With reference to Union Government, consider the following statements: 1. The Constitution of India provides that all Cabinet Ministers shall be compulsorily the sitting members of Lok Sabha only. 2. The Union Cabinet Secretariat operates under the direction of the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Statement 1 is incorrect: Article 75 does not mandate that all Cabinet Ministers must be sitting members of the Lok Sabha. The Constitution provides for appointment of ministers by the President on the Prime Minister’s advice and sets limits on total strength, but ministers may be members of either House; a person who is not a member can also be appointed for up to six months [2]. Statement 2 is also incorrect: the Union Cabinet Secretariat is a distinct administrative office headed by the Cabinet Secretary and functions under the authority of the Prime Minister/Cabinet, not under the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs. Therefore neither statement is correct.

Sources

1. [1] Laxmikanth, M. Indian Polity. 7th ed., McGraw Hill. > Chapter 21: Central Council of Ministers > Article 75-O ther Provisions as to Ministers > p. 213
2. [2] Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 13: Parliamentary System > 136,(/ Indian Polity > p. 136