The correct answer is The whole Council of Ministers resigns.
Key Points
- According to Article 75(3) of the Constitution of India, the Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha (the lower house of Parliament).
- The principle of collective responsibility means that all ministers are jointly responsible to the Lok Sabha for all their acts of omission and commission. They function as a single team, and the defeat of one minister on a matter of policy is considered a defeat of the entire Council.
- If a No-Confidence Motion is passed in the Lok Sabha against the government or a specific minister, it indicates that the executive has lost the support of the majority of the House. In such a case, the Prime Minister and the entire Council of Ministers must submit their resignation to the President. Hence, the statement that the whole Council of Ministers resigns is correct.
- The No-Confidence Motion is a powerful tool used by the Opposition to challenge the authority and majority of the ruling Government. It can only be introduced in the Lok Sabha and not in the Rajya Sabha.
- When the motion is passed, the Government falls because it no longer possesses the "confidence" of the people's representatives. This is a fundamental feature of the Parliamentary form of government followed in India.
Additional Information
- Rule 198 of the Lok Sabha Rules of Procedure specifies the process for moving a No-Confidence Motion. For the motion to be admitted, it must have the support of at least 50 members of the House.
- The Speaker of the Lok Sabha determines whether the motion is in order and then allots a day or part of a day for the discussion on the motion, which must occur within 10 days from the date of grant of leave.
- A No-Confidence Motion does not require the Opposition to state the specific grounds or reasons for which it is being moved, unlike a Censure Motion.
- Historical Context: The first No-Confidence Motion in independent India was moved by Acharya Kripalani against the Jawaharlal Nehru government in August 1963. Although it failed, it set a precedent for parliamentary accountability.
- The Prime Minister is the "keystone of the cabinet arch"; if the Prime Minister resigns due to the loss of confidence, the entire Council is automatically dissolved without the need for individual resignations.
Important Points
No-Confidence Motion**: While a No-Confidence Motion is moved against the entire Council to remove them from office, a Censure Motion can be moved against an individual minister or a group of ministers to censure them for specific actions or policies. Passage of a Censure Motion does not mandate the resignation of the government.
- Role of the President: Upon the passage of the motion, the President of India accepts the resignation of the Council of Ministers. If no other party can form a stable government, the President may dissolve the Lok Sabha on the advice of the outgoing Cabinet (if they still hold a majority) or by using discretionary powers to call for fresh elections.
- Constitutional Mandate: Under Article 74 and Article 75, the President must act on the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers, but that council must command the confidence of the Lok Sabha to remain validly in power.
- Defeat on Money Bills: It is important to note that if the Government is defeated on a Money Bill or a Budget in the Lok Sabha, it is also considered a loss of confidence, and the Council of Ministers is expected to resign.