Indian Government Reshuffles Cabinet Committees in July 2024

On July 3, 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government reorganized eight important groups within the Union Cabinet. This happened after Modi was sworn in as Prime Minister for the third time in a row, which is a record.

What are Cabinet Committees?

Cabinet Committees are small groups of ministers who work on specific areas of government. They help make decisions and manage different parts of the government’s work.

Key Points About the New Cabinet Committees

• There are 72 members in the Union Council of Ministers, including Prime Minister Modi.
• 31 of these members are Cabinet-rank ministers.
• These Cabinet ministers are part of the newly formed committees.
• Prime Minister Modi leads most of the committees, but not all.

The Eight Cabinet Committees

1. Appointments Committee of the Cabinet

• Members: Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah
• Purpose: Makes decisions about important government appointments

2. Cabinet Committee on Security

• Key members: Prime Minister Modi, Defence Minister, Home Minister, Finance Minister, and External Affairs Minister
• Purpose: Deals with matters related to national security

3. Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs

• Led by: Prime Minister Modi
• Includes: Ministers of Defence, Home Affairs, Finance, Agriculture, and others
• Purpose: Handles important economic matters

4. Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs

• Headed by: Prime Minister Modi
• Members: Several key ministers including Defence, Home Affairs, and Finance
• Purpose: Manages political issues and strategies

5. Cabinet Committee on Investment and Growth

• Led by: Prime Minister Modi
• Includes: Ministers of Finance, Road Transport, Railways, and others
• Purpose: Focuses on boosting investment and economic growth

6. Cabinet Committee on Skill, Employment and Livelihood

• Notable absence: Prime Minister Modi is not a member
• Key members: Ministers of Defence, Home Affairs, Education, and Labour
• Purpose: Works on improving skills, creating jobs, and enhancing livelihoods

7. Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs

• Notable absence: Prime Minister Modi is not a member
• Led by: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh
• Purpose: Manages government business in Parliament

8. Cabinet Committee on Accommodation

• Headed by: Home Minister Amit Shah
• Includes: Ministers of Finance, Housing, and Urban Affairs
• Purpose: Deals with housing and accommodation for government officials