# Appointments Committee of the Cabinet

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) is a high-level committee within the Government of India responsible for appointing senior officials to key positions in the central government and public sector undertakings. Established in 1950, the ACC is chaired by the Prime Minister of India and includes the Minister of Home Affairs as a member. The committee plays a crucial role in selecting and appointing individuals to various top posts, including the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister of India, National Security Advisor, Cabinet Secretary, Chief of Defence Staff, Secretaries to Government of India, and heads of intelligence agencies, among others. The ACC's decisions are processed through the Establishment Officer's Division of the Department of Personnel and Training, which functions as the committee's secretariat. As one of the eight Cabinet Committees of India, the ACC's composition and functions are designed to ensure efficient and transparent selection processes for critical government positions.

## Appointments decided

The Establishment Officer's Division (EO Division) processes all proposals for senior appointments in the Government of India that require the approval of the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet under the Government of India Transactions of Business Rules, 1961. The committee makes appointments to posts of
* Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister of India
* National Security Advisor
* Cabinet Secretary
* Chief of Defence Staff
* Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Naval Staff, and Chief of Air Staff
* Secretaries to the Government of India
* Chiefs of all Army, Naval and Air Force Commands (GOC-in-C, FOC-in-C, AOC-in-C)
* Director General, Defence Intelligence Agency
* Director General Military Operations
* Scientific Advisor to the Defence Minister
* Director General Armed Forces Medical Services
* Director General of Ordnance
* Director-General of Defence Estates
* Controller General of Defence Accounts
* Director of Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (MP-IDSA)
* Solicitor General of India
* Governor of the Reserve Bank of India
* Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of India
* Executive Director of World Bank
* Chairperson and Members of the Railway Board
* Chief Vigilance Officers and directors of the board in Public Sector Undertakings.
* Secretariat posts of and above the rank of Joint secretary to the Government of India.
* Chief of Securities and Exchange Board of India
This Committee decides on all important empanelments and shift of officers serving on Central deputation. In addition, all appointments by promotion that require ACC approval are processed through the E.O. Division. For this purpose, the Establishment Officer functions as the Secretary to the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet.
The Additional Secretary and Establishment Officer in the Department of Personnel and Training is the ex-officio Member Secretary of the Civil Services Board that is chaired by the Cabinet Secretary. This Board makes recommendations for appointments in respect of the posts of Deputy Secretary, Director and Joint Secretary under the Central Staffing Scheme. In addition, the Board makes recommendations to the ACC for the inclusion of officers in the Joint Secretaries suitability list.
Furthermore, the Establishment Officer is Member Secretary of the Screening Committee, chaired by the Cabinet Secretary and including Secretary (P) and Finance Secretary, that has been constituted for the screening of cases of assignments under Rule 6(2)(ii) of the AIS (Cadre) Rules 1954 and assignments in international organizations in respect of JS level and above officers of organized Group ‘A’ and Group ‘B’ services. The EO is also Member Secretary of the Central Establishment Board (CEB), which is chaired by Secretary (Personnel). This Board makes recommendations for deputing officers on foreign training, assessment of Central Secretariat Service officers for appointments to the posts of Deputy Secretary and Director in the Ministries/Departments as well as premature retirement under the relevant rules in respect of officers below the rank of Joint Secretary.

## Cabinet Committees of India

The eight Committees of the Cabinet are:
* Appointments Committee of the Cabinet
* Cabinet Committee on Accommodation
* Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs
* Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs
* Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs
* Cabinet Committee on Security
* Cabinet Committee on Investment and Growth
* Cabinet Committee on Employment and Skill Development
All committees of the cabinet except that of Parliamentary Affairs and Accommodation are chaired by the Prime Minister. Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs is headed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh under both Modi ministries i.e. 2014-19 and 2019–2024.
In the Second Modi ministry, Prime Minister Narendra Modi formed two new committees under his chairmanship to focus on two key concerns: Employment and Skill Development, and Investment and Growth.