Ethics Theory, TLP-UPSC Mains Answer Writing
Q. 3. Discuss the role of the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) in the Indian administrative system. Has the PMO, in recent years, increasingly overshadowed the role of the Cabinet. (150 words, 10 marks)
Introduction
The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), though not mentioned in the Constitution, plays a key role in coordinating administration and guiding political decisions, reflecting the Prime Minister’s central position in India’s governance system.
Body
Role of the PMO
- Policy coordination: Acts as the chief policy advisory body, facilitating coordination among ministries and aligning executive action with the Prime Minister’s vision.
- Administrative supervision: Exercises oversight over civil services, intelligence agencies, and key policy initiatives through empowered officers like the Principal Secretary and NSA. • Crisis management: Plays a central role during national emergencies (e.g., COVID-19 task forces, G20 negotiations, Balakot response) by centralising decisions.
- Appointments and governance: Influences key appointments through the Appointments Committee of Cabinet (ACC) and monitors flagship programs.
- Strategic diplomacy: Supports the PM’s global outreach and bilateral diplomacy, enhancing India’s image abroad through proactive coordination.
→ However, its growing clout raises concerns about concentration of power and decline of institutional deliberation.
Cabinet Overshadowed?
- Centralised leadership: In the last decade, especially post-2014, PMO has emerged as the principal command centre, with ministries implementing top-down directives. • Diminishing collegiality: Cabinet Committees rarely meet as deliberative forums; decisions are increasingly routed through PMO clearance.
- Reduced ministerial autonomy: Several initiatives (e.g., Digital India, Swachh Bharat, NITI Aayog reforms) are steered directly by PMO bypassing sectoral ministries.
- Institutional imbalance: Former bureaucrats and scholars (e.g., T.R. Raghunandan, Sanjaya Baru) note erosion of collective Cabinet responsibility.
- Opaque functioning: PMO is not directly accountable to Parliament, yet influences legislative priorities, weakening consultative governance.
Conclusion
While the PMO ensures coherence and leadership, its increasing dominance may dilute Cabinet accountability. A healthy democracy requires balancing executive efficiency with collective decision making.
