The executive machinery of the Government of India functions through institutional structures established under the Government of India (Allocation of Business) Rules, 1961, and the Government of India (Transaction of Business) Rules, 1961, framed pursuant to Article 77(3) of the Constitution. Cabinet Committees are extra-constitutional organizational devices set up by the Prime Minister to facilitate division of labour, reduce cabinet workload, and ensure inter-ministerial coordination. Among standing cabinet committees, the Prime Minister heads the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC), Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs (CCPA, often described as a Super-Cabinet), and Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS). The Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs and Cabinet Committee on Accommodation are chaired by senior ministers. The Cabinet Secretariat operates directly under the Prime Minister, headed by the Cabinet Secretary—the senior-most civil servant and ex-officio Chairman of the Civil Services Board. In parallel, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), originally established as the Prime Minister's Secretariat in 1947 and renamed in 1977, provides secretarial assistance and strategic policy advice to the head of government, managed by the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister.
High-yield conceptual summaries for competitive exams and rapid revision.
Cabinet Committees are extra-constitutional bodies established under the Transaction of Business Rules, 1961 (Article 77(3)).
Key committees headed by the Prime Minister include the Appointments Committee, Economic Affairs, Political Affairs, and Security.
The Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs (CCPA) is commonly referred to as the Super-Cabinet due to its sweeping policy oversight.
The Cabinet Secretary is the senior-most civil servant in India and acts as the administrative head of the Cabinet Secretariat.
The Prime Minister's Office (PMO), renamed from Prime Minister's Secretariat in 1977, is administratively headed by the Principal Secretary.
Showing 25 Curated Questions321 Total in Bank
1ID: GK-EDUC-00325
hardNEP 2020 & Historical Education Commissions
Which former Cabinet Secretary chaired the 5-member 'Committee for Evolution of the New Education Policy' that submitted its comprehensive report to the Ministry of HRD in May 2016?
Verified Explanation
The Committee for Evolution of the New Education Policy was constituted under former Cabinet Secretary T.S.R. Subramanian in October 2015. It submitted its report on 27 May 2016, recommending an all-India education service, examination reforms, and revamped teacher governance.
2ID: GK-EDUC-00354
easyApex Regulators (UGC, NCERT, AICTE, NTA)
The National Testing Agency (NTA), established to conduct premier national entrance tests like JEE Main, NEET-UG, CUET, and UGC-NET, was approved by the Union Cabinet in which year?
Verified Explanation
The Union Cabinet approved the establishment of the National Testing Agency (NTA) in November 2017 as an autonomous, self-sustained premier testing organization registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 to relieve CBSE and AICTE from conducting entrance exams.
3ID: GK-EDUC-00390
hardNEP 2020 & Historical Education Commissions
Prior to the Kasturirangan Committee, which committee constituted under a former Cabinet Secretary submitted its report titled 'Draft National Policy on Education 2016' in May 2016?
Verified Explanation
The Committee for Evolution of the New Education Policy, chaired by former Cabinet Secretary T. S. R. Subramanian, submitted its report in May 2016, laying early foundational inputs that were subsequently expanded into the draft NEP 2019 by Dr. K. Kasturirangan.
4ID: GK-INST-00199
easyNITI Aayog, Planning History & Inter-State Council
Who is the senior-most civil servant in the Government of India, heading the Cabinet Secretariat and serving as the ex-officio Chairman of the Civil Services Board?
Verified Explanation
The Cabinet Secretary is the top-most executive official and senior-most civil servant of the Republic of India, acting as the head of the Cabinet Secretariat and ex-officio head of the Civil Services Board.
5ID: GK-INST-00226
hardNITI Aayog, Planning History & Inter-State Council
In the structural apparatus of the National Security Council (NSC), which apex multi-ministerial mechanism chaired by the Cabinet Secretary provides primary inter-agency integration of national security inputs?
Verified Explanation
The Strategic Policy Group (SPG) was reconstituted in 2018 with the Cabinet Secretary as its Chairman to serve as the principal mechanism for inter-ministerial coordination and integration of national security strategic policy.
6ID: GK-INST-00239
hardNHRC, NCW, NCSC, NCST & CIC
Under the Chemical Weapons Convention Act, 2000, which statutory agency functioning as an attached office of the Cabinet Secretariat serves as the national focal point for the OPCW in India?
