UPSC Prelims 2021 Question:

With reference to the Union Government, consider the following statements:

1. N. Gopalaswamy Iyengar Committee suggested that a minister and a secretary be designated solely for pursuing the subject of administrative reform and promoting it.
2. In the 1970, the Department of Personnel was constituted on the recommendation of the Administrative Reforms Commission, 1966, and this was placed under the Prime Minister’s charge.
   
   

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Explanation: 

• Sh. N. Gopalaswamy Ayyangar, in his Report namely ‘Reorganization of the Machinery of Central Government’ in 1950 recommended for the grouping of ministries, improvement in the capabilities of the personnel, and also in the working of the Organization & Method Division. It nowhere mentioned the minister and secretary to be solely in charge of administrative reforms. So, statement 1 is not correct.
  
  
• The First Administrative Reforms Commission, established in 1966, presented a report on Personnel Administration in 1969. The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) was established in 1970 following this report. The ARC suggested setting up a separate Department of Personnel, to be directly under the control of the Prime Minister. The Home Ministry previously oversaw public services. In 1985, it was designated as the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions. So, statement 2 is correct.
  
  

Therefore, option (2) is the correct answer.

Subject: Polity | Parliament