Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC)
- Context: The Centre has appointed Secretaries in various Ministries and Departments. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved these appointments.
About Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC)
- The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) is the highest authority in the executive branch for approving appointments to senior positions in the Government of India.
- It has an important role in managing the country’s top administration because many high-level government appointments require its approval.
Composition
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- The ACC consists of only two members:
- Prime Minister
- Minister of Home Affairs
Legal Basis
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- It is an extra-constitutional body (not directly mentioned in the Constitution).
- It is formed under the Government of India (Transaction of Business) Rules, 1961.
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- These rules are made under Article 77 of the Constitution.
- It works as a sub-committee of the Union Cabinet.
Functions
- Senior Government Posts: Approves appointments of Secretaries, Additional Secretaries, Joint Secretaries, and other senior officers in the Central Government.
- PSUs and Banks: Approves the appointment of Chairpersons, Managing Directors, CEOs, and Directors of Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs), public sector banks, and financial institutions.
- Regulatory and Statutory Bodies: Approves appointments to important statutory, regulatory, and autonomous organisations.
Types of Appointments Handled by the ACC
- The ACC generally approves appointments for:
- Secretaries to the Government of India
- Additional Secretaries and officers of equivalent rank
- Heads of important government departments and organisations
- Senior officials in regulatory, statutory, and autonomous bodies where ACC approval is required
- Chairpersons, Chief Executives, or heads of major public institutions, according to the rules governing those posts.
