Government Departments or Committees of the Cabinet
Cabinet Committees in India: Streamlining Governance and Ensuring Collective Responsibility
In the heart of India's executive, a group of ad hoc, extra-constitutional bodies known as cabinet committees play a crucial role. Composed primarily of senior cabinet ministers and chaired by the Prime Minister, these committees are formed based on the exigencies of time and requirements of the situation [1].
Characteristics of Cabinet Committees
These committees are not statutory or constitutional bodies but are formed at the Prime Minister’s discretion [1]. They undertake detailed examination and preliminary discussions of policy matters, allowing the full Union Cabinet to focus on final decisions [1]. Some committees have the authority to take final decisions on issues within their remit, although significant matters may be referred to the Cabinet for approval [1].
The membership of these committees varies, typically involving relevant ministers and sometimes experts or officials to assist [1]. They enable quicker, better-informed decisions, easing the Cabinet's workload and improving cohesion and coordination among ministries [1].
Functions of Cabinet Committees
The primary functions of these committees are to sort out issues and formulate proposals, to ensure policy cohesion and unity of purpose across government [1][3], and to facilitate in-depth examination of policy issues. They also play a significant role in ensuring effective coordination within the government.
Important Examples of Cabinet Committees
Some key examples of cabinet committees include the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), which focuses on economic policymaking and national growth, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet, which handles high-level appointments, and the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs, which deals with all policy matters pertaining to domestic and foreign affairs [3].
Role in Collective Responsibility
Cabinet committees facilitate collective responsibility by promoting coordination, cohesion, and unity of purpose within the government. They provide focused environments where ministers collectively discuss issues, form consensus, and ensure that policies and decisions reflect the Cabinet's collective will before being presented formally [1]. By handling detailed work outside the full Cabinet meetings, they strengthen the principle that Cabinet decisions are taken jointly and collectively, ensuring ministerial accountability to Parliament as a unified body [1].
Ministerial Obligations
All ministers must support Cabinet decisions, even if they had initially disagreed. It is their duty to defend these decisions within and outside Parliament. A minister who disagrees and refuses to defend a decision must resign [1].
In summary, cabinet committees are key instruments in the Indian executive for efficient, specialized decision-making that supports the principle of collective ministerial responsibility to Parliament. They help manage the Cabinet’s workload while maintaining collective coherence in governance.
[1] - NITI Aayog. (2019). Cabinet Committees in India: Functions, Composition, and Role. Retrieved from https://www.niti.gov.in/writereaddata/files/Cabinet_Committees_in_India.pdf [3] - Lok Sabha Secretariat. (2020). Cabinet Committees: Composition, Functions, and Role. Retrieved from https://loksabha.nic.in/lsresearch/Cabinet_Committees_Composition_Functions_and_Role.pdf
- The Cabinet Committees in India, after undertaking a detailed examination and preliminary discussions of policy matters, help formulate proposals that promote policy cohesion and unity of purpose, particularly in the realm of policy-and-legislation and general-news.
- The Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs, one of the key examples of such committees in India, plays a significant role in examining policy matters pertaining to both domestic and foreign affairs, thus demonstrating the intersection of politics and the role of cabinet committees in shaping the nation's course.
