TAG: GS 2: POLITY
THE CONTEXT: On July 3, 2024, the Narendra Modi government announced the formation of several crucial Cabinet committees, which are the highest decision-making bodies in India concerning security, economic, and political affairs.
EXPLANATION:
- These committees play a pivotal role in shaping policies and decisions in their respective domains.
Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS)
- The Cabinet Committee on Security is responsible for all significant decisions regarding India’s defense policy, national security, and strategic interests.
- It comprises the following members:
- Prime Minister as its Chairman
- Defence Minister
- Home Minister
- Finance Minister
- External Affairs
- This committee is pivotal in addressing issues related to national security, defense procurement, and the country’s strategic posture both domestically and internationally.
Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA)
- The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs oversees the economic policy framework and financial matters, including expenditure.
- The Prime Minister chairs the committee.
- This committee’s primary focus is on driving economic reforms, approving significant investments, and guiding policies that influence economic growth and development.
Cabinet Committees
- They are extra-constitutional in emergence. In other words, they are not mentioned in the Constitution. However, the Rules of Business provide for their establishment.
- There are two types: standing and ad hoc. The former is permanent, while the latter is temporary. Ad hoc committees are constituted from time to time to deal with special problems. They are disbanded after their task is completed.
- They are set up by the Prime Minister according to the exigencies of the time and requirements of the situation. Hence, their number, nomenclature, and composition vary from time to time.
- Their membership varies from three to eight. They usually include only Cabinet Ministers. However, the non-cabinet Ministers are not debarred from their membership.
- They not only include the Ministers in charge of subjects covered by them but also include other senior Ministers.
- They are mostly headed by the Prime Minister. Sometimes other Cabinet Ministers, particularly the Home Minister or the Finance Minister, also acts as their Chairman. But, in case the Prime Minister is a member of a committee, he invariably presides over it.
- They not only sort out issues and formulate proposals for the consideration of the Cabinet, but also take decisions. However, the Cabinet can review their decisions.
- They are an organisational device to reduce the enormous workload of the Cabinet. They also facilitate in-depth examination of policy issues and effective coordination. They are based on the principles of division of labour and effective delegation.
- The following four are the more important cabinet committees:
- The Political Affairs Committee deals with all policy matters pertaining to domestic and foreign affairs.
- The Economic Affairs Committee directs and coordinates the governmental activities in the economic sphere.
- The Appointments Committee decides all higher-level appointments in the Central Secretariat, Public Enterprises, Banks and Financial Institutions.
- Parliamentary Affairs Committee looks after the progress of government business in the Parliament.
- The first three committees are chaired by the Prime Minister and the last one by the Home Minister.
- Of all the Cabinet Committees, the most powerful is the Political Affairs Committee, often described as a “Super-Cabinet”.