Is Modi's all powerful PMO tripping up other ministries?

Even before he became the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi had a reputation of being the centre of all power in the state where he was the chief minister. But since taking over, has the prime minister and his office rendered almost every other ministry completely toothless and incapable of taking any independent decisions? A detailed analysis by the Business Standard indicates that the already all powerful Prime Minister’s Office has become the hub of all decision making in the new government, taking decisions ranging from pruning India’s oversized contingent to the Asian Games to taking decisions on every major infrastructure projects, something that was earlier the domain of individual ministers and their ministries. [caption id=“attachment_1706215” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Prime Minister Narendra Modi. PTI[/caption] Despite the current scenario causing some resentment among ministers, the prime minister and his office reportedly continue to bypass them, often interacting with the bureaucrats in charge of the ministries instead and also evaluates all appointments in the government including private secretaries to the ministers. This approach also reportedly explains the relative inaction by some ministries like petroleum ministry which was to decide on gas pricing, while pretty much every other important decision taken by any ministry so far like those on roads, power, coal, and even the decision on reforming the Food Corporation of India was the decision of the PMO. Another report in the Indian Express , also reported that the cabinet secretary had shot off a letter to all secretaries of ministries telling the bureaucrats to ensure “personal attention” to the preparing of the cabinet notes so that they reached the Prime Minister’s Office and other ministries defect free. According to the report, the letter says: However, it is matter of concern that some of the notes that are being received in this secretariat are not only procedurally deficient but content-wise too, lack the desired standard and quality. The prime minister had gone the extra mile to ensure that he had his pick of bureaucrats, like former Trai chairman Nripendra Misra, in the PMO and soon after taking charge had met with bureaucrats across ministries to tell them that they could approach him directly if they faced any problems in implementing decisions. Modi, during his Teachers’ Day address, had said that he was a taskmaster and ensured that others did their work as well. Reports speak of how bureaucrats, afraid of the prime minister turning up announced, are abandoning golf games for the office on weekends and how ministers tread on eggshells regarding any decision they take. While it may work well for the prime minister while the going’s good, unfortunately the blame for any misstep will also land at his doorstep.