Meaning and Constitutional Provision
The Size of the Ministry refers to the total number of ministers in the Council of Ministers, including the Prime Minister and other ministers of Cabinet, State, and Deputy rank. This is governed by Article 75(1A) of the Constitution of India, which was inserted by the 91st Constitutional Amendment Act, 2003. According to this provision, the total number of ministers, including the Prime Minister, shall not exceed 15% of the total strength of the Lok Sabha. This limit was introduced to prevent the formation of unnecessarily large ministries, reduce public expenditure, and ensure administrative efficiency. Before this amendment, there was no constitutional restriction on the size of the Council of Ministers, often leading to bloated cabinets for political reasons.
Purpose and Importance of Limitation
The main objective behind imposing this cap is to maintain accountability and efficiency in governance. A large ministry not only increases expenditure but can also lead to political instability due to unnecessary coalition adjustments and distribution of portfolios as political favours. The 91st Amendment Act, 2003, also aimed at reducing the misuse of offices for rewarding defectors or coalition partners. It helps ensure that the Cabinet system of government functions within constitutional discipline and administrative control. The same principle is applied at the State level through Article 164(1A), where the total number of ministers in the State Council of Ministers shall not exceed 15% of the total strength of the Legislative Assembly, with a minimum of 12 ministers.
Constitutional Significance
This limitation reflects the spirit of responsible government envisaged under Articles 74 and 75 of the Constitution. It strengthens democratic accountability by ensuring that the Executive remains compact, coordinated, and effective in implementing policies. The Prime Minister plays a central role in determining the composition of the Council of Ministers, ensuring that only qualified and essential members hold portfolios. The cap also acts as a constitutional check against the over-expansion of the Executive, maintaining harmony between the Legislature and the Executive while upholding the principle of collective responsibility.
Real-Time Example
A real-time example can be seen in 2004, when the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government under Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh adjusted the composition of the Union Council of Ministers to comply with the newly enacted 91st Constitutional Amendment Act. Similarly, in various States like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, ministries had to be restructured to fit within the 15% limit after the amendment came into effect. These instances demonstrate how the constitutional cap ensures fiscal prudence and curbs unnecessary political expansion.
Mnemonic to Remember – “LIMIT”
L – Limit of 15% under Article 75(1A)
I – Introduced by 91st Constitutional Amendment Act, 2003
M – Minimum 12 ministers at State level (Article 164(1A))
I – Integrity and efficiency of governance ensured
T – Transparency and accountability promoted
The mnemonic “LIMIT” helps recall that the Size of the Ministry is constitutionally limited to maintain integrity, efficiency, and responsible governance.
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