How is collective responsibility of Council of Ministers related to policy decisions?

Correct answer: All ministers are jointly answerable for government decisions

Correct answer: A — all ministers are jointly answerable for government decisions. The Council of Ministers works as a team under the leadership of the Prime Minister. When the government takes a policy decision, ministers are expected to support it publicly and accept responsibility for it together. This principle is called collective responsibility. It strengthens unity and makes the elected government accountable to the Lok Sabha. If ministers completely disagree with a decision, they may express their disagreement inside the government or resign, but they cannot publicly behave as if they are separate governments. Option A is correct because it describes joint responsibility. Option B is wrong because ministers are political executive members, not court judges. Option C is wrong because ministries are different departments of one government, not separate governments. Option D is wrong because ministers must answer to Parliament and the people. Memory cue: collective responsibility means “one team, one public responsibility.”