The communique announcing the portfolios of Cabinet ministers on Tuesday highlighted the point that Modi will take a call on "all important policy issues and all other portfolios not allocated to any minister".
Experts said general transaction rules clearly specify the role and functions of PMO and the Cabinet but the reiteration about the PM having final say on policy issues seems deliberate even if this is usual practice.
It has also been the practice that portfolios which are not allocated remain with the PM, experts said.
"The PM, who is the head of the Cabinet, has the authority to call for any files which have policy implications. What he has done is re-emphasize the practice which had perhaps fallen in disuse," former cabinet secretary Naresh Chandra said.
PMO in the UPA coalition had come under scathing attack for its failure to clinch policy issues while critics had hit out at former PM Manmohan Singh for his failure to stamp his authority on crucial decisions.
Singh drew flak for not being able to act on recommendations for auctioning coal blocks and failing to check DMK nominee A Raja when allegations of wrongdoing surfaced in the allocation of 2G licences.
BJP in its manifesto had made it clear that administrative reforms would be a priority for the party. It had also said these reforms would be implemented through a mechanism under the PMO. "The objective will be to bring in transparency in government's decision-making process. Government systems and processes would be relooked to make them citizen friendly, corruption free and accountable," the BJP manifesto had said.
Former civil servants said the move to ensure that all important policy decisions are overseen by the PM would help minimize any policy flip-flop and cut delays.
N K Singh, a former secretary in the PMO, said government rules were clear about the role and responsibility of the PM. He defended the decision to make the PM's responsibility clear. "What is implicit in rules, he has made it explicit. Government rules are sometimes opaque and this move will help remove the opaqueness and ensure transparency," Singh, who is now a BJP leader, said.
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