Prime Minister in India: Primus Inter Pares or Inter Stella Luna Minores? | UPSC Current Affairs

Summary

This video script from Legacy I Academy discusses the roles of the Indian President and Prime Minister within the parliamentary system. It explains the President's position as a figurehead with ceremonial duties, contrasting it with the Prime Minister's significant power as the 'first among equals' or 'Moon among stars.' The script further explores the dynamics of the Prime Minister's role, highlighting how it can shift between being dominant or overshadowed by cabinet ministers, depending on the individual's strength and the party's position in Parliament. Historical examples are provided to illustrate these concepts.

Takeaways

• 🏛 The Indian political system is a parliamentary democracy, which means the President is an integral part of the Parliament.
• 🌟 The President of India is often likened to a 'lamp', symbolizing a position of dignity and representation of the nation, rather than the main source of power.
• 🛠️ In a parliamentary setup, the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers are part of the legislative branch, unlike in a presidential system where the executive is separate.
• 🤔 The role of the President can be significant during deadlocks between the two houses of Parliament, acting as a philosopher, guide, and friend.
• 👥 The British model of governance influenced India's parliamentary system, with the Queen's three rights—right to be informed, right to advise, and right to warn—mirrored in the President's role.
• 🌟 The Prime Minister's position is described as 'Primus inter pares' or 'first among equals', suggesting a leadership role among cabinet ministers.
• 🔑 The strength of the Prime Minister's position can vary, depending on whether it's a Prime Ministerial form of government (strong PM) or a Cabinet Ministerial form (strong cabinet ministers).
• 📊 The effectiveness of the Prime Minister's role is influenced by two main factors: the personality of the PM and the position of their party in Parliament.
• 🔄 Historical examples illustrate the shift between strong Prime Ministers like Indira Gandhi and periods where the cabinet system was less powerful, such as during Rajiv Gandhi's tenure.
• 🤝 In coalition governments, the Prime Minister's position can become weaker due to the need for consensus among multiple parties, but this can vary based on the PM's personality and leadership skills.
• 🔮 The script suggests that the power dynamics between the Prime Minister and the cabinet ministers can change over time, reflecting the evolving nature of the parliamentary system.

Q & A

What type of democracy has India adopted according to the script?

India has adopted a parliamentary democracy model.

Why is the President considered an integral part of the Indian Parliament?

The President is considered an integral part of the Indian Parliament due to the parliamentary democracy model chosen by India, influenced by British rule and the need for representation of every section of Indian society.

What is the role of the President in the Indian parliamentary setup?

The President in the Indian parliamentary setup is like a 'lamp,' symbolizing dignity and representing the nation. The President is a constitutional head and acts as a philosopher, guide, and friend, especially in case of deadlocks between two houses.

How does the script describe the role of the Prime Minister in comparison to the President?

The script describes the Prime Minister as the 'main power' in comparison to the President, who is likened to a 'lamp,' suggesting that the Prime Minister has a more active role in governance.

What are the three rights of the British Queen that are also applicable to the Indian President?

The three rights of the British Queen that are also applicable to the Indian President are the right to be informed, the right to advise, and the right to warn in case the Council of Ministers does not function properly.

What is the difference between a Prime Ministerial form of government and a Cabinet Ministerial form of government according to the script?

In a Prime Ministerial form of government, the Prime Minister dominates, whereas in a Cabinet Ministerial form of government, the cabinet ministers dominate and have a greater say in front of the Prime Minister.

Why does the script mention the term 'Primus inter pares' or 'Inter alia luna minor' in relation to the Prime Minister's position in India?

The term 'Primus inter pares' or 'Inter alia luna minor' is used to illustrate the debate over whether the Prime Minister is 'first among equals' or 'Moon among stars,' indicating the varying dynamics of power within the government.

What factors determine whether the Prime Minister is 'first among equals' or 'Moon among stars'?

The factors that determine the Prime Minister's position as 'first among equals' or 'Moon among stars' are the personality of the Prime Minister and the position of his party in Parliament.

How does the script describe the role of the Prime Minister during Indira Gandhi's time?

