Prime Minister Narendra Modi's decision to scrap GOMs, EGOMs gets Union Cabinet nod

NEW DELHI: The decision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to scrap 30 GoMs and EGoMs set up by the previous UPA government today received the formal nod of the Union Cabinet.

Dismantling the legacy of UPA rule, Modi had on May 31 abolished all the 30 Empowered Group of Ministers (EGoMs) and Group of Ministers (GoMs) and told ministries and departments concerned to take decisions on pending matters. He said the Prime Minister's Office will assist ministries in tackling complