The Political Executive and Policy Making

• What and who constitutes the Political

Executive?
• What role is assigned to it in policy making?
• What role does it play in policy making?
• From where does it derive its authority for
policy making?
• From where does it receive support and
advice?
• What are the limitations on its role and
authority?
The Political Executive and Policy Making
India a parliamentary system
• Power concentrated with Political Executive –
Central Government -three tier – PM, Cabinet
and Council of Ministers
• Role - constitutional role - provide leadership
in policy making and implementation –
• Cabinet/Council of Ministers - initiate policies
• Real power with Cabinet – has all policy
functions – shape all policies
 Political Executive
Source of authority and power
Constitution –
• Power to decide policies to place for approval
• Collective responsibility – provides unity and an
integrated approach to decision making
Party- unity and loyalty
• Autonomous/dependent on party – affects collective
decision making –
Determined by three factors
• Leadership and ambitions of PM
• Character of party in power, ideological cohesiveness,
organizational characteristics and pattern of coalition
• Personality and attributes of individual ministers
 Power of the Prime Minister
• First among equals – exercises control over
cabinet decision making process
• Although individual ministers take decisions,
PM can veto; has power of patronage – thus
dominates the cabinet, appoints, removes,
reshuffles
Advisers to PM- Economic Advisory Council
PM - heads Civil Service
• Through Cabinet Appointment Committee – all
civil service, public undertakings etc
 Power of the Prime Minister
Over the years become powerful – several factors
determine the PM’s power
• The PMO- created by LBS -1965- independent body
• IG/RG further enhanced its status – made powerful –
become the secretariat
• Secretary (political appointee) staffed by several other
secretaries and other personnel
• Advice to PM informed on inter-ministerial matters;
coordinate and maintain informal links; deal with
delicate and crucial issues; prepare notes
• Since not a statutory body – responsible only to PM
and not government
 Cabinet
Individual ministers – knowledgeable, experienced, may take
initiative
Cabinet Secretariat
• Control and coordination – managed through Cabinet
Secretariat
• Responsible for all cabinet matters
• Headed by a Secretary –heads the Civil Service - attends all
meetings of Cabinet and Committees; prepares agenda;
maintains minutes, circulates decisions, follow up
Cabinet Committees – standing committees provided by
business rules
• Political Affairs Committee
• Economic Affairs Committee
• Committee on Parliamentary Affairs
• Appointment Committee
 Council of Ministers
Central Secretariat –
• Ministries and Departments – advise, informs, frames
legislation, rules and regulations, exercises supervision
and control over execution policies and programmes
• Channel of communication with/between states, PC/FC
• Ministries –Secretary to government –highest policy
official
Policy Planning Units – 1970
• Key departments and ministries – provide inputs for
effective policymaking for various programmes
conducted/operated by them
• Policy and operational evaluation of various programmes
• Reduced to research units
 Council of Ministers
Advisory Committees
• Attached to ministries/departments – some
have experts/some representative and hence
nominal – influence is indeterminate
UPA Government – National Advisory Council
• 24 Cabinet; 12 MoS- independent charge and
36 MoS- max Council size 81