UPSC Prelims 2014 · GS Paper I
Question 58: Polity and Governance
Which of the following is/are the function/functions of the Cabinet Secretariat?
- 1.Preparation of agenda for Cabinet Meetings
- 2.Secretarial assistance to Cabinet Committees
- 3.Allocation of financial resources to the Ministries
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
AnswerUPSC’s answer is (c).
The Cabinet Secretariat is under the direct charge of the Prime Minister. Its functions include preparing the agenda for Cabinet meetings, circulating papers and recording decisions, and giving secretarial assistance to the Cabinet and its committees. It does not allocate financial resources to ministries: that is done through the Budget and the Ministry of Finance. So only statements 1 and 2 are right.
- 1. It prepares the agenda for Cabinet meetings.
- 2. It gives secretarial assistance to Cabinet committees.
- 3. Financial resources are allocated through the Budget and the Finance Ministry.
How you could have got this
- If you were sure statement 2 is correct, (a) goes: it leaves 2 out.
What you needed to know: It gives secretarial assistance to Cabinet committees.
- Then, if you were sure statement 3 is not correct, (b) and (d) go: each of them includes 3.
What you needed to know: Financial resources are allocated through the Budget and the Finance Ministry.
Only (c) is left. You didn’t need statement 1.
Which options go is worked out from UPSC’s key and the options, not by a model.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Wrong. It also assists Cabinet committees.
- (b) Wrong. Allocating funds is not its function.
- (c) Right. Agenda preparation and secretarial help to committees are its functions.
- (d) Wrong. Statement 3 is false; funds are allocated through the Finance Ministry.
Answer: UPSC’s key. Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2014, General Studies Paper I, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.