In India, Cabinet Committees are smaller groups of ministers formed by the Prime Minister from the larger Council of Ministers to address specific policy issues and make decisions on behalf of the government. These committees play a crucial role in ensuring effective decision-making, coordination, and implementation of policies across different sectors.
Features of Cabinet Committees
List of Cabinet Committees
Key Leadership Note
All Cabinet Committees, except Accommodation and Parliamentary Affairs, are headed by the Prime Minister. The Political Affairs Committee is considered the most powerful, often called a Super-Cabinet.
Functions of various Cabinet Committees
Political Affairs (headed by PM):
Addresses issues on Centre-state relations and examines political matters that do not involve security.
Economic Affairs (headed by PM):
Reviews economic trends, shapes policy, and deals with high-value investment proposals, agricultural pricing, etc.
Appointments Committee (headed by PM):
Appoints top military positions and decides on senior-level officer postings in the Central government.
Advantages
- Facilitates in-depth policy examination and coordination.
- Operates on the principle of division of labor for efficiency.
- Safeguards the principle of collective responsibility.
Critique
- Sometimes established for trivial issues, wasting resources.
- Junior ministers are seldom appointed, limiting diverse perspectives.
- Meetings are not always held regularly, causing delays.