1. The Union Council of Ministers is the highest executive body of the Government of India.
2. The council is responsible for exercising administrative authority in the nation and advising the president of India.
3. It is chaired by the prime minister and consists of the heads of each of the executive government ministries.
4. Appointment: Pursuant to Article 75, a minister who works at the pleasure of the president, is appointed by The President on the advice of The Prime Minister.
5. A smaller executive body called the Union Cabinet is the supreme decision-making body in India; it is a subset of the Union Council of Ministers who hold important portfolios and ministries of the government.
6. Constitutional Provisions
6.1 Article 75(3): The Council of Ministers is responsible collectively to the lower house of the Indian parliament, called the Lok Sabha (House of the People).
6.2 Article 78: A minister shall take any decision without being considered by the council of ministers.
6.3 Article 352: All union cabinet members shall submit in writing to the President to propose a proclamation of emergency by the president.
7. Ranking (There are five categories of the council of ministers as given below, in descending order of rank:)
7.1 Prime Minister: Leader of the executive of the Government of India.
7.2 Deputy Prime Minister (if any): Presides as prime minister in his absence or as the senior most cabinet minister.
7.3 Cabinet Minister: A member of the cabinet; leads a ministry.
7.4 Minister of State (Independent charge): Junior minister not reporting to a Cabinet Minister.
7.5 Minister of State (MoS): Deputy Minister reporting to a Cabinet Minister, usually tasked with a specific responsibility in that ministry.