Verified Explanation
The National Authority, Chemical Weapons Convention (NACWC) was established under the Chemical Weapons Convention Act, 2000 as an attached office of the Cabinet Secretariat to fulfill India's treaty obligations under the CWC.
7ID: GK-INST-00342
hardNITI Aayog, Planning History & Inter-State Council
Under the National Institution for Transforming India resolution, what is the maximum number of Union Cabinet Ministers that can be nominated by the Prime Minister as Ex-officio Members of NITI Aayog?
Verified Explanation
Under the Cabinet Resolution, the Prime Minister nominates up to a maximum of 4 members of the Union Council of Ministers as Ex-officio Members of NITI Aayog.
8ID: GK-INST-00444
easyNITI Aayog, Planning History & Inter-State Council
On which date did the Government of India officially establish NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India) via a Cabinet Resolution?
Verified Explanation
NITI Aayog was established on January 1, 2015 via a Union Cabinet Resolution, replacing the 65-year-old Planning Commission of India.
9ID: GK-SCHM-00201
easyUrban Infrastructure, Smart Cities & Energy Missions
Under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana - Urban 2.0 (PMAY-U 2.0) approved by the Union Cabinet in August 2024, financial assistance is targeted to construct or purchase how many houses for urban poor and middle-class families?
Verified Explanation
In August 2024, the Union Cabinet approved PMAY-Urban 2.0 with an investment of ₹10 lakh crore to provide financial assistance for constructing, purchasing, or renting 1 crore houses for urban poor and middle-class families over five years.
10ID: GK-SCHM-00600
hardAyushman Bharat, Swachh Bharat & PMAY
In September 2024, what landmark expansion of the Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY scheme was approved by the Union Cabinet for senior citizens?
Verified Explanation
In September 2024, the Union Cabinet approved the expansion of Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY to provide health coverage of Rs 5 lakh per year to all senior citizens aged 70 years and above, irrespective of socio-economic status, under a distinct top-up card.
11ID: GK-INDM-00685
easyFirst in India: Women & Pioneering Female Achievers
Who was the first woman to hold a Union Cabinet rank in Independent India, serving as the Minister of Health from 1947 to 1957?
Verified Explanation
Rajkumari Amrit Kaur was appointed as India's first Minister of Health in Jawaharlal Nehru's inaugural Cabinet in 1947 and held the portfolio for ten years. She was instrumental in establishing the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi under the AIIMS Act, 1956.
12ID: GK-INDM-00789
easyFirst in India: Women & Pioneering Female Achievers
Who served as the first woman Cabinet Minister of independent India, holding the portfolio of Union Minister for Health from 1947 to 1957?
Verified Explanation
Rajkumari Amrit Kaur was inducted into Jawaharlal Nehru's first Cabinet on August 15, 1947, as the Union Minister for Health. During her ten-year tenure, she was instrumental in establishing the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi under the AIIMS Act, 1956.
13ID: GK-HIST-00628
mediumFreedom Struggle & National Movement
The three-member Cabinet Mission sent to India in March 1946 included Lord Pethick-Lawrence, Sir Stafford Cripps, and which British official?
Verified Explanation
The British Cabinet Mission of 1946 was composed of three cabinet ministers: Lord Pethick-Lawrence (Secretary of State), Sir Stafford Cripps (President of the Board of Trade), and A.V. Alexander (First Lord of the Admiralty).
14ID: GK-HIST-01037
hardIndian Freedom Struggle & National Movement
Under the three-tier grouping formula proposed by the British Cabinet Mission in May 1946, which provinces were placed in 'Section B'?
Verified Explanation
The Cabinet Mission Plan of 16 May 1946 grouped the British Indian provinces into three sections: Section A (Hindu-majority provinces: Madras, Bombay, UP, CP, Bihar, Orissa), Section B (Muslim-majority northwestern provinces: Punjab, NWFP, Sind), and Section C (Muslim-majority northeastern provinces: Bengal and Assam). Disagreements over the compulsory nature of grouping led to the plan's collapse.
15ID: GK-LANG-00017
easyOfficial Classical Languages & Criteria
In October 2024, the Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister approved Classical Language status for how many new languages simultaneously?
