Consider the following statements: The Council of Ministers in the Centre shall be collectively…

Answer: (b) 2 and 3 only

Statements 2 and 3 repeat the Constitution almost word for word (Articles 75(2) and 78(a)). Statement 1 is wrong because Article 75(3) makes the Council of Ministers collectively responsible to the House of the People (Lok Sabha), not to Parliament as a whole.

• ✗ 1. Under Article 75(3), the Council of Ministers answers collectively to the House of the People, which is the Lok Sabha. The Rajya Sabha cannot remove the ministry by a no-confidence vote, so 'Parliament' is not correct.
• ✓ 2. Article 75(2) says the Ministers shall hold office during the pleasure of the President. In practice, this pleasure is exercised on the Prime Minister's advice.
• ✓ 3. Article 78(a) makes it the Prime Minister's duty to communicate to the President two things: all decisions of the Council of Ministers relating to the administration of the affairs of the Union, and proposals for legislation.

Remember · Collective responsibility (Art. 75(3)) runs to the Lok Sabha alone. Ministers serve at the President's pleasure (Art. 75(2)). The PM informs the President of the Council of Ministers' decisions and legislative proposals (Art. 78).

📘 Read it in NCERT: Class 11 Indian Constitution at Work, Ch 4 (practise this chapter)

Question: UPSC Civil Services (Preliminary) 2013, General Studies paper. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 25 Oct 2026 (how we verify). · Report an error