Under the parliamentary democracy of India,the Prime Minister of India is the piller of the Union Government.In India,the office of the Prime Minister is based on constitutional law.The Prime Minister of India is not only the head of the real executive,he is also the leader of the majority party in parliament.The Prime Minister is appointed by the Prisident.The president has little choice in this matter because he has to appoint the leader of the majority party in the house of the People(Lok Sabha) as the Prime Minister of India.The prime Minister may also belong to the Council of States(Rajya Sabha).
The Prime Minister has the power to summon and preside over the meetings of the Cabinet.He co-ordinates and supervises the activities of the different departments.In a cabinet meeting,the decisions are taken by majority votes.But the Prime Minister may ask his cabinet colleagues to consider the decisions.
The prime Minister also plays an important role in foreign affairs.He plays a decisive role in the appointment of ambassadors,consuls and other diplomats.
The Prime Minister acts as the chief adviser of the President.The Prime Minister advised the President in the appointment of the ministers,the Judges of the Supreme Court and High Court and other important officials of the Government of India.He may also advise the President to summon and dissolve the House of the people and to seek a fresh mandate.
The Prime Minister is the leader of the Parliament.In the House of the People, he makes policy statements on behalf of ministers.
Prime Ministers of India at a glance:
First prime minister of India after Independence (1947) :Jawaharlal Nehru (1947-1964).
Gulzari Lal Nanda (May -June ,1964),lal Bahadur Shastri (1964-1966).
Again Gulzari Lal Nanda 11-24 January,1966,Indira Gandhi (1966-1977).
Morarji Desai (1977-1979),Charan Singh (1979-1980),Indira Gandhi (1980-1984).
Rajiv Gandhi (1984-1989),V.P.Singh (1989-1990),Chandrasekhar (1990-19910,P.V.Narasimha Rao (1991-1996).
Atal Bihari Vajpayee May 16 1996-May 28 1996),H.D.Deve Gowda (June 1996-April 24 1997).
Inder Kumar Gujral ( April 21 1997-March 18 1998),Atal Behari Vajpayee ( March 19-April 1998),Atal Behari Vajpayee (Oct. 10,1999-2004).
Manmohan Singh (2004-2009),Manmohan Singh (2009-).