Prime Minister, Council and the Judiciary

🎯 Learning Objective

Understand the PM and Council of Ministers, the Supreme Court and judicial review.

💡 Concept

• The Prime Minister (Article 75) is the real executive head and the leader of the majority party in the Lok Sabha.
• The Prime Minister is appointed by the President and heads the Council of Ministers.
• The Council of Ministers (Article 74) aids and advises the President, and is collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha (Article 75).
• The Supreme Court of India (Article 124) is the apex court and was established on 28 January 1950.
• The Supreme Court currently has a sanctioned strength of 34 judges, including the Chief Justice of India.
• Supreme Court judges are appointed by the President and retire at the age of 65.
• Judicial Review — the power of courts to examine whether laws are constitutional — was borrowed from the USA.
• The Chief Justice of India is, by convention, the senior-most judge of the Supreme Court, appointed by the President.

✏️ Easy Example

Q. Under which Article was the Supreme Court of India established?

1. It is the apex court of the country
2. It is provided for under Article 124

Answer: Article 124

🇮🇳 Real-Life Example

The PM's role, the Supreme Court's articles and 'judicial review' show up regularly in Polity papers and help you follow major court verdicts and government formation in the news.

📝 Exam-Level Example

Q. At what age do judges of the Supreme Court retire?

1. High Court judges retire at 62
2. Supreme Court judges retire at 65

Answer: 65 years

📝 Exam-Level Example

Q. The Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to which House?

1. The Lok Sabha represents the people directly
2. The Council is collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha

Answer: Lok Sabha

🪄 Memory Trick

Retirement ages — Supreme Court judges at 65, High Court judges at 62 ('SC higher, so 65').

⚠️ Common Mistakes

• ❌ Swapping the retirement ages of Supreme Court (65) and High Court (62) judges.
• ❌ Confusing Article 74 (Council aids the President) with Article 75 (appointment/responsibility).

🏆 Exam Tips

• ✅ Supreme Court = Article 124, established 28 January 1950, 34 judges.
• ✅ Judicial Review is borrowed from the USA — a common source question.

📌 Summary

• PM (Article 75) = real executive head, appointed by the President
• Council of Ministers collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha
• Supreme Court (Article 124), set up 28 Jan 1950, 34 judges, retire at 65
• Judicial Review borrowed from the USA