Every time a new ministry sworn or on cabinet reshuffle we are hearing the news like X lost the big portfolio,Y got promoted etc.As per constitution all cabinet ministers are equal however on the time of cabinet reshuffle some of them trying protect their own portfolio some try to change and after reshuffle some one would be happy and some should be unhappy. Constitutionally all cabinet ministers are equal.besides cabinet ministers some ministers of state have given independent charge of portfolios.
On my analysis on these portfolios here i am trying to give an over all categorization based on its importance,the areas of work,media focus and budget allocation.However four portfolios are specifically excluding.They are Planning,atomic energy,space and Personnel.All these are crucial portfolios but normally under the control of prime minister itself.In the case of Planning commission PM is always be the chairman and a Deputy chairman having cabinet rank but he is not part of cabinet.Atomic energy and space are another key portfolios but the heads of these departments are scientists and they not under bureaucratic control.Ministry of personnel and Public grievance having the charge of Indian Administrative Service and CBI. Normally this portfolio also under Prime Minister.
BIG FOUR
The home, defense,External affairs and Finance are the top portfolios and it is a well established fact .Normally only these ministers are included in the security committee of Cabinet.A ranking with in these portfolios are difficult.A thinking is that Home minister is number two as from the first union cabinet Sardar Patel having the Deputy PM having the charge of Home affairs. and in later LK Adavni also handled Home in AB Vajpayee ministry.But on analyzing the history in most of the congress ministries the number two, not be the home minister in the UPA regime Pranab Mukharjee was number two till he joins the presidents office but he never handled home affairs.And the present number two AK Antony also handling defense.so i am not ranking these four portfolios.
KEY SIX
Due to the vastness,importance and relation with the entire people six portfolios are selecting under the BIG FOUR.My selections are Trade and Commerce,Human Resource Development,Law and Justice, Agriculture,Railways and Petroleum..Here also some paradoxes like in the present cabinet Kapil sibal was handling HRD and telecom and after the latest reshuffle he lost HRD and now only in charge of telecom.It not means that he is degraded. HRD is a portfolio bigger than Telecom but on the scenarios after 2G scam Kapil siblal managed it very well and his presence required there.
HEAVY SIX
Another seven important portfolios are Telecommunications & IT,Information &Broadcasting,Urban Development,Surface Transport,Civil Aviation and Power.every time these are glamour portfolios and ministers handling this should be in limelight always.When Indira Gandhi Joined in Lal bahadoor shastri government she handled Information &Broadcasting.
LIME LIGHT
Budget allocation for this ministry is least and that only for administration even everybody likes this portfolio Normally experienced person handle.It is Parliamentary Affairs.
HEAVY THREE BUT...
These three portfolios are important but due to federal system states also have more roles and also not much in lime light.Includes Health &family Welfare,Food &Civil Supplies and Heavy industries. Earlier Industries a key portfolio.But now Small ,Medium and Agro industries separated and forms another ministry and also Industrial promotion comes under Commerce Ministry.Thus Industries ministry now loss their importance.For Food & Civil supplies it depends on Agriculture and also more roles for states.
INCREASING IMAGE &IMPORTANCE
A ministry not in lime light on past days but the rural employment assurance scheme it is the key portfolio.Whenever we heard about Rahul Gandhis entry in the cabinet the portfolio in news Rural development.
BIG WITHOUT GLAMOUR
These are big portfolios but the media attention is less.They have to do many things but the things happening are not good.Includes Water Resources and forest & Environment and Social Justice & empowerment .In the past all development agenda accomplished through social empowerment ministry but now it is divided over a number of ministries.if the ministers with vision and caliber can perform in water resources and in Environment but it is not so.Recently Jayaram ramesh performed good in Forest & Environment unfortunately he lost ..
SMALL BUT KEY
Two small ministries but very important are Corporate Affairs and Shipping.In the past Company affairs handled by finance ministers and shipping usually with surface transport.
FIVE INDUSTRY & COMMERCE RELATED
These are five ministries related with industries and commerce.Not heavy portfolios but having vital role in the nations trade and industrial sector.These are Coal,Mines,Steel,Chemical & Fertilizer, and Textiles.However no need for two ministries coal and mines but now two ministers.
THREE DEVELOPMENT RELATED
These are Labour & Rehabilitation,Sports & Youth Affairs,and Tourism. Even though these are not vital have its own importance and having own existence not created not able to add with any other ministry.
UNNECESSARY
In my opinion only the above ministries having own existence (even though some are associate with others).There are some other ministries.But these are created for ministry berth.All of these can associate with other ministries and no requirement for separate minister.most of them are development related or industry related.These can illustrate with a list
However we can hope more new ministries in future as every one need their own...
