PMO and Cabinet Secretariat "EMPOWER IAS"

In news:

• The Parliamentary form of government of India is provided with a Cabinet as the real executive authority, responsible for the central administration. The Cabinet is headed by the Prime Minister and assisted by the Cabinet Secretariat. The Cabinet Secretariat replaced the Secretariat of the Governor-General’s Executive Council in 1947.

 

Structure:

The Cabinet Secretariat has 3 wings:

• Civil wing: It is the main wing providing assistance to the Cabinet.
• Military wing: It provides assistance to the Defence Committee, Military Affairs Committee and other committees which deals with defence matters.
• Intelligence wing: It deals with the matters related to the Joint intelligence Committee of the Cabinet.

 

Functions:

• Preparation of agendas for the Cabinet meetings.
• Keeping record of discussions and decisions of the Cabinet and its committees and communicating them to all the ministers concerned.
• Preparation and finalising the rules of business of the government and alloting it among ministries with the President’s approval.
• Keeping the track of implementation of Cabinet decisions by ministries and other agencies.
• Manages the appointments and resignations of ministers, allotment of portfolios to the ministries, organisation and re-organisation of ministries.

 

Who is Cabinet Secretary?

• The Cabinet Secretary is the top-most executive official and senior-most civil servant of the Government of India.
• She/he is the ex-officio head of the Civil Services Board, the Cabinet Secretariat, the IAS, and all civil services under the rules of business of the government.
• She/he is the senior-most cadre post of the Indian Administrative Service,[6] ranking eleventh on the Indian order of precedence.
• She/he is under the direct charge of the PM and is appointed for a fixed tenure of two years. 
• The Cabinet Secretariat is responsible for the administration of the Transaction of Business and the Allocation of Business Rules 1961.

 

Functions

• She/he facilitates smooth transaction of business in Ministries/ Departments of the Government.
• This Secretariat provides:

1. Secretarial assistance to the Cabinet and its Committees
2. Assists in decision-making in Government by ensuring Inter-Ministerial coordination ,
3. Ironing out differences amongst Ministries/ Departments
4. Evolving consensus through the instrumentality of the standing/ adhoc Committees of Secretaries.

 

Powers & Functions of the Cabinet Secretary:

• Functions as a chief coordinator of the central administration but without any supervisory authority over ministries.
• Acts as the chairman of the Senior Selection Board for selection of the officers for the post of Joint Secretary of the Central Secretariat.
• He is the presiding officer of the conference of Chief Secretaries (held annually).
• Chief Advisor of the Prime Minister on all the aspects related to administration and policies.
• He is also an advisor and conscience-keeper to all the civil servants.
• He is the link between the PMO (Prime Minister’s Office) and other administrative agencies.