Union Cabinet And Council Of Ministers: Differences, Similarities, Roles, And Functions

Prime Minister Narendra Modi took the oath of office Sunday for his third consecutive term, along with his Council of Ministers. As many as 29 MPs were sworn in to be inducted into the Union Cabinet, while five were administered oath as ministers of state with independent charge, and 36 as ministers of state. In all, 72 MPs, including the PM, will be part of the Council of Ministers.

It has been observed that the terms ‘Union Cabinet’ and ‘Council of Ministers’ often end up being used interchangeably in popular discourse and media, leading to significant confusion regarding their distinct roles and functions in India’s governance.

This confusion is rooted in several factors, including the overlapping membership of these two bodies, their joint responsibilities in government decision-making, and the lack of clear public differentiation between their functions.

While both entities are integral to the executive branch of the government, and both are headed by the PM, the Council of Ministers is the larger body, encompassing all ministers from various ranks, and the Union Cabinet is a smaller, more selective group that includes only the senior-most ministers tasked with major policy decisions.