Group of Ministers
Also called: GoM · Topic: Union Executive: President, Vice-President, Prime Minister and Council of Ministers · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
A Group of Ministers (GoM) is a small, temporary group of ministers set up to study one particular issue. It is ad hoc: made for one task, it ends when the task is done. A GoM usually reports to the Cabinet, which then decides. An Empowered Group of Ministers is different because it can take the decision itself. GoMs help when an issue cuts across several ministries and needs focused study. They are not in the Constitution.
Example
In June 2014 the new government largely stopped using GoMs and Empowered GoMs, so more decisions went straight to the ministries and the Cabinet.
Don't confuse with
- Cabinet committees: cabinet committees such as the CCS or CCEA are set up under the Rules of Business and are mostly standing bodies, chaired by the PM, that handle a whole area of work. A GoM looks at one issue and usually only advises.
Related concepts
- Rules of Business
- Cabinet committees
- Appointments Committee of the Cabinet
- Cabinet Committee on Security
- Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs
- Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs
- Cabinet Secretariat
- Prime Minister's Office