Q6. The size of the cabinet should be as big as governmental work justifies and as big as the Prime Minister can manage as a team. How far is the efficacy of a government then inversely related to the size of the cabinet? Discuss.

Model Answer:

Introduction

A government’s efficacy largely depends on its cabinet’s effectiveness in implementing policies and maintaining cohesion. The ideal size of a cabinet should balance efficiency, representation, and manageability. However, there is debate about whether a larger cabinet enhances or hinders effective governance, as coordination and accountability become increasingly challenging with size.

Body

Inverse Relationship Between Cabinet Size and Government Efficacy

• Coordination and Decision-Making: A larger cabinet can lead to coordination challenges, as aligning the views of numerous ministers may slow down decision-making. A smaller cabinet can act swiftly and cohesively.
• Accountability and Responsibility: Smaller cabinets foster clearer accountability, as fewer ministers are responsible for specific areas, reducing the diffusion of responsibility. In larger cabinets, it may become difficult to pinpoint accountability, diluting oversight.
• Team Cohesion: Managing a large team often strains leadership and reduces unity, leading to factionalism and divided loyalties. A smaller, more manageable cabinet encourages teamwork and aligns ministers towards common goals.
• Communication Efficiency: In smaller cabinets, information sharing is streamlined, allowing for efficient communication between the Prime Minister and ministers. Larger cabinets may lead to fragmented communication, risking misalignment on policy issues.
• Financial Implications: A large cabinet imposes higher administrative costs, diverting resources that could be used for development. A leaner cabinet is more cost-effective, ensuring resources are allocated towards governance rather than administrative expenses.
• Focus on Expertise: Smaller cabinets allow for ministers with specialised expertise to handle key portfolios, enhancing policy formulation and implementation. Larger cabinets may involve ministers with overlapping responsibilities, creating redundancy.

Situations Where a Larger Cabinet May Be Beneficial

• Diverse Representation: In a diverse nation like India, a larger cabinet can accommodate regional, social, and political representation, strengthening inclusive governance.
• Workload Distribution: A larger cabinet can distribute portfolios more effectively, preventing overburdening of ministers and allowing them to focus on specific areas.

Conclusion

‍While a large cabinet can promote inclusive representation, it often poses challenges for efficiency and cohesion. Generally, smaller cabinets enhance government efficacy by streamlining communication, accountability, and decision-making. Thus, the size of the cabinet should be carefully calibrated to the Prime Minister’s capacity to manage the team effectively, ensuring that it is neither too large to hinder functionality nor too small to handle the scope of governance comprehensively.

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