What is meant by 'Collective Responsibility' in the context of the Council of Ministers?

• A. The Prime Minister is solely responsible for government decisions
• B. Individual ministers are responsible for their own departments only
• C. The Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha
• D. The Council of Ministers is directly accountable to the President

Answer: (C)

In the context of the Council of Ministers, 'Collective Responsibility' refers to the principle that the entire council is collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha. This means that all ministers, while they may be in charge of different departments, must work together as a cohesive unit. They are collectively accountable for the decisions and policies of the government, and they must share responsibility in both successes and failures.

This principle ensures that the government operates as a unified entity, which is essential for maintaining political stability and coherence in governance. If the Lok Sabha loses confidence in the Council of Ministers, it can compel the entire council to resign, rather than dismissing individual ministers. This collective approach strengthens the accountability of the government to the elected representatives of the people, aligning with the democratic principles of representation and accountability.

The other options present concepts that do not align with the established norms of collective responsibility. The idea of the Prime Minister being solely responsible does not account for the shared responsibility among ministers. Similarly, limiting individual ministers to being responsible only for their departments undermines the collaborative nature of governance. Lastly, while the Council of Ministers does interact with the President, the accountability is primarily to the Lok Sabha, particularly in a parliamentary system.