With reference to the Union Government, consider the following statements:
1. N. Gopalaswamy Ayyangar Committee suggested that a minister and a secretary be designated solely for pursuing the subject of administrative reform and promoting it.
2. In 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
Statement 1 is incorrect: The N. Gopalaswamy Ayyangar Committee (Report on Reorganisation of the Machinery of Central Government, 1949-1950) focused on grouping ministries, restructuring cabinet committees, and setting up an Organization and Methods (O&M) division. It did not propose creating a minister and secretary designated exclusively for administrative reforms.
Statement 2 is correct: The First Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC, 1966), chaired initially by Morarji Desai and later by K. Hanumanthaiah, recommended establishing a separate central personnel department. Consequently, the Department of Personnel was created in 1970 within the Cabinet Secretariat directly under the Prime Minister’s overall charge (later evolving into the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions).
Hence, only statement 2 is correct — Option B.