Verified Explanation
On 3 October 2024, the Union Cabinet approved conferring the status of Classical Language on 5 languages: Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese (Asamiya), and Bengali (Bangla).
16ID: GK-LANG-00071
easyOfficial Classical Languages & Criteria
In October 2024, the Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister approved Classical Language status for which major language of Maharashtra?
Verified Explanation
On 3 October 2024, the Union Cabinet approved Classical Language status for Marathi along with Bengali, Assamese, Pali, and Prakrit.
17ID: GK-LANG-00327
easyOfficial Classical Languages & Criteria
In October 2024, the Union Cabinet approved Classical Language status for which set of five languages?
Verified Explanation
On 3 October 2024, the Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister approved the conferment of Classical Language status to Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese, and Bengali, taking the total count of Classical Languages in India to 11.
18ID: GK-LANG-00388
easyOfficial Classical Languages & Criteria
In October 2024, the Union Cabinet approved Classical Language status for how many new languages, bringing the total to 11?
Verified Explanation
On October 3, 2024, the Union Cabinet chaired by PM Narendra Modi conferred Classical Language status on 5 languages: Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese, and Bengali, increasing the total count from 6 to 11.
19ID: GK-LANG-00504
easyOfficial Classical Languages & Criteria
In October 2024, how many new languages were approved by the Union Cabinet to be conferred the status of Classical Language, taking India's total classical languages count to 11?
Verified Explanation
On 3 October 2024, the Union Cabinet chaired by PM Narendra Modi approved classical language status for 5 new languages: Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese, and Bengali, expanding the total number from 6 to 11.
20ID: GK-LANG-00565
easyOfficial Classical Languages & Criteria
Following the Union Cabinet decision in October 2024 adding five new languages, what is the total number of officially recognized Classical Languages of India?
Verified Explanation
Following the Cabinet approval on 3 October 2024 conferring Classical Language status to Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese, and Bengali, the total number of recognized Classical Languages of India reached 11 (previously 6: Tamil, Sanskrit, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Odia).
21ID: GK-LANG-00569
easyOfficial Classical Languages & Criteria
In October 2024, the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi conferred Classical Language status to how many languages simultaneously?
Verified Explanation
On 3 October 2024, the Union Cabinet approved conferring Classical Language status to 5 languages: Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese, and Bengali, expanding the total count of Classical Languages of India from 6 to 11.
22ID: GK-MNRL-00140
mediumCritical Minerals Mission, Lithium & REEs
In March 2024, what specific royalty rates based on the London Metal Exchange (LME) / international prices were approved by the Union Cabinet for Niobium and Rare Earth Elements (REE)?
Verified Explanation
The Union Cabinet amended the Second Schedule of the MMDR Act to specify rationalized royalty rates of 4% of Average Sale Price (LME/benchmark) for Niobium and 1% of Rare Earth Oxide price for Rare Earth Elements, creating attractive conditions for commercial auction tranches.
What total financial outlay was approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) for the multi-year implementation of India's Deep Ocean Mission?
Verified Explanation
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the Deep Ocean Mission in June 2021 with a total estimated budget of Rs 4,077 crore over a five-year period to support deep-sea mining, human submersibles, marine biotechnology, and ocean climate services.
24ID: GK-HLTH-00018
mediumAyushman Bharat, NHM & National Health Policy
In September 2024, the Union Cabinet approved the universal expansion of Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY health coverage to all senior citizens of what minimum age, irrespective of their income or economic status?
Verified Explanation
In September 2024, the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved health coverage to all senior citizens aged 70 years and above irrespective of income under Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY, providing them a separate ₹5 lakh annual top-up health cover.
25ID: GK-HLTH-00253
easyAyushman Bharat, NHM & National Health Policy
In September 2024, the Union Cabinet approved the expansion of Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY health insurance coverage to which new demographic group regardless of income?
Verified Explanation
In September 2024, the Union Cabinet approved universal health coverage under AB PM-JAY for all senior citizens aged 70 years and above, irrespective of their socio-economic status. Eligible senior citizens receive a dedicated top-up health insurance cover of up to 5 lakh rupees per family per year. This expansion aims to significantly reduce out-of-pocket medical expenses for elderly citizens.