Prelims 2021 · Q78
HardWith 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?
Answer & explanation
Answer: (b) 2 only
Only statement 2 is correct. The Department of Personnel was created on 1 August 1970 in the Cabinet Secretariat on the First Administrative Reforms Commission's advice, under the Prime Minister. The Gopalaswami Ayyangar Committee of 1949 made no proposal of a minister and secretary solely for administrative reform.
- ✗ 1. The Ayyangar Committee (1949) said a Department should be under a Secretary and a Ministry under a Minister, grouped the economic and social departments into four bureaus, and suggested an Organization and Methods machinery. It did not propose a minister and secretary meant only for administrative reform.
- ✓ 2. The First Administrative Reforms Commission (set up in 1966) recommended a separate Department of Personnel directly under the Prime Minister. The Government accepted this and the Department came into being on 1 August 1970, as part of the Cabinet Secretariat.
Remember · Department of Personnel: created 1 August 1970 in the Cabinet Secretariat, on the First ARC's advice, under the Prime Minister. Ayyangar Committee (1949): Secretary for a Department, Minister for a Ministry, and O&M machinery.
Sources
- Second Administrative Reforms Commission, Tenth Report: Refurbishing of Personnel Administration (Ch 2, History of Civil Services in India and Reforms), via Internet Archive copy of darpg.gov.in ↗ “the Committee suggested grouping of the Departments dealing with economic and social services into four bureaus. It also recommended the creation of an Organization and Methods machinery. … While noting that the Department of Personnel should be placed directly under the Prime Minister”
- Cabinet Secretariat, Government of India, About Us: Development ↗ “In June, 1970 three departments namely: Department of Electronics Department of Scientific and Industrial Research and Department of Personnel were created under Cabinet Secretariat”
- Department of Personnel, Cabinet Secretariat, Report 1970-71 (hosted by Ministry of Home Affairs) ↗ “On the 1st August, 1970, as a part of the Cabinet Secretariat.”
Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper I (2021, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). Permalink ·