On my analysis on these portfolios here i am trying to give an over all categorization based on its importance,the areas of work,media focus and budget allocation.However four portfolios are specifically excluding.They are Planning,atomic energy,space and Personnel.All these are crucial portfolios but normally under the control of prime minister itself.In the case of Planning commission PM is always be the chairman and a Deputy chairman having cabinet rank but he is not part of cabinet.Atomic energy and space are another key portfolios but the heads of these departments are scientists and they not under bureaucratic control.Ministry of personnel and Public grievance having the charge of Indian Administrative Service and CBI. Normally this portfolio also under Prime Minister.
BIG FOUR
The home, defense,External affairs and Finance are the top portfolios and it is a well established fact .Normally only these ministers are included in the security committee of Cabinet.A ranking with in these portfolios are difficult.A thinking is that Home minister is number two as from the first union cabinet Sardar Patel having the Deputy PM having the charge of Home affairs. and in later LK Adavni also handled Home in AB Vajpayee ministry.But on analyzing the history in most of the congress ministries the number two, not be the home minister in the UPA regime Pranab Mukharjee was number two till he joins the presidents office but he never handled home affairs.And the present number two AK Antony also handling defense.so i am not ranking these four portfolios.
KEY SIX
Due to the vastness,importance and relation with the entire people six portfolios are selecting under the BIG FOUR.My selections are Trade and Commerce,Human Resource Development,Law and Justice, Agriculture,Railways and Petroleum..Here also some paradoxes like in the present cabinet Kapil sibal was handling HRD and telecom and after the latest reshuffle he lost HRD and now only in charge of telecom.It not means that he is degraded. HRD is a portfolio bigger than Telecom but on the scenarios after 2G scam Kapil siblal managed it very well and his presence required there.
HEAVY SIX
Another seven important portfolios are Telecommunications & IT,Information &Broadcasting,Urban Development,Surface Transport,Civil Aviation and Power.every time these are glamour portfolios and ministers handling this should be in limelight always.When Indira Gandhi Joined in Lal bahadoor shastri government she handled Information &Broadcasting.
LIME LIGHT
Budget allocation for this ministry is least and that only for administration even everybody likes this portfolio Normally experienced person handle.It is Parliamentary Affairs.
HEAVY THREE BUT...
These three portfolios are important but due to federal system states also have more roles and also not much in lime light.Includes Health &family Welfare,Food &Civil Supplies and Heavy industries. Earlier Industries a key portfolio.But now Small ,Medium and Agro industries separated and forms another ministry and also Industrial promotion comes under Commerce Ministry.Thus Industries ministry now loss their importance.For Food & Civil supplies it depends on Agriculture and also more roles for states.
INCREASING IMAGE &IMPORTANCE
A ministry not in lime light on past days but the rural employment assurance scheme it is the key portfolio.Whenever we heard about Rahul Gandhis entry in the cabinet the portfolio in news Rural development.
BIG WITHOUT GLAMOUR
These are big portfolios but the media attention is less.They have to do many things but the things happening are not good.Includes Water Resources and forest & Environment and Social Justice & empowerment .In the past all development agenda accomplished through social empowerment ministry but now it is divided over a number of ministries.if the ministers with vision and caliber can perform in water resources and in Environment but it is not so.Recently Jayaram ramesh performed good in Forest & Environment unfortunately he lost ..
SMALL BUT KEY
Two small ministries but very important are Corporate Affairs and Shipping.In the past Company affairs handled by finance ministers and shipping usually with surface transport.
FIVE INDUSTRY & COMMERCE RELATED
These are five ministries related with industries and commerce.Not heavy portfolios but having vital role in the nations trade and industrial sector.These are Coal,Mines,Steel,Chemical & Fertilizer, and Textiles.However no need for two ministries coal and mines but now two ministers.
THREE DEVELOPMENT RELATED
These are Labour & Rehabilitation,Sports & Youth Affairs,and Tourism. Even though these are not vital have its own importance and having own existence not created not able to add with any other ministry.
UNNECESSARY
In my opinion only the above ministries having own existence (even though some are associate with others).There are some other ministries.But these are created for ministry berth.All of these can associate with other ministries and no requirement for separate minister.most of them are development related or industry related.These can illustrate with a list
| Ministry | Parent or Associate's |
| Food Processing | Agriculture |
| Statistics,& Program me Implementation | Planning or Prime Minister |
| Drinking Water & Sanitation | Rural Development/Water Resources |
| Panchayathiraj | Rural Development |
| Micro,Small & Medium Enterprises | Heavy Industries & Public Enterprise |
| Women & Child Development | HRD/Health/Social Empowerment |
| North Eastern Region | Social Empowerment |
| Tribal Affairs | Social Empowerment |
| Minority Affairs | Social Empowerment |
| Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation | Urban Development |
| New & Renewable Energy | Power |
However we can hope more new ministries in future as every one need their own...
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