Which one of the following is not a correct description of the Union Cabinet ?
It is part of the Parliament.
It is responsible to the Parliament.
It remains in power till it enjoys the confidence of the Parliament.
A person from outside the Parliament can never be appointed a member of the Cabinet.
Answer is Right!
Answer is Wrong!
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CDS-1 – 2021
Statement B is correct. The Council of Ministers, including the Cabinet, is collectively responsible to the House of the People (Lok Sabha) as per Article 75(3).
Statement C is correct. Due to collective responsibility, the Cabinet remains in power as long as it enjoys the confidence of the Lok Sabha. A vote of no-confidence passed by the Lok Sabha against the Council of Ministers leads to the resignation of the entire Council, including the Cabinet.
Statement D is incorrect as an absolute statement. Article 75(5) states that a Minister who is not a member of either House of Parliament for any period of six consecutive months shall at the expiration of that period cease to be a Minister. This implies a person from outside Parliament can be appointed, but only temporarily unless they become a member within six months. Therefore, the statement that they *can never* be appointed is false.
However, comparing A and D as ‘not correct descriptions’, A is a more fundamental mischaracterization of the Cabinet’s place within the structure of government (Executive vs. Legislature), while D is incorrect based on a specific appointment rule. In the context of describing the Union Cabinet’s nature, A is a more significant incorrect statement.