is usually led by the President of the country. These ministers are the central ministers that exercise powers in several government departments. These government officials are the decision-making bodies of the country. Well, it is interesting to note that the council of ministers is responsible for the decisions taken and bills passed in Lok Sabha. These ministers are elected by the President and the Prime Ministers collectively. The council of ministers also performs two major functions, i.e., they serve as the advisors to the President, and they are responsible for determining the government's legislative programs. The council of ministers has 70 - 80 ministers of the government. Now, what are the contrasting points between the council of ministers and the cabinet? As stated above, the council of ministers and cabinet is quite the same, but they possess some differences. The differences are listed below.

So, these are some of the significant differences between the council of ministers and cabinet. The cabinet was not a constitutional body initially. It became a constitutional body in 1978, but the council of ministers was always a constitutional body. Now, both the cabinet and council of ministers perform several functions for the development of the nation. So, let us briefly discuss those functions.

Functions of Cabinet

1. Cabinet Committees: The cabinet is responsible for supporting the cabinet committees. They support them by:

• Organizing meetings upon the orders of the government.
• Circulating the agenda.
• Preparing for several debates and discussions.
• Implementing the decisions taken by the Cabinet.

2. Inter-Ministerial Coordination: The cabinet is responsible for promoting of inter-ministerial coordination. This coordination is required for performing several responsibilities like removing difficulties, differences, coordinating the administrative action, coordinating the policies made, promoting several policies, etc.

3. Advising: The cabinet ministers serve as the advisors to the President of India. They help the President in deciding about several areas related to the responsibilities of the President.

Functions of Council of Ministers

1. Decision-Making: The major function of the council of ministers is to make all the necessary decisions related to the country. The President elects several ministers under the council, and they are answerable to him/ her.
2. Lok Sabha: The council of ministers is responsible for the collective decisions taken in the Lok Sabha. They directly communicate with the President and the Prime Minister for the decisions they have taken.
3. Advisors: The council is a non-executive body of advisors. They also advise the President on several matters policy-making, passing the bills, etc.

So, these are some of the significant functions performed by the cabinet and council of ministers. Both cabinet and council of ministers are necessary constitutional bodies of the government. These officials help in policy and decision-making. The major role of both these bodies is to help the President and Prime Minister in several matters related to the nation. It is important to note that both these official bodies carry out several administrative duties, the Prime Minister leads them. Thus, both the cabinet and council of ministers are a significant part of the parliament.