Current Affairs For SSC CGL Examinations,27 May 2014

1. Current Affairs For SSC CGL Exam
26 May, 2014
Cabinet Strength
 Unlike every single government since 1989, Mr. Modi does not
have any ‘coalition compulsions’ like his predecessors. The
Bharatiya Janata Party on its own has 10 members more than the
required 272 in the Lok Sabha for a simple majority.
 BJP’s allies, who are part of the National Democratic Alliance
(NDA), account for only 56 members in the Lok Sabha. So, to that
extent Mr. Modi’s dependence on allies is reduced. However, it
does not have even 50 members in the Rajya Sabha with an
effective strength of 245. In effect, no legislation can be pushed
through without major support from other parties, including the
Congress.
 Article 72 of the Constitution prescribes that the total number of
Ministers, including the Prime Minister, in the Council of Ministers
shall not exceed 15 per cent of the number of members of the
House of the People.
 Prior to January 1, 2004 (effective date of 91st Amendment of the
Constitution) the Prime Minister had discretion to appoint any
number in his council of ministers. But the Constitution (Ninety-
first Amendment) Act in 2003 made a drastic change in curbing
such power of the Prime Minister.
 This Amendment added clause (1A) in this Article which made a
specific provision that, the total number of Ministers, including
Prime Minister, in no case can exceed 15 per cent of the total
number of Lok Sabha members.
 The Prime Minister can induct into his ministry a person who is not
a member of either House of Parliament. However, a minister who
for a period of six consecutive months is not a member of either
House of Parliament shall at the expiration of that period cease to
be one.

2.  When Atal Bihari Vajpayee formed his government for the first
time in March 1998, he had 21 Cabinet and 21 Ministers of State
some with independent charge. At the beginning of his second stint
in October 1999, there were 22 Cabinet and equal numbers of
Ministers of State. Subsequently, it was expanded to suit political
expediencies.
 The UPA-I and UPA-II led by Manmohan Singh began with over 50
ministers and at some stage the maximum strength was 78.