Cabinet Secretariat

•A staff agency to the Union Cabinet.

•Operates under direction & leadership of the Prime
Minister of India.
•It enjoys status ofClick
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a department
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India under the Allocation of Business Rules,1961.
•Headed politically by the Prime Minister and
administratively by the Cabinet Secretary.
•Came into existence in 1947 by replacing the Secretariat of
the Governor-General’s Executive Council.
 Cabinet Secretariat
Functions
•The Cabinet Secretariat functions directly under the Prime
Minister. The administrative head of the Secretariat is the
Cabinet Secretary who is also the ex-officio Chairman of
the Civil Services Board.
•The business allocated to Cabinet Secretariat under
Government of India (Allocation of Business) Rules, 1961
includes
• (i) Secretarial assistance to the Cabinet and Cabinet
Committees; and
• (ii) Rules of Business.
 Cabinet Secretariat
Functions
•The Secretariat assists in decision-making in Government
by ensuring Inter-Ministerial coordination, ironing out
differences amongst Ministries/Departments and evolving
consensus through the instrumentality of the
standing/adhoc Committees of Secretaries.

•Management of major crisis situations in the country and

coordinating activities of various ministries in such a
situation is also one of the functions of the Cabinet
Secretariat.
 Cabinet Secretariat
Functions
•Support to Cabinet Committees-
1. Convening of the meetings of the Cabinet & its Committees on the
orders of the Prime Minister.
2. Preparation and circulation of the agenda.
3. Circulation of papers related to the cases on the agenda.
4. Preparation of record of discussions.
5. Circulation of the record of discussions after obtaining the
approval of the Prime Minister.
6. Monitoring implementation of decisions taken by the Cabinet and
its Committees.
7. The Cabinet Secretariat is the custodian of the papers of the
Cabinet meetings
 Cabinet Secretariat
Functions

Promotion of Inter-Ministerial Coordination-

Among the inter-Ministerial matters, the coordination is

required for:
1. Removing difficulties.
2. Removing differences.
3. Overcoming delays.
4. Coordination in administrative action.
5. Coordination of policies.
 Cabinet Secretariat
Functions
•The Cabinet Secretariat is seen as a useful mechanism by the
Departments for promoting inter-Ministerial coordination since
the Cabinet Secretary is also the head of the civil services.
Ministries/ Departments through the system of monthly DO
letters apprise the Cabinet Secretary about important issues/
developments pertaining to their respective Ministry/
Department.
•A monthly report is also sent by Ministries/ Departments to the
Cabinet Secretariat providing details on a wider range of issues
such as important policy matters, compliance of Committee of
Secretaries decisions, sanction for prosecution pending for more
than 3 months, implementation of e-Governance etc.
 Cabinet Secretariat
Organization
•Cabinet Secretariat has 3 wings-
•Civil Wing- main wing which provide aid, advise and
assistance to the Union Cabinet.

•Military Wing provides secretarial assistance to the

Defence Committee of the Cabinet, Military Affairs
Committee, The National Defence Council and other
committees dealing with defence matters.

•The Intelligence Wings deals with matters pertaining to

the Joint Intelligence Committee of the Union Cabinet.
 Cabinet Secretariat
Organization
•Cabinet Secretariat is organised as follows besides the main
secretariat: 
•Secretary (Coordination) , 
• Secretary  (Security) (under whom comes the Special
Protection Group) and  Secretary (heads Research and
Analysis Wing;).
•Chairperson (National Authority for Chemical Weapons
Convention) in 1997
•The Directorate of Public Grievances, (1988)
•Direct Benefits Transfer (DBT) Mission, Vigilance &
Complaints Cell (VCC) is also under the Cabinet Secretariat.
 Cabinet Secretary

Office of Cabinet Secy Was created in 1950. Its first

occupant was N.R.Pillai. (Succeeded the Secy. To the
Governor-General’s Executive Council)
The Cabinet Secretary is the ex-officio head of the Civil
Services Board, the Cabinet Secretariat, the  (IAS) and head
of all civil services under the rules of business of
the Government.
The Cabinet Secretary is generally the senior-most officer
of the IAS.  The Cabinet Secretary is under the direct
charge of the PM. Though there is no fixed tenure, the
office-bearer's tenure can be extended.