Prime Minister of India

Prime Minister of India
Post	Prime Minister
Body	India
Insigniacaption	State Emblem of India
Flagcaption	Flag of India
Incumbent	Narendra Modi
Incumbentsince	26 May 2014
Department	Government of India
Style	The Honourable, His Excellency (diplomatic)
Status	Head of government
Abbreviation	PM
Member of	Union Council of Ministers, Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha
Reports to	Parliament of India
Residence	7, Lok Kalyan Marg
Seat	South Block, New Delhi
Nominator	Lok Sabha
Appointer	President of India
Termlength	At the pleasure of the President, Lok Sabha term is 5 years unless dissolved sooner, No term limits
Formation	15 August 1947
First	Jawaharlal Nehru
Salary	₹280,000 (US$3,500) per month
Website	https://www.pmindia.gov.in/

Prime Minister of India. The Prime Minister of India is the chief executive of the Government of India and the head of the Union Council of Ministers. Appointed by the President of India, the prime minister is typically the leader of the party or coalition with a majority in the Lok Sabha. As the central figure in the parliamentary system, the prime minister wields significant authority over national policy, administration, and the legislative agenda.

Role and powers

The prime minister serves as the head of the Union Council of Ministers, recommending appointments to the President of India and chairing meetings of the Cabinet of India. They play a pivotal role in shaping national policy across domains such as defence, foreign affairs, and economic planning. The prime minister represents India at major international forums like the G20, United Nations General Assembly, and Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. Key powers include advising the president on the summoning and dissolution of the Lok Sabha, and overseeing the functioning of crucial institutions like the NITI Aayog and the Prime Minister's Office.

Appointment and term

The President of India appoints the prime minister, who must be a member of either the Lok Sabha or the Rajya Sabha. By convention, the appointee is the leader of the political party or coalition commanding the confidence of the majority in the Lok Sabha. The term of office is not fixed but depends on the pleasure of the president and the continued support of the lower house; a prime minister must resign if defeated in a vote of no confidence. The Constitution of India does not impose term limits, as evidenced by the lengthy tenures of figures like Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi.

List of prime ministers

Since independence in 1947, India has had 15 prime ministers. The first was Jawaharlal Nehru of the Indian National Congress, who served from 1947 until 1964. Other notable holders of the office include Indira Gandhi, the first woman prime minister; Morarji Desai, the first from the Janata Party; and Atal Bihari Vajpayee of the Bharatiya Janata Party. The current incumbent, Narendra Modi of the Bharatiya Janata Party, assumed office in May 2014 after leading the National Democratic Alliance to victory in the general election.

Constitutional framework

The position of prime minister is detailed in Articles 74 and 75 of the Constitution of India. These articles establish the prime minister as the head of the Council of Ministers, which aids and advises the President of India. The basic structure of the Parliamentary system ensures the prime minister's accountability to the Lok Sabha. Key legal instruments, including the All India Services rules and the Transaction of Business Rules, 1961, govern the administration overseen by the prime minister's office.

Office and residence

The prime minister's official workplace is located in the South Block of the Central Secretariat in New Delhi. The primary official residence is 7, Lok Kalyan Marg (formerly 7, Race Course Road) in the Lutyens' Delhi area. The complex includes offices for key advisors and security provided by the Special Protection Group. The prime minister also utilizes the Panchavati complex at Rashtrapati Bhavan for official ceremonies and hosts visiting dignitaries at Hyderabad House.

Relationship with the President

The relationship between the prime minister and the President of India is defined by the conventions of the Parliamentary system. The president acts on the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers headed by the prime minister, as reinforced by the 42nd Constitutional Amendment. However, the president retains certain discretionary powers, such as in the appointment of a prime minister during a hung parliament, as seen after the 1996 Indian general election. The prime minister communicates all decisions of the Cabinet of India to the president under Article 78 of the Constitution of India.

Category:Prime Ministers of India Category:Government of India