The Maharashtra Council of Ministers,[1] also called State Cabinet is the principal executive organ of the Government of Maharashtra, which functions as the senior decision-making body of the executive branch. It is chaired by the Chief Minister and consists of the heads of each of the executive government ministries. The council is subject to the Maharashtra Legislature.
A smaller executive body called the State Cabinet is the supreme decision-making body in Maharashtra; it is a subset of the Maharashtra Council of Ministers who hold important portfolios and ministries of the government.[2]
Ranking
There are five categories of the council of ministers as given below, in descending order of rank:
Chief Minister: Leader of the State Council of Ministers.
Deputy Chief Minister (if any): Presides as chief minister in his absence or as the senior most cabinet minister.[3]
Cabinet Minister: A member of the State cabinet; leads a ministry.
Minister of State (Independent charge): Junior minister not reporting to a Cabinet Minister.
Minister of State (MoS): Deputy Minister reporting to a Cabinet Minister, usually tasked with a specific responsibility in that ministry.
Appointment
Pursuant to Article 75, a minister who works at the pleasure of the Governor, is appointed by the Governor on the advice of the Chief Minister. Since at least the turn of the millennia, evidence indicates that an MLA's electoral performance enhances the likelihood of being granted a ministerial portfolio.[4]
Removal
Upon death
Upon self resignation, or resignation or death of the Chief Minister
Upon dismissal by the Governor for minister's unconstitutional acts per Article 75(2)
Upon direction from the Judiciary for committing violation of law
Upon ceasing eligibility to be a member of Legislature
Under the provision of "Collective Responsibility" under Article 75, the Chief Minister and the entire Council of Ministers resign if a Vote of No Confidence is passed in the Lower House (Maharashtra Legislative Assembly) of the Maharashtra Legislature
Council of Ministers in state governments
Every state in India is governed by its council of ministers with rules and procedures similar to the union council of ministers per Articles 163, 164 and 167(c).
In March 2020, the Supreme Court of India used its powers for the first time to do "complete justice" under Article 142 of the Indian Constitution to remove a minister functioning in the state of Manipur.
The cabinet expansion took place at Raj Bhavan in Nagpur on 15 December 2024. Maharashtra can have a maximum of 43 ministers. 33 were inducted as Cabinet ministers, 6 were sworn in as ministers of state. 19 ministers from the BJP, 11 from shiv Sena and 9 from the NCP took the oath as cabinet ministers.[5][6]
Council portfolios are as follows
Update = 15 December 2024
Cabinet Ministers
Portfolio
Minister
Tookoffice
Leftoffice
Party
Chief Minister, Minister of Home, Energy (Excluding Renewable Energy), Law & Judiciary, General Administration Department, Information and Public Relations
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