Q. Consider the following statements:
1. Kitchen Cabinet is formed by the opposition party to prepare its members for future ministerial office.
2. The institution of Kitchen Cabinet is limited to Parliamentary form of Government in Britain only.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
A cabinet is a body of high-ranking state officials, typically consisting of the executive branch’s top leaders. Members of a cabinet are usually called cabinet ministers or secretaries
Statement 1 is incorrect: Kitchen cabinet” is a reference to a President’s or Prime Minister’s informal circle of advisers, as opposed to the official members of his cabinet. This informal body consists of the Prime Minister and two to four influential colleagues in whom he has faith and with whom he can discuss every problem. It advises the prime minister on important political and administrative issues and assists him in making crucial decisions. It is composed of not only cabinet ministers but also outsiders like friends and family members of the prime minister.
Statement 2 is incorrect: The phenomenon of ‘kitchen cabinet’ (where decisions are cooked and placed before the cabinet for formal approval) is not unique to Britain. It also exists in USA (Presidential Form of Government) and India and is quite powerful in influencing government decisions there. During the era of Indira Gandhi, the ‘Inner Cabinet’ which came to be called the ‘Kitchen Cabinet’ was particularly powerful.
| Important Tips ‘Shadow Cabinet’ is formed by the Opposition party to balance the ruling cabinet and to prepare its members for future ministerial offices |
