Cabinet Committees [UPSC Notes for GS II]

This article will describe in detail all about Cabinet Committees.

These UPSC Notes on Cabinet Committees in India are aligned with the UPSC Syllabus and aspirants should prepare this topic for General Studies Paper-II.

Cabinet Committees are not mentioned in the Constitution but are still constituted by governments. Recently, the government reconstituted some Cabinet Committees, and hence it is relevant for the IAS Mains.

IAS Exam aspirants can find more notes for UPSC Mains General Studies topics from the links given at the end of the article.

Cabinet Committees

Topic: Parliament and State Legislatures – structure, functioning, the conduct of business, powers & privileges, and issues arising out of these.

Context: Recently the central government has reconstituted eight key cabinet committees including the creation of two new committees, one on investment and growth and another on employment and skill development.

Cabinet Committees are extra-constitutional in emergence, which means, they are not mentioned in the Indian Constitution. But, the Rules of Business provide for their formation.

• They are established by the PM as per the exigencies of the time and needs of the situation. Hence, their number, nomenclature, and composition vary from time to time. 
• They are of two types—standing and ad hoc. The former is permanent, while the latter is temporary. 
• The ad hoc committees are formed at times to deal with special problems. They are disbanded after their job is done. 

Composition of Cabinet Committees

• Their membership varies from three to eight. 
• They usually include only Cabinet Ministers. 
• Non-cabinet ministers can also be included as members.
• Apart from the ministers in charge of the subjects covered, other senior ministers can also be included as members
• Such Committees are usually chaired by the PM. At times, other Cabinet ministers like Home, Finance, etc. can also be the chairperson. But, if the Prime Minister is a member of the committee, then, he or she is the head of the committee.

Cabinet Committees Formed

The updated list of Cabinet Committees is below:

• Appointments Committee of the Cabinet.
• Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs.
• Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs.
• Cabinet Committee on Investment and Growth.
• Cabinet Committee on Security.
• Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs.
• Cabinet Committee on Employment & Skill Development.
• Cabinet Committee on Accommodation.

All committees except Cabinet Committee on Accommodation and Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs are headed by Prime Minister.

Role of Cabinet Committees

• They are an organizational device to lessen the enormous workload of the Cabinet. They facilitate an in-depth examination of policy issues and effective coordination. They are based on the principles of division of labor and effective delegation. 
• They not only resolve issues and frame proposals for the Cabinet’s consideration, but they also take decisions. The Cabinet can, of course, review their decisions.

Aspirants can refer to the UPSC Mains Syllabus in the linked article.

Difference between Cabinet Committees and Council of Ministers (COMs)

They are different from the Council of Ministers as COMs is a constitutional body, dealt in detail by the Articles 74 and 75 of the Constitution, unlike cabinet committees which are extra-constitutional in emergence. 

• The Council of Ministers is a wider body comprising of 60 to 70 ministers including all 3 categories of ministers, namely, cabinet ministers, ministers of state, and deputy ministers. 
• COMs are vested with all powers but only in theory. It implements the decisions taken by the cabinet while Cabinet Committees help the cabinet in decision making. 
• COMs are collectively responsible to the Lower House of the Parliament while there is no such clause for cabinet committees. 
• Although Cabinet Committees are not constitutional bodies their work can’t be under-estimated as they provide crucial guidance to the cabinet.

Cabinet Committees (UPSC Notes – GS 2):-Download PDF Here

Aspirants can check BYJU’S UPSC Notes page for free GS1, GS2, and GS 3 notes.

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