Context:
Recently, T.V. Somanathan took over as Cabinet Secretary after the superannuation of Rajiv Gauba.
About Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretariat
- The Cabinet Secretary is the seniormost civil servant of the Government of India.
- He is the head of the Cabinet Secretariat and also the ex-officio Chairman of the Civil Services Board.
- The Cabinet Secretariat functions directly under the Prime Minister.
- The business allocated to the Cabinet Secretariat under the Government of India (Allocation of Business) Rules, 1961 includes (i) Secretarial assistance to the Cabinet and Cabinet Committees; and (ii) Rules of Business.
- The Cabinet Secretariat is responsible for the administration of the Government of India (Transaction of Business) Rules, 1961 and Government of India (Allocation of Business) Rules, 1961 facilitating smooth transaction of business in Ministries/ Departments.
Historical Background of the Post of Cabinet Secretary
- In 1935, the Viceroy’s Private Secretary was given the additional designation of Secretary to the Executive Council. But these posts were separated subsequently, and a separate Secretary was appointed to the Executive Council, distinct from the Private Secretary to the Viceroy and Governor General.
- Later, the Constitution of the Interim Government in September 1946 brought a change in the name of this Office. In September 1946, the Secretariat of the Executive Council was designated as the Cabinet Secretariat, and the Secretary to the Executive Council as the Cabinet Secretary.
- N. R. Pillai, an Indian Civil Service (ICS) officer, was appointed as the first cabinet secretary of Independent India from 1950 to 1953.
What is Cabinet?
- The term ‘cabinet’ was introduced in Article 352 of the Constitution by the 44th Constitutional Amendment Act of 1978. It was not included in the original Constitution.
- Article 352 now refers to the Cabinet as “the council consisting of the Prime Minister and other Ministers of Cabinet rank appointed under Article 75,” but it does not provide details of its powers and functions.
- The Cabinet is the highest decision-making body in India’s political and administrative system, holding ultimate executive authority at the Central level.
- Kitchen Cabinet: It refers to the Prime Minister’s small, trusted group of key ministers and advisors, often wielding significant influence in decision-making.