Department of Personnel and N. Gopalaswamy Ayyangar’s recommendations — UPSC Prelims PYQ...

With reference to the Union Government, consider the following statements:

1. N. Gopalaswamy Iyengar Committee suggested that a minister and a secretary be designated solely for pursuing the subject of administrative reform and promoting it.
2. In 1970, the Department of Personnel was constituted on the recommendation of the Administrative Reforms Commission, 1966, and this was placed under the Prime Minister’s charge.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect

• Sh. N. Gopalaswamy Ayyangar, in his Report namely ‘Reorganization of the Machinery of Central Government’ in 1950 recommended for the grouping of ministries, improvement in the capabilities of the personnel, and also in the working of the Operations and Maintenance (O&M) Division.
• Main Recommendation: Ayyangar proposed grouping central government ministries into four major bureaus:
  • Bureau of Natural Resources & Agriculture
  • Bureau of Industry & Commerce
  • Bureau of Transport & Communications
  • Bureau of Labor & Social Services
• Proposed dividing the central secretariat into 37 primary units: 28 departments, 8 central administrative offices, and the Cabinet Secretariat. However, there is no specific mention of recommending the designation of a minister and a secretary solely for administrative reform.

Statement 2 is correct

• The First Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC) as a Commission of Inquiry was set up in January,1966, to examine the public administration of the country and make recommendations for reform and reorganisation when necessary. The Administrative Reforms Commission was initially chaired by Shri Morarji R Desai, MP, and later on Shri K.Hunmanthaiya, MP, became its chairman when Shri Morarji R Desai, MP, became the Deputy Prime Minister of India.’
• The Administrative Reforms Commission had, in its report on Machinery of the Government of India and its procedure of work, recommended inter alia the setting up of a separate Department of Personnel directly under the Prime Minister. In pursuance of these recommendations, a new Department of Personnel was created in August, 1970.

Answer: (b) 2 only; Difficulty Level: Hard