Which one of the following types of motion can the Council of Ministers in India itself move in the legislature to prove that it still enjoys the confidence of the majority?

Introduction / Context:
In a parliamentary system like India, the Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to the lower house of the legislature. The government must always enjoy the confidence of the majority of members. This question focuses on the specific kind of motion that the Council of Ministers itself can move in order to prove that it continues to have majority support. Understanding the difference between various parliamentary motions is essential for exams on Indian polity and governance.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The question is about motions that can be moved in the legislature.
• It specifically asks about a motion that the Council of Ministers can move.
• The options include No Confidence Motion, Censure Motion, Confidence Motion, and Adjournment Motion.
• The context is the Indian parliamentary practice where government survival depends on majority support in the Lok Sabha or State Legislative Assembly.

Concept / Approach:
In Indian parliamentary practice, a No Confidence Motion is generally moved by the opposition to test whether the government has lost majority support. By contrast, a Confidence Motion (also called a vote of confidence or Trust Vote) is moved by the government itself to demonstrate that it still enjoys majority support. Censure motions are used to criticise specific policies or actions, and adjournment motions concern urgent discussions on specific matters, not directly the survival of the government. Therefore, we need to pick the motion that the Council of Ministers can proactively move to show that it still has the confidence of the house, which is the Confidence Motion.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that collective responsibility means the Council of Ministers must retain the confidence of the majority in the lower house.Step 2: Recognise that a No Confidence Motion is generally initiated by the opposition, not by the government itself.Step 3: Understand that a Confidence Motion, or Trust Vote, is moved by the government to prove its majority on the floor of the house.Step 4: Note that a Censure Motion is used to express disapproval of a particular policy or action, not necessarily to test overall majority.Step 5: Recognise that an Adjournment Motion is used to discuss a matter of urgent public importance and to interrupt normal business, not to decide government survival.Step 6: Conclude that the correct motion that the Council of Ministers can move to prove majority support is the Confidence Motion.

Verification / Alternative check:
Think of real-life examples: several Indian governments have faced situations where the President or the Governor asked them to prove their majority on the floor of the house. In such cases, the Prime Minister or Chief Minister moves a Confidence Motion or Trust Vote. This has happened in the Lok Sabha and various State Legislative Assemblies. Newspapers and political commentary repeatedly use the phrase "the government has won or lost the vote of confidence," making it clear that this is the motion initiated by the government to prove its majority.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• No Confidence Motion: Usually moved by opposition members to challenge the government. While it tests majority, it is not the motion that the Council of Ministers itself moves.
• Censure Motion: Used to criticise the government on specific policies; passing it may indicate disapproval but does not always require the government to resign, and it is not typically the motion used to prove majority.
• Adjournment Motion: Designed to draw attention to an urgent public matter by adjourning normal business; it does not directly test the government's majority.

Common Pitfalls:
Many candidates confuse No Confidence Motions with Confidence Motions. They remember that both deal with majority support but forget who initiates them. Another error is assuming that any motion that embarrasses or tests the government can be moved by the Council of Ministers. In reality, the government actively moves a Confidence Motion, whereas the opposition typically moves a No Confidence Motion. Keeping track of who initiates which motion is a reliable way to avoid mistakes.

Final Answer:
The motion that the Council of Ministers can itself move to prove that it enjoys majority support in the house is the Confidence Motion.