The
Union Council of Ministers exercises
executive authority in the
Republic of India. It consists of senior
ministers, called "Cabinet Ministers", and junior ministers, called "
Ministers of State". It is led by the
Prime Minister. A smaller executive body, called the
Union Cabinet is the supreme decision-making body in India. Only the Prime Minister and ministers of the rank of "Cabinet Minister" are members of the Cabinet. The most senior civil servant in India, called the
Cabinet Secretary, leads the
Cabinet Secretariat, and provides administrative assistance to the Council of Ministers. Ministers of State are tasked with assisting Cabinet Ministers in their work.