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pmo

The Prime Minister’s Office

  • The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) consists of the immediate staff of the [[Prime Minister]] of India.
  • The PMO was originally called the Prime Minister’s Secretariat until 1977, when it was renamed during the Morarji Desai ministry.
  • Being the head of the government and the real executive authority, the Prime Minister plays a very vital role in the politico- administrative realm of our country.
  • In order to fulfill his responsibilities, the Prime Minister is assisted by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO)
  • The Prime Minister’s Office is an agency meant for providing secretarial assistance and advice to the Prime Minister.
  • It is an extra constitutional body which offers important role in the top level decision making process of the Government of India.
  • The Prime Minister’s Office has the status of a department of the Government of India.
  • The Prime Minister’s Office came into existence in 1947.
  • Till 1977, it was called Prime Minister’s Secretariat (PMS).
  • The Prime Minister’s Office is headed politically by the Prime Minister and administratively by the Principal Secretary.

Functions

  • Assists the prime minister in his overall responsibilities as head of the government, in maintaining communication with the central ministries/departments and the state governments.
  • Helps the prime minister in his responsibilities as Chairman of the [[NITI Aayog]] and the [[National Development Council]].
  • Looks after the public relations of the prime minister like contact with the press and the general public.
  • Deals with all references, which under the Rules of Business have to come to the Prime Minister.
  • Provides assistance to the Prime Minister in the examination of cases submitted to him for orders under prescribed rules.
  • Maintains harmonious relationship with the President, Governors and foreign representatives in the country.
  • Acts as the [[Think - Tank]] of the Prime Minister.
  • It deals with all such subjects that are not allotted to any department/ministry.
  • It is not concerned with the responsibility of the Prime Minister as the chairman of the union Cabinet.
  • The Cabinet cases are directly dealt by the Cabinet secretariat, which also functions under the direction of the prime minister.
  • The PMO provides secretarial assistance to the Prime Minister.
  • It is headed by the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister.
  • The PMO includes the anti-corruption unit and the public wing dealing with grievances.
  • The office houses the Prime Minister and few selected officers of Indian Civil Service who work with him to manage and coordinate government and his office.
  • The Prime Minister through his office coordinates with all ministers in the central union cabinet, minister of independent charges and governors and ministers of state government.