The government’s decision on June 6 night to induct Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in most Cabinet Committees after it initially kept him out of all but two of them has rebalanced the composition of key panels.

While an earlier order had Singh’s name in only two Cabinet Committees — economic affairs and security — the government effected a change later, bringing him in four more panels: political affairs, parliamentary affairs, investment and growth, and empowerment and skill development. Home Minister Amit Shah is part of all eight panels. 

Singh is likely to head the Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs, of which Modi is not a member, while Shah is.

Only two committees in which Singh’s name does not figure are on appointment, which has traditionally had only PM and Home Minister as members, and on accommodation, a relatively low-profile panel.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s name figured in all but one of the Committees.

The government has reconstituted six committees to reflect the changes in the new dispensation and formed two new Cabinet panels to deal with issues like investment, growth, employment and skill development, amid concerns over economic slowdown.

What is the purpose of Cabinet Committee?

According to Article 77(3) of the Constitution, "The President shall make rules for the more convenient transaction of the business of the government of India, and for the allocation among Ministers of the said business". However, “when the subject of a case concerns more than one department”, no decision can be taken “until all such departments have concurred, or, failing such concurrence, a decision thereon has been taken by or under the authority of the Cabinet”.

The Prime Minister constitutes Standing Committees of the Cabinet and sets out the specific functions assigned to them. He can add or reduce the number of committees.

Besides permanent members, there could be some special invitees to these Cabinet Committees. This is done in accordance with the government of India Transaction of Business Rules, 1961. The Cabinet Committees ensure smooth functioning between two departments or ministries of the government. 

Which are the key Cabinet Committees?

Appointments Committee of Cabinet: It will be headed by PM Modi with Home Minister Amit Shah as the other member. It decides appointments to several top posts under the government of India. The committee is composed of the Prime Minister of India (who is the chairman), the Minister of Home Affairs. This panel makes appointments to posts of the three service chiefs, Director General of Military Operations, chiefs of all Air and Army Commands, Director General of Defence Intelligence Agency, Solicitor General, governor of the Reserve Bank of India, and many other key posts. This Committee decides on all important empanelments and shift of officers serving on Central deputation.

Cabinet Committee on Investment and Growth: It will have PM Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah, Finance Minister Nirmala Sithataman, Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari and Railways and Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal as its members. The Cabinet Committee on Investment will “identify key projects required to be implemented on a time-bound basis”, involving investments of Rs 1,000 crore or more, or any other critical projects, as may be specified by it, with regard to infrastructure and manufacturing. 

Cabinet Committee on Employment and Skill Development: Besides PM Modi, Shah, Rajnath, Sitharaman and Goyal, it will include Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’, Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Minister of Skill Development M.N. Pandey, Labour Minister Santosh Kumar Gangwar and Housing and Urban Development Minister Hardeep Puri. This Committee is supposed to provide “direction to all policies, programmes, schemes and initiatives for skill development aimed at increasing the employability of the workforce for effectively meeting the emerging requirements of the rapidly growing economy and mapping the benefits of demographic dividend”.

Cabinet Committee on Accommodation: The Cabinet Committee on Accommodation determines the guidelines or rules with regard to the allotment of government accommodation. It also takes a call on the allotment of government accommodation to non-eligible persons and organisations as also the rent to be charged from them. Shah will head the committee. Gadkari, Sitharaman and Goyal are its members. Minister of State in PMO Jitendra Singh and Housing and Urban Affairs and Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Puri are special invitees of the committee.

Cabinet Committee on Security: It will be headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah, Minister of External Affairs S. Jaishankar and Sitharaman will be its members. This panel deals with issues relating to law and order, internal security and policy matters concerning foreign affairs with internal or external security implications. It also goes into economic and political issues related to national security.

Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs: It will be headed by the PM and will have Rajnath, Shah, Gadkari, Chemicals and Fertilisers Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda, Sitharaman, Tomar, Communication Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, Minister for Food Processing Harsimrat Kaur Badal as its members. The others in the CCEA include Jaishankar, Goyal and Pradhan. It is supposed to review economic trends, problems and prospects “for evolving a consistent and integrated economic policy”, coordinate all activities requiring policy decisions at the highest level, deal with fixation of prices of agricultural produce and prices of essential commodities.

Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs: This committee which recommends dates for holding Parliament sessions will be headed by Rajnath and will have Shah, Sitharaman, Consumer Affairs Minister Ram Vilas Paswan, Tomar, Prasad, Social Justice Minister Thawar Chand Gehlot, Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Prahlad Joshi as its members. Ministers of State for Parliamentary Affairs Arjun Ram Meghwal and V. Muraleedharan are special invitees. This Committee draws the schedule for Parliament sessions and monitors the progress of government business in Parliament. It scrutinises non-government business and decides which official Bills and resolutions are to be presented.

Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs: This committee which helps the government take important policy decisions will be headed by the PM. Rajnath, Shah, Gadkari, Sitharaman, Goyal, Paswan, Tomar, Prasad, Harsimrat Kaur, Health Minister Harsh Vardhan, Heavy Industries Minister Arvind Sawant and Joshi will be its members. It addresses problems related to Centre-state relations. It also examines economic and political issues that require a wider perspective but have no internal or external security implications.