- The Cabinet Secretariat functions directly under the [[Prime Minister]].
- The administrative head of the Secretariat is the Cabinet Secretary who is also the exofficio Chairman of the Civil Services Board.
- The business allocated to Cabinet Secretariat under Government of India (Allocation of Business) Rules, 1961 includes (i) Secretarial assistance to the Cabinet and Cabinet Committees; and (ii) Rules of Business.
- The Cabinet Secretariat is responsible for the administration of the Government of India (Transaction of Business).
- The Secretariat assists in decision-making to the Government by ensuring Inter-Ministerial coordination, ironing out differences amongst Ministries/Departments and evolving consensus through the instrumentality of the standing/adhoc Committees of Secretaries.
- Management of major crisis situations in the country and coordinating activities of various ministries.
Support to Cabinet Committees
The secretarial assistance, provided by Cabinet Secretariat to the Cabinet and Cabinet committees, includes
- Convening of the meetings of the Cabinet and its Committees on the orders of the Prime Minister.
- Preparation and circulation of the agenda.
- Circulation of papers related to the cases on the agenda.
- Preparation of record of discussions.
- Circulation of the record of discussions after obtaining the approval of the Prime Minister.
- Monitoring implementation of decisions taken by the Cabinet and its Committees.
- The Cabinet Secretariat is the custodian of the papers of the Cabinet meetings.
Cabinet Secretary
- The office of cabinet secretary was created in India in 1950.
- The first Cabinet secretary was N.R.Pillai.
- The Cabinet Secretary is the head of the Cabinet Secretariat.
- He is given a top place among the civil servants.
- Thus, he is the senior most civil servant in India.