Answer: 

Introduction:

The size of a cabinet plays a pivotal role in shaping the functioning of a government. It is thought that it should be as expansive as necessary to manage governmental work and as large as the Prime Minister can capably manage. However, the relationship between the size of the cabinet and the efficacy of the government is a subject of much debate.

Enroll now for UPSC Online Course

Body:

Advantages of a Larger Cabinet:

• A larger cabinet can ensure more inclusive decision-making by representing a broad spectrum of perspectives, particularly in a diverse society like India.
• For example, the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government (2004-2014) had a large cabinet to accommodate different coalition partners and to ensure fair representation of various regions, social groups, and political factions.
• This approach potentially led to more comprehensive and detailed policy-making, with each minister having a specific area of focus.

Disadvantages of a Larger Cabinet:

• Despite these benefits, a larger cabinet could lead to less efficiency.
• As the number of ministers increases, coordination and decision-making can become complex, leading to blurred lines of responsibility and delayed policy decisions.

Historical examples in India offer insights into this discussion.

• For instance, the first cabinet of Independent India under Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru had just 15 ministers, which allowed for swift decision-making during a critical phase in India’s history.
• On the other hand, the cabinets under coalition governments, such as the United Front government in the mid-1990s, were larger to accommodate various political parties and interest groups, but were often criticized for being slow and unwieldy.

The 91st Amendment to the Constitution of India, enacted in 2003, attempted to address the issue of oversized cabinets by stipulating that the total number of Ministers, including the Prime Minister, in the Council of Ministers shall not exceed 15% of the total number of members of the House of the People (Lok Sabha).

Conclusion:

The ideal cabinet size balances representation and efficiency. This was evident in Narendra Modi’s first term as Prime Minister (2014-2019), where a smaller cabinet performed effectively. Therefore, cabinet size and governmental efficacy are interrelated but also depend on factors like political context, governance complexity, and the Prime Minister’s leadership style.

DOWNLOAD PDF