Question

The total number of ministers, including the Prime Minister, in the Council of Ministers CANNOT be more than ______ of the total number of members of the Lok Sabha. 
1. 6%
2. 30%
3. 15%
4. 21%

Answer 1

Correct Answer - Option 3 : 15%

The correct answer is 15%.

• 91st Amendment curbed PM’s discretion to appoint any number of ministers.
• 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 (the effective date of the 91st Amendment of the Constitution) the Prime Minister had the 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.

Some important Amendments in the Constitution:

Amendment Act	Description
86th Amendment Act	Made Right to Education a fundamental Right. It provides free and compulsory education to children of age 6-14 years.
42nd Amendment Act	It was made in 1976. It is also known as the Mini Constitution of India. Fundamental Duties were also added. It added 'SOCIALIST, SECULAR and INTEGRITY' in the Preamble.
44th Amendment Act	The Amendment aimed to undo several changes that had been made to the Constitution by the 42nd Amendment which had been enacted by the Indira Gandhi-led Indian National Congress during the Emergency.
61st Amendment Act	Reduce the age of voting from 21 to 18.