During Indira Gandhi's time, the script describes the role of the Prime Minister as having a Prime Ministerial form of government, indicating a strong Prime Minister who dominated and led to the development of authoritarian trends.

What challenges does the script suggest for the Prime Minister in a coalition government?

The script suggests that the position of the Prime Minister in a coalition government can become weak due to the lack of a single party majority, although this depends on the personality of the Prime Minister and their ability to lead a diverse coalition.

What does the term 'diarchy' refer to in the context of the script's discussion on the Indian government during Manmohan Singh's time?

In the context of Manmohan Singh's time, 'diarchy' refers to the emergence of two centers of power, with responsibility in the hands of the Prime Minister and power with the head of the Congress party.

Outlines

00:00

🏛️ Indian Presidential and Parliamentary Systems

The speaker introduces the topic of the video, focusing on the roles of the President and Prime Minister in the Indian political system. They explain that India follows a parliamentary democracy model, influenced by British rule, which necessitates representation from all sections of Indian society. The President is an integral part of the Parliament, and the video will explore the nuances of this position, contrasting it with the executive branch led by the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers.

05:02

👥 Role and Significance of the Indian President

This paragraph delves into the role of the Indian President, who is likened to a 'lamp' in the political setup, highlighting the President's symbolic and dignified position. The President represents the nation and is considered the constitutional head of state. The speaker refutes the notion that the President is merely a 'rubber stamp' and emphasizes the President's role as a philosopher, guide, and friend, especially during deadlocks between the two houses of Parliament. The paragraph also draws a parallel with the British monarchy, which has a similar nominal head with limited powers.

10:04

🌟 Prime Ministerial and Cabinet Ministerial Forms of Government

The speaker discusses the two forms of government within a parliamentary setup: Prime Ministerial and Cabinet Ministerial. The former is characterized by a dominant Prime Minister, while the latter sees cabinet ministers holding significant power. Examples are given from Indian history, including the governments of Indira Gandhi and Manmohan Singh, to illustrate these forms. The paragraph also touches on the concept of the Prime Minister being 'first among equals' or 'Moon among stars,' indicating the PM's position relative to other ministers.

15:04

🤔 Factors Influencing the Prime Minister's Position

The paragraph explores the factors that determine whether the Prime Minister is 'first among equals' or 'Moon among stars.' It emphasizes that this status depends on multiple factors, primarily the personality of the Prime Minister and the position of their party in Parliament. Historical examples are provided, from Nehru's time when the PM was considered first among equals, to Indira Gandhi's era, which saw a strong Prime Ministerial form of government with authoritarian tendencies.

20:06

🔄 Changes in Cabinet System and the Role of Loyalists

This paragraph examines the evolution of the cabinet system in India, particularly during the tenures of Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, where the cabinet's power diminished, and loyalists and technocrats gained more influence. The speaker notes a shift from elected representatives to unelected advisors and bureaucrats, indicating a change in the balance of power within the government.

25:07

🌐 Diarchy and the Impact on the Prime Minister's Role

The final paragraph discusses the concept of diarchy, where power is divided between two centers—the Prime Minister and the head of the ruling party. This situation was particularly evident during Manmohan Singh's tenure, where a lack of strong leadership in the second term led to a resurgence of diarchy. The speaker concludes by reiterating that the Prime Minister's role as 'first among equals' or 'Moon among stars' is contingent upon their personality and leadership qualities.

Keywords

💡Parliamentary Democracy

Parliamentary democracy is a system of government where the executive branch derives its democratic legitimacy from, and is held accountable to, the legislature (parliament). In the video, this concept is central to understanding the Indian political system, where the president and the prime minister have distinct roles within this framework, and the president is considered an integral part of the parliament.

💡President

The president in the Indian context is a key figurehead whose role is largely ceremonial but also carries significant symbolic importance. The video emphasizes the president's role as a 'lamp', indicating a guiding light rather than the main source of power, which is attributed to the prime minister.

💡Prime Minister

The prime minister is the head of government in a parliamentary system, often wielding significant power and influence. The video discusses the prime minister's position as 'Primus inter pares' or 'first among equals', highlighting the dynamic balance of power within the government, especially in comparison to the president.

