Cabinet Committees: Features, Benefits, Importance & List | UPSC Notes

Cabinet committees play a vital role in policymaking in India. They consist of senior cabinet ministers and are chaired by the Prime Minister. These committees allow focused group discussions on important issues related to various domains. They aid the Cabinet in making timely and well-informed decisions on complex matters. The committee oversees crucial decisions regarding empanelments and the transfer of officers on Central deputation. It also handles all promotion-related appointments requiring approval from the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) through the E.O. Division. The Establishment Officer serves as the Secretary to the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet to fulfill these responsibilities.

Understanding the Cabinet Committees holds immense significance for civil service aspirants. 

What are Cabinet Committees?

Cabinet Committees play an important role in the functioning of the Union Government in India. They help the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers in taking quick decisions on important issues. The establishment and functioning of Cabinet Committees is based on conventions and traditions rather than legal provisions. These are the following different types of cabinet committees in India:

• Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA): This is the most important committee dealing with economic issues like monitoring infrastructure projects, reviewing import-export policy, foreign direct investments and industrial policy.
• Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs (CCPA): This committee decides the government's legislative agenda, allocates business to different ministers and discusses strategies to counter Opposition in Parliament.
• Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS): This deals with issues relating to internal and external security, intelligence and policy matters related to defence of India. The Home Minister, Defence Minister and External Affairs Minister are permanent members.
• Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC): This committee makes appointments to higher offices like the Comptroller and Auditor General, Lokpal, Election Commissioners etc. The Prime Minister and Home Minister are members.
• Cabinet Committee on Accommodation: Allocates government residential accommodations to eligible functionaries. Formulates policies regarding allotment, rent and maintenance of government houses and bungalows.
• Cabinet Committee on Investment and Growth: Reviews investment and growth related issues. Monitors infrastructure projects and public private partnerships. Examines measures to boost investment, industry and economic growth.
• Cabinet Committee on Employment and Skill Development: Reviews issues related to employment generation and skill development. Examines policies and programmes aimed at enhancing livelihood opportunities and vocational training. Oversees different skill development schemes.

Key Features of Cabinet Committees 

Cabinet committees have different sets of purposes like specialization, enhancing efficiency and in-depth analysis of policy development. These are the following key features of Cabinet Committees in India:

• Ad hoc Nature: Cabinet Committees are not statutory bodies. They are constituted based on governmental requirements and conventions. The Prime Minister has discretion on their formation and functioning.
• Supplement Cabinet: The committees supplement the work of the Union Cabinet by undertaking detailed examination of issues before they are brought to the Cabinet for final decision.
• Decision Making: Cabinet Committees are empowered to take final decisions on issues under their purview. However, decisions of importance are ultimately placed before the Union Cabinet for approval.
• Role of Prime Minister: The Prime Minister is the chairman of all Cabinet Committees and plays an active role in their functioning. The PM decides the agenda, composition and allocates business to the committees.
• Varying Composition: The composition of different Cabinet Committees varies based on the nature of work and the relevant ministers are included. Experts and officials are also invited to assist the committees.
• Speedy Decisions: By undertaking preliminary examination of issues, the committees ensure speedy decision making by the Union Cabinet.
• Promote Cohesion: The Cabinet Committees promote greater coordination, cohesion and unity of purpose in the functioning of the Union Government.
• Address Complex Issues: The committees help address complex multi-faceted issues through focused discussions involving relevant ministers and experts.

Composition of Cabinet Committees 

The Prime Minister is the Chairman of all Cabinet Committees. The composition of committees varies based on the subjects they deal with. Relevant ministers are made members of committees pertaining to their area.

The composition of cabinet committees varies depending on their functions and importance. The Prime Minister heads the key committees and other senior cabinet ministers are members. The committees help in collecting inputs, streamlining policy proposals, and speeding up Cabinet decision making through collective deliberations among relevant ministers.

Criticism of Cabinet Committees in India 

Parliamentary committees are often bypassed as laws are passed through Cabinet committees without their consultation, reducing their importance. These are the following criticism of cabinet committees in India:

• Ad hoc nature of cabinet committees means they lack depth in micro-analyzing government decisions.
• Since the PM heads most committees, other ministers' importance is diminished. This could cause disagreements if ministers oppose a Cabinet decision.
• Cabinet committees do not meet regularly and expert opinions are only considered when aligned with the ruling party's ideology. Independent ministers are rarely appointed.
• Conflict of interest issues arise due to broad jurisdiction of some ministries like MHA and MoF which control NGO funding.
• Multiple ministries converge on single issues, creating power struggles and bureaucratic paralysis in decision-making.
• Committees often shape pre-allocated issues rather than exploring underlying problems in depth. They tend to operate in a superficial manner.

In essence, the criticisms center around the ad hoc and superficial nature of cabinet committees, lack of independence, bypassing of parliamentary committees, and jurisdictional issues that affect their efficacy.

Importance of Cabinet Committees

These are the following importance of cabinet committees:

• Strategic Decision-Making: Cabinet Committees play a vital role in strategic decision-making within the government.
• Specialized Focus: They address specific areas, ensuring a more focused and expert approach to complex issues.
• Coordination: Facilitate coordination among various ministries and departments for effective governance.
• Efficiency: Help streamline decision-making processes, making them more efficient and timely.
• Policy Formulation: Contribute to the formulation and review of policies in key sectors.
• Risk Mitigation: Aid in risk assessment and mitigation strategies for critical issues.
• Inter-Ministerial Collaboration: Promote collaboration and synergy among different ministries.

Way Forward

The Prime Minister's main job is to lead important committees. The tasks of the Group of Ministries and the Cabinet Committee should be divided equally. It's important to have a balance between these groups because having too many of one can make the government less effective.

India can learn from New Zealand and Britain's Cabinet Committees on how to keep the government's future plans secret and prevent people from guessing in the market. For example, there were rumors in the market before the announcement of the PLI incentive sector.

The Cabinet Committees should have regular meetings. To make things easier and come up with good policies, the Committees should focus on ideas that are not influenced by politics.

The Cabinet and Cabinet Committees should work together closely, just like the saying "Swim or Sink Together." They should support each other and work as a team.

Testbook provides a set of comprehensive notes for different competitive exams. Testbook is always on the top of the list because of its best quality assured products like live tests, mocks, Content pages, GK and current affairs videos, and much more. To study more topics for UPSC, download the Testbook App now.