Why Prime Minister of India takes Oath of Office and Secrecy?
Narendra Modi will take the oaths of office and secrecy on 30th May 2019. He will be the fourth Prime Minister of India who will complete 2 terms as Prime Minister. Modi ji will also be the first non-Congress Party Prime Minister, who will complete two terms as Prime Minister of India.
In the Indian Constitution the President of India has been termed as the nominal head of the country. The actual executive powers lie with the Prime Minster and his cabinet colleagues.
The Prime Minister also selects a cabinet to advise the President of India. The Prime Minister also decides that which ministry will be given to whom?
Prior to assuming the respective offices the Prime Minister and his Council of Ministers take the oaths of office and secrecy. The oath is administered to them by the President of India.
In his oath of office, the Prime Minister swears;
1. To bear faith and allegiance to the constitution of India,
2. To uphold the sovereignty and integrity of India,
3. To faithfully and conscientiously discharge the duties of his office, and
4. To do so right to all manner of people in accordance with the constitution and the law, without fear or favour, affection or ill will.
The basic summary of the Prime Minister's oath is that he swears in the name of God/Constitution that he will deliver his duties without any fear and favour and protect the sovereignty and integrity of the country.
In his oath the Prime Minister also swear that he will not directly or indirectly communicate or reveal any information to any person on any matter that is bought under his consideration or becomes known to him as a Union Minister except as may be required for the due discharge of his duties as such minister. Hence the Prime Minister is authorised to share any information of the national interest with his cabinet colleagues, President and National Security Advisor etc. only.
List of all Prime Ministers of India
Why Prime Minister takes oath?
The constitution of India does not specify any specific reason for the oath of the Prime Minister of India. But after going through the wordings of the oaths of office and secrecy it seems that the oaths of office and secrecy is a legal and spiritual practice.
In the oath taking ceremony the Prime Minister swears in the name of God that he is committed to maintain the dignity of his office and he shall maintain the sovereignty and integrity of the country in all circumstances.
Traditionally, the oath taking ceremony takes place at Durbar Hall, New Delhi. But Narendra Modi will take oath at the Rashtrapati Bhavan at 7PM today. This will be the fourth time that a Prime Minister takes oath at the Rashtrapati Bhavan's forecourt.
