India is a parliamentary democracy. A basic feature of this system is the presence of a double executive - the constitutional head is the President of India, whereas the Prime Minister and his Cabinet are the real executives. There is a parliamentary form of government as in Britain. Like Britain, ...
INDIAN ADMINISTRATION
ADMINISTRATION AT UNION LEVEL
Objectives
1. This unit aims to understand the administration at the Union
level.
2. This topic aims to familiarize the student with the structure
and functions of PMO, the Central Secretariat, and the Cabinet
Secretariat.
Introduction
India is a parliamentary democracy. A basic feature of this
system is the presence of a double executive - the
constitutional head is the President of India, whereas the Prime
Minister and his Cabinet are the real executives. There is a
parliamentary form of government as in Britain. Like Britain, the
Parliament is an elected, representative body. It is the chief
law-making body, the first organ of the government. Under the
leadership of the Prime Minister, the cabinet including the
Prime Minister is collectively responsible to the parliament.
Next to parliament is the Cabinet. It is similar to the cabinet
model in Britain. The cabinet is headed by the Prime Minister,
who presides over this Council of Ministers.
The Prime Minister's role is significant. He is the captain who
steers the ship of state. He is the primus inter pares - the first
and equals. He is the kingpin of the administration. He defends
his party policies on the floor of parliament. He is the
connecting link between the legislators and executive organs of
the government. The cabinet functions on the principle of
collective responsibility. The Prime Minister is responsible to
,the parliament. He has to inform the President, of all decisions
taken by the Council of Ministers. He distributes portfolios to
the other ministers. He can request any minister to resign if his
services are not satisfactory. The Prime Minister as the head of
the cabinet presides over its meetings and coordinates the
working of various ministers and ministries. He is the keystone
of the cabinet arch and represents the whole of the executive
government.
1. PMO (Prime Minister's Office)
The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) consists of the immediate
staff of the Prime Minister of India, as well as multiple stages of
support staff reporting to the Prime Minister. The PMO has
originally described as the Prime Minister's Secretariat. In 1961
it was given the status of a Department. In 1977 it was
renamed as Prime Minister's Office by the Morarji Desai
administration. The PMO provides secretarial assistance to the
Prime Minister. It is headed by the Principal Secretary to Prime
Minister. Often a Minister of State is assigned to PMO to assist
the Prime Minister. Only important policy matters are received
in the PMO.
It is an extra-constitutional body that has no mention in the
constitution. It is a staffing agency providing assistance and
advice to the Prime Minister, the Prime Minister coordinates all
other departments through this office. The subject matter of
files required to be submitted to the Prime Minister depends on
whether he is holding direct charge of the Ministry or whether
there is a Cabinet Minister or Minister of State (independent
charge), in charge of the Ministry. In the case of the latter, most
matters are dealt with by the Cabinet Minister or Minister of
State, in charge. Only important policy issues, which the
Minister concerned feels should be submitted to the Prime
Minister for orders or information, are received in the PMO. In
cases where the prime Minister is the Minister-in-charge, all
matters requiring minister approval are not delegated to the
, Minister of State / Deputy Minister, if any, are submitted for
orders. The Prime Minister has traditionally, been the Minister-
in-charge of the Departments of Space, Atomic Energy, and
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions. Since
the Prime Minister is Chairman of the Planning Commission, all
relevant files are forwarded to the PMO for comments and
clearance.
Functions of PMO
Much of the authority of the PMO is derived from its proximity to
the Prime Minister. Si 1977 the PMO has gained power and
prestige. Prime Minister Shastri gave a huge lift to PMO, in
economic policy and foreign affairs. Its power and position
doubled during the era of emergency under Prime Minister
Indira Gandhi. It was the real decision-making body and the
virtual government of India. The Principal Secretary became
the most important official, new, only to the Prime Minister. This
was true during the Prime Ministership of Mrs Gandhi and Rain
Gandhi. It also began to function as a "parallel government", as
a "Super Cabinet" the Government of the Government of India".
Two other bodies have developed within the PMO They are the
Strategic Management Group (SMG) and Economic Advisory
Committee (EAC) The PMO is the center of power, a complex
and professional body to assist the Prime Minister in the
discharge of his duties. It has overpowered the Cabinet
Secretariat.
The PMO has an anti-corruption unit and a public wing dealing
with grievances. The Prime Minister's National Relief Fund
(PMNRF) and the National Defend Fund are operating directly
from the PMO. It is a large organization with more than 400
people working in it. Every department and ministry is
represented in the PMO. It deals with all references which
under the Rules of Business come to the Prime Minister. It
helps the Prime Minister in the discharge of his overall
responsibilities as the Chief Executive. It has to help the Prime
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