PMO pushes States/UTs on completion of pending mega projects by 2024

PMO pushes States/UTs on completion of pending mega projects by 2024

Subject: Polity

Section: Executive

Context: The Prime Minister’s Office has sought details from States and Union Territories on mega projects that can be completed in the next two years.

Prime Minister’s Office [PMO]

PMO is a staffing agency assisting the Prime Minister in the efficient discharge of his role, functions, and responsibilities.

Evolution Of PMO:

• The Prime Minister’s Secretariat was created in 1947 when India gained independence.
• The Secretariat was created for the immediate purpose of taking over the functions performed till then by the Secretary to the Governor General, as the Prime Minister took over almost all functions which the Governor-General prior to independence, performed as the executive head of the Government.
• PMO is an extra-constitutional body that has no mention in the Indian Constitution. However, it was given the status of a department under the Government of India Allocation of Business Rules, 1961.
• Since June 1977, it is known as Prime Minister’s Office and is headed by the Secretary to the Prime Minister who is now designated as the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister.

Why Needed

• Complexity and scope of government have increased tremendously. Thus it requires a strong and technically efficient staff agency to handle the same.
• The problems of coordination between the Ministers are becoming more complex.
• Since all Ministers are entitled to have an office set-up of their own to enable them to perform their functions. PMO is the office of the Prime Minister.
• Most importantly, the PMO has two irreducible functions.

Firstly, PMO is the conduit to and from the Prime Minister. Secondly, the Prime Minister depends on PMO, i.e. Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, if he wants a second opinion on any matter.

Structure of PMO:

• Politically headed by Prime Minister
• Administratively headed by Principal Secretary
• One or two additional secretaries · 5 joint secretaries
• A number of directors/ deputy secretaries and under secretaries· The personnel are generally drawn from the civil services and also appointed for the varying periods PMO and its Administrative function Well, it acts as a link between the PM and his Ministers, President, Governors, Chief Ministers and also Foreign representatives.
• And, on the other side, that is the public side where it is concerned with the party matters, personal correspondences, complaints from the public, and many more.
• It helps the PM in the performance of his functions as the head of the government.

Principal functions of the PMO:

1. To deal with all references which under the rules of business have to come to the PM
2. To help the PM in the discharge of his overall responsibilities as the Chief Executive like liaison with the Union Ministries and the State govts on matters which the PM may be interested.
3. To help the PM in the discharge of his responsibilities as the Chairman of Planning Commission.
4. To deal with Public relations side of the PMO.
5. To provide PM assistance in the examination of cases submitted to him for an order under prescribed rules.