💡Cabinet Ministers

Cabinet ministers are senior officials who form the government's executive branch, typically appointed by the prime minister. The video script discusses the impact of cabinet ministers' strength on the style of government, whether it leans towards a prime ministerial or cabinet ministerial form.

💡Council of Ministers

The council of ministers is the executive arm of the government in a parliamentary democracy, which includes the prime minister and other ministers. The video explains that in India, the council of ministers is a subpart of the legislature, emphasizing the interconnected nature of the executive and legislative branches.

💡Lok Sabha

Lok Sabha is the lower house of India's bicameral parliament. The video mentions the importance of Lok Sabha elections as the first step in the selection of the government, underlining its role in the democratic process.

💡Judiciary

The judiciary is the system of courts that interprets and applies laws. In the video, it is presented as one of the three branches of government, separate from the legislative and executive branches, maintaining the balance of power in a democratic system.

💡Prime Ministerial Form of Government

This term refers to a style of government where the prime minister holds significant power and influence, often dominating the cabinet. The video uses historical examples like Indira Gandhi's government to illustrate this concept.

💡Cabinet Ministerial Form of Government

Contrasting with the prime ministerial form, this term describes a government where cabinet ministers have substantial power and influence, potentially overshadowing the prime minister. The video cites Manmohan Singh's government as an example where the cabinet was dominant.

💡Diarchy

Diarchy refers to a system of government where power is divided between two centers or authorities. In the video, it is mentioned in the context of Manmohan Singh's tenure, where there was a division of responsibility and power between the prime minister and the head of the Congress party.

💡Coalition Government

A coalition government is formed when no single party wins a majority in an election, and multiple parties must work together to form a government. The video discusses how the position of the prime minister can become weaker in such a setup, depending on the personality and leadership abilities of the prime minister.

Highlights

Introduction to the discussion on the roles of the President and Prime Minister in India's political system.

India's choice of a parliamentary democracy model influenced by British rule and societal diversity.

The President of India is an integral part of the Parliament, unlike in the presidential system.

Differentiation between the parliamentary and presidential systems of government.

The President is often seen as a 'lamp' in the Indian setup, symbolizing a figurehead role.

The Prime Minister holds the main power, with the President's role being more ceremonial.

The President's role as a constitutional head, representing the nation with dignity.

President's role in parliamentary deadlocks, acting as a philosopher, guide, and friend.

Comparison of the British Queen's rights to those of the Indian President, emphasizing the nominal head status.

The concept of Prime Ministerial and Cabinet Ministerial forms of government in a parliamentary setup.

Examples of strong Prime Ministers like Indira Gandhi and weak ones like Manmohan Singh.

The impact of the Prime Minister's personality and party position on their role in government.

The transformation of the parliamentary system into a Prime Ministerial system during Indira Gandhi's tenure.

The collapse of the cabinet system under Rajiv Gandhi, leading to the rise of technocrats and loyalists.

The challenges of the Prime Minister's role in a coalition government and its dependency on personal leadership.

The emergence of diarchy during Manmohan Singh's tenure, with power divided between the PM and the party head.

The importance of a charismatic leader for a strong Prime Ministerial role in the government.

Conclusion summarizing the key points discussed about the roles of President and Prime Minister in India.

Transcripts

hello and welcome everyone on this

official platform of Legacy I Academy so

today in this session I'm going to

discuss one of the most important issue

which is also there in the news with

respect to position of president in

Indian setup as well as the position of

prime minister in parliamentary setup so

first of all we are going to discuss

about the position of Indian

president okay so

position

of president

in Indian

setup okay now first of all

president who is also considered as

integral part of

parliament integral part

of

param as India has chosen the model that

is parliamentary

democracy

so

India

has chosen a

model called as

parliamentary

democracy clear and president is an

integral part of

parliament because of British rule in

India and diversity of India because

each and every section of Indian Society

has to give representation in Indian

Parliament that is why India has chosen

parliamentary setup so let me tell

you

okay now try to

understand

now as you can see this model here and

another model is here okay this

is

legislature okay and this is

executives

that is Council of ministers and this is

judiciary now so there are two models

okay one this and another model is this

so which one is related to

parliamentary setup parliamentary model

of democracy

so when we say parliamentary model of

democracy that

means ministers are also Al part of

parliament subpart of legislature

because in

India elections of legislature comes

first then we elect government that mean

loksabha elections and then we elect

then we choose government getting my

point so we elect our

representatives for Lo saaba clear so

here you can see executives are subpart

of legislature so executives are subpart

of legislature clear because to become a

minister you have to be a

parliamentarian first so in case of

India executives are subart of

legislature clear so this is called as

parliamentary

setup

parliamentary setup because president is

an integral part of parliament now if

you see this model here legislature is

totally different executives are

independent and Judiciary are

independent getting my point that means

this setup is called as presidential

system of

government

presidential

model for example in United States of

America this is in case of

India clear now what is the position of

president in Indian setup so let me tell

you the position of Indian

president okay this one is clear

now

position of

president in Indian

setup so let me tell you president is

like a l

lamp president is like a lamp in Indian

setup getting my point and prime

minister is the main power president is

like a lamb and prime

minister is the main

power clear so when so when the main

power

or the main switch is off then lamb

comes into the picture so when the main

switch is

off

Main switch is

off then you will see the role of lamb

that is

present

then the

role of

lamp can be

understood that is

President clear so it is wrong to say

that president is just a rubber stem

getting my point so it is wrong to

say

president is

just a rub

stem okay so it

is wrong to

say so when you analyze the role of

President okay when you analyze the role

of president president is the post of

dignity

president is the

post of

dignity

okay president represents

nation

president

represents the whole

nation okay so it is correct to say

president is a constitutional Ed

president

is a constitutional

head clear so in a parliamentary setup

not try to

understand

that in a parliamentary

setup parliamentary setup

okay

president has the role of

philosopher

guide and

friend so in a parliamentary set of

president is a philosopher friend and

guide getting my point if deadlock

happens between two houses then

president comes into the

picture Okay so there are three rights

of Queen in Britain

also three rights of

Queen in Britain

so British queen is like President of

India nominal head getting my point so

British queen is having three rights one

right to

informed that what is going on right to

informed right

to

advice and right to war if Council of

Minister does not works properly then

president is also having a right to warn

them right to

warn these three

rights SMUD is

clear okay

now

now

now this is the prime

minister and these are his cabinet

ministers

cabinet

ministers okay all these are cabinet

ministers now let me tell you when prime

minister

dominates in the cabinet that kind of

government is called as Prime

ministerial form of

government Prime

ministerial form of

government

clear

and another diagram again prime

minister and these are cabinet

ministers

okay when cabinet ministers

dominate okay in front of prime minister

so

when

cabinet

ministers

dominate so it would be called as

cabinet ministerial form of

government

cabinet ministerial form of

government this much is clear to all of

you so in a parliamentary setup there

are two kind of government when prime

minister is strong then Prime

ministerial form of government when

cabinet ministers are strong then

cabinet ministerial form of government

this is the

example this is the example of Indira

Gandhi this is the example of present

Modi

government clear this is the example of

Manmohan sing's government Manmohan

Singh was not a strong prime minister

cabinet was dominating at that time so

Manmohan

Singh okay so in a parliamentary setup

two types of governments are there okay

especially Prime ministerial and cabinet

ministerial form of government I hope

this much is clear to all of you okay

now so there is an issue now you can see

here that the position of prime minister

in India is of Primus

interus or interel luna minors what does

it means that the position of prime

minister is in India is first among

equals or Moon among stars this is Moon

Moon among stars so let me tell

you so primers interferes means first

among

equals clear or interel luna minor it

means Moon among

stars now this is the issue clear now we

need to understand this statement

getting my point this statement shows

the position of prime minister as well

as other

ministers so this

statement this

statement talks about the

position of prime minister as well as

other

ministers okay so if you want to

understand the position of prime

minister as well as other minister we

need to consider other factors also

whether prime minister is first among

equals or Moon among stars so it will

depend on multiple Factor so whether

pm

is first among

equals

or Moon

among

stars so this depends on multiple

factors multiple factors are there clear

so basic basically there are two

important thing okay remember this thing

so two important

factors so it depends on the personality

of

PM

personality

of PM and second thing position of his

party in

Parliament

position

of his

party in

Parliament so two important factors

position of his party in Parliament okay

now we need to understand these two

factors okay the

answer okay the answer is hidden behind

these factors only clear so first we'll

try to understand with the ex examples

so we'll take some examples since the

time of neheru

clear

so

during prime minister

neheru so till Sardar wab pel till

Sardar wab by

Patel

alive at that time PM was first among

equals okay till Sardar Patel was alive

at that time the position of PM was

first among equal the position of PM was

first among equal because Sardar wabh

Patel was a strong Minister strong

leader getting my point remember this

thing and after that after the death of

Sardar wab B Patel PM became Moon among

stars

so

after death

of Sardar wabh

pel PM became

Moon among

stars clear then after javahar Lal nehu

prime minister indraa

Gandhi now prime minister Indra Gandhi

was having prime ministerial form of

government that means strong prime

minister she was dominating okay so

during her time the parliamentary form

of government or the parliamentary

system changed into Prime ministerial

form of government clear so in actual

functioning there was a development of

authoritarian Trends clear so during the

time period of indraa Gandhi

okay parliamentary

system parliamentary system trans

formed

into Prime ministerial

system okay that

means there

was a

development in

authoritarian

Trends this much is clear to all of you

okay so this is the kind of government

during the time period of Indira Gandhi

getting my point and after indraa Gandhi

Rajiv Gandhi came okay so both indraa

Gandhi and Rajiv

Gandhi so both indraa Gandhi and Rajiv

Gandhi there was a collapse of cabinet

system that means there

was at that time cabinet system was not

powerful okay so collapse of cabinet

system and Loyalist those who were loyal

to the prime ministers they have their

greater say so

collapse of a cabinet system collapse

of cabinet system means here that

cabinet system was not powerful loyalist

have greater

SE

loyalist

have greater

say technocrats have greater

say have

greater role rather than cabinet

ministers clear so technocrats have

given huge importance over elected

representatives during the time period

of Rajiv Gandhi so they were

given huge

importance

over elected

representatives

getting my point even bureaucracy was

more powerful loyal bureaucrats were

there getting my point this is the real

scenario now what is the position of PM

in coalition

government

position of prime minister in

coalition

government okay cision government means

when no single party got majority in

elections getting my point so however

the position of PM in Coalition becomes

weak

PM in

Calis becomes weak

clear so it is not necessary that always

PM will uh becomes weak okay so it

depends on the personality of the PM

also if you see the personality of atel

bihari bajpayi he could provide the

leadership of Coalition also he managed

23 parties Coalition so it basically

depends on the personality of PM it

depends

on the

personality of PM for

example atel bihari

bajp could

provide

leadership getting my point point and if

you see on the other hand Manmohan Singh

he could provide leadership in the first

term but unfortunately he could not

provide leadership in second term

getting my point this is the main

feature so if you see Manmohan

Singh former prime

minister so he was a prime minister for

two

terms first term he could provide

leadership second

unable to

provide

leadership getting my point this is the

main feature okay

why this is so because during the time

period of Manmohan Singh diarchy was

emerged during his time

period the main reason was

diarchy now diarchy was Ed diarchy means

two centers of powers were there getting

my point that means

responsibility was in the hands of PM

and

power is with the head of congress party

getting my point diarchy was

there clear so

responsibility was in the hands of

PM

power was in the

hands of head of congress

party congress party this much is clear

to all of

you

so whether PM is first among equal or

Moon among stars it depends on the

personality of a

leader getting my point it depends on

the personality of the a leader

charismatic personality if a leader is

strong then strong leadership would be

there getting my point so the power will

be in the then the power will be in the

hands of prime minister if the leader is

weak then the power will be in the hands

of cabinet ministers getting my point so

this is the scenario this is the issue

which is also there in the news clear

everyone so I hope this much is clear to

all of you okay we have discussed this

issue in a very simple manner clear so

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