With Narendra Modi all set to be sworn-in as the Prime Minister of India, the question we are asking is - How many ministries do we really need to govern India?
BoomNews's show #TheIndiaHangout got together Govindraj Ethiraj, Subir Gokarn of Brookings Institute, AK Bhattacharya, Editor, Business Standard and author Rasheed Kidwai to debate the issue.
Key higlights:
A Govt report said ideal size would be 20-25 ministries
Size can be decided based on what the Govt should be doing: Gokarn
We definitely need somebody who has an overview of domains: Gokarn
For example, talk of energy and you can combine several ministries: Gokarn
Heirarchies need to be compressed: Gokarn
The aim should be maximum governance, minimum government: Bhattacharya
Legislation allows Govt to have as large as 79 ministries: Bhattacharya
Cabinet ministers can very easily be brought down to 14: Bhattacharya
If he fails to reduce size of ministry, there will be no change in governance: Bhattacharya
Modi has the mandate to draw the line and say that I am delivering on my promises: Gokarn
In our system of governance, bureaucracy is important but ministers are more important: Bhattacharya
The starting point would be to have a lean ministry: Bhattacharya
There is a huge demographic opportunity materialsing in Govt as a whole: Gokarn
Public sector employment gathered momentum in the late 60s-early 70s: Gokarn
A lot of the early govt recruits are actually retiring: Gokarn
I think around 30% of the banking workforce is retiring over the next five years: Gokarn
This is the most significant opportunity to undertake administrative reforms: Gokarn
Infrastructure needs something like the Planning Commission outside the ministerial domain: Gokarn
I would be looking at the domains that cabinet ministers are given and who are the operating ministers: Gokarn
Food, jobs and infrastructure needs amalgamation of many ministries: Gokarn