SSC
If the Chief Minister of a state resigns or dies, the state Council of Ministers:
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Answer: Option D — Is dissolved automatically
Detailed Solution
The Chief Minister is the head of the state Council of Ministers. If he resigns or dies, the entire Council of Ministers is automatically dissolved.
Why this happens:
- The other ministers are appointed by the Governor on the advice of the Chief Minister (Article 164).
- Their position depends on the Chief Minister, who leads the Council.
- When the head of the Council goes, the Council itself cannot continue.
What happens next:
- The Governor appoints a new Chief Minister, usually the person elected leader by the majority party or coalition in the Legislative Assembly.
- The new Chief Minister then advises the Governor on the appointment of other ministers.
- If no party has a clear majority, the Governor may use his discretion to invite the leader most likely to command a majority, and may ask him to prove it on the floor of the House.
Caretaker arrangement:
Sometimes the outgoing Chief Minister is asked to continue as caretaker until a new government is formed.
Comparison with the Union:
The same principle applies at the Union level: if the Prime Minister resigns or dies, the Union Council of Ministers is dissolved.
Contrast with an individual minister:
If an individual minister resigns or dies, the Council of Ministers continues, and the vacancy can be filled.
Powers of the Chief Minister:
- He recommends the appointment, allocation of portfolios and removal of ministers.
- He presides over meetings of the Council of Ministers.
- He advises the Governor on summoning and proroguing sessions and on dissolving the Assembly.
- He is the chief link between the Governor and the Council of Ministers under Article 167.
Floor test:
In the S.R. Bommai case (1994), the Supreme Court held that the majority of a government must be tested on the floor of the House, not in the Governor's residence.
Why not the other options?
- ✗The Council does not continue for six months or elect a new leader by itself.
- ✗It does not come under the Governor's direct rule automatically.
Quick tip
Remember: Chief Minister resigns or dies → the whole state Council of Ministers is dissolved.
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State Executive & Legislature — Preparation
This question tests your understanding of State Executive & Legislature, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.
This topic covers government at the state level: the Governor, the Chief Minister and the State Council of Ministers, the Advocate General, the State Legislature, including the legislative councils in states that have them, and the special provisions for certain states. Questions usually cover the appointment and powers of the Governor, the Governor's discretionary powers, which states have a bicameral legislature, and how a legislative council is created or abolished (Article 169). Remember that the Governor is appointed by the President and holds office during the President's pleasure. Practise the state executive and legislature questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.