Council of Minister & Cabinet commitees

CoM	Portfolio system in India since 1861. Are the real executive Involves: Cabinet minister, Min. of state, Min. of state independent charge, Deputy min., Parliamentary sec.
Changes	91st amendment Act 2003: 15% rule.
Functions	Executive legislative policy making  coordination appointment crisis management budgeting
Issues	Size of CoM 91st CAA Parliamentary secretary issue Kitchen Cabinet Cabinet Committees Set up on Political Equation based Junior minister not appointed On trivial issues Not regular meeting PM is Chairperson of most: revisory jurisdiction compromised EGoMs Empowered to decide issue and submit directly to PM Compromising Collective responsibility of cabinet Departmental Committees
Challenges	large rarely meeting effectively replaced by cabinet Politicization of portfolios Merit secondary Insecurity of tenure Inexperience non-representative: women, youth, Minorities Kitchen cabinet extra-constitutional
Solutions	Punchi commission: (For formation of government) at time of inviting the parties for forming CoM: coalition formed prior to the election single largest coalition with support of others single largest party with support of others coalition formed after election (majotiry) Coalition formed after election (minority) Small: effective debate, less expenditure, maintain secrecy, consensus oriented Large CoM is against democracy which require more and more elected representatives in the legislature rather than executive, for effective debate.
Instruments for effective functioning of CoM	Cabinet committee Parliamentary affairs, economic affairs, appointment committee Issues in working: junior ministers are rarely appointed membership dependent on  political consideration irregular meeting PMO is the chair of most of these: this compromises the revisory function of the CoM GoM EGoM Criticism of GoMs and EGoMs under mines the responsibility of the cabinet and principle of collective responsibility Benefits: save time for CoM, quick decision making etc facilitate coordination effective deliberation better scrutiny and analysis of tasks, policies etc Safeguards the principles of collective responsibilities as junior ministers also become the parts of this
Cabinet Committees:	Extra constitutional, formed under GoI Transaction rules, 1961 Set up PM according to need Two types Standing Adhoc Two new cabinet committees have been formulated, one on investment and growth and another on employment and skill development. Significance: Reduce workload Important policy decisions Decision in exigency when PM cannot be reached Issues: Large and unwieldy Overlap of functions like CCEA and on investment Committees: CCEA CCS CC appointment CC Parliamentary Affairs CC Accomodation CC Political Affairs CC Investment CC Employment and Skill development