The Union Cabinet
- A Cabinet is a council consisting of ministers of Cabinet rank. It is the inner body within the Council of Ministers.
- It is an extra-constitutional authority created out of the Council of Ministers.
- The whole Council of Ministers does not meet to discuss business, it is the Cabinet which takes policy decisions and advises the President.
- The Cabinet is the highest decision-making executive body which looks after the administrative affairs of the Government of India.
- It is the nucleus of the Council of Ministers.
Role and Functions of the Cabinet:
- The Cabinet is the highest decision-making and policy-formulating authority in our politico-administrative system.
- It deals with all major legislative, financial and foreign policy matters.
- It exercises control over higher appointments like constitutional authorities and senior secretariat administrators.
- It recommends ordinances when the parliament is not in session and supervises the implementation of policies.
- It appoints enquiry commissions and resolves inter-departmental disputes.
- It is entitled to recommend to the presidential declaration of emergencies, dissolution of the Lok Sabha, proroguing and adjourning the parliament sessions.