Understanding Cabinet Committees

Context:

Recently, the Union government constituted eight Cabinet committees, with the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) getting three new faces and the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) and Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) remaining unchanged.

Relevance:

GS II: Polity and Governance

Dimensions of the Article:

1. Understanding Cabinet Committees
2. Features of Cabinet Committees
3. Recent Changes
4. Challenges of the Cabinet Committees

Understanding Cabinet Committees

• About Cabinet Committees
  • Cabinet Committees are subsets of the Union Cabinet, comprising selected Union Ministers.
  • They streamline decision-making by delegating responsibilities among groups specializing in economic affairs, security, parliamentary affairs, and political matters.
  • These committees ensure detailed consideration and efficient handling of complex issues before final approval by the full Cabinet.
  • They operate based on principles of division of labor and effective delegation.
• Types of Cabinet Committees
  • Standing Committees: Permanent in nature, tasked with ongoing responsibilities.
  • Ad hoc Committees: Temporary formations to address specific, time-sensitive issues.

Features of Cabinet Committees

• Extra-Constitutional Nature and Establishment
  • Cabinet Committees operate outside the constitutional framework and are established as per the Rules of Business.
  • These rules are derived from Article 77(3) of the Indian Constitution, empowering the President to formulate rules for efficient governance and task allocation among Ministers.
• Membership
  • Cabinet Committees are formed by the Prime Minister based on current needs and situational demands.
  • Membership typically ranges from three to eight members, predominantly comprising Cabinet Ministers. Non-Cabinet Ministers may also be included.
  • Committees encompass Ministers responsible for relevant subjects and often involve other senior Ministers.
• Role and Functionality
  • If the Prime Minister is part of a committee, he assumes the role of its chairperson.
  • Committees not only address and prepare proposals for Cabinet consideration but also make decisions. However, their decisions are subject to review by the full Cabinet.

List of Cabinet Committees

• Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA)
• Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC)
• Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS)
• Cabinet Committee on Accommodation
• Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs (referred to as Super-Cabinet)
• Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs
• Cabinet Committee on Investment and Growth
• Cabinet Committee on Skill, Employment and Livelihood

Recent Changes

• The Home Minister is a member of all Cabinet Committees.
• The Prime Minister chairs six committees, excluding the Committee on Accommodation and Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs.
• The Appointments Committee remains chaired by the Prime Minister with the Home Minister as the sole member, unchanged.

Challenges of the Cabinet Committees

• Delays, Inefficiency, and Conflict
  • Cabinet Committees often face challenges such as delays, inefficiencies, and internal conflicts as different committees vie for control, resulting in stalled proposals and slow decision-making processes.
• Lack of Expertise
  • Committees may lack domain experts, such as medical professionals in a healthcare policy committee, leading to decisions that are not well-informed and could have unintended long-term consequences.
• Isolation and Lack of Collaboration
  • Operating in silos, committees may fail to share information or collaborate effectively. This isolation creates blind spots, fosters duplication of effort, misses opportunities for synergy, and results in decisions based on incomplete information.
• Short-term Political Considerations
  • Political pressures often prioritize short-term gains over long-term strategic planning within committees. This can lead to reactive measures instead of proactive solutions, impacting policy effectiveness.
• Secrecy and Lack of Transparency
  • Secrecy surrounding committee decisions can erode trust and accountability. Without transparency about activities and decisions, it becomes challenging for the legislature and public to hold committees accountable for their actions.
• Centralized Decision-making
  • Concentration of decision-making authority within a few committees or individuals can exclude valuable perspectives and lead to unbalanced decisions. This exclusion may overlook innovative solutions and breed discontent among affected parties.

-Source: The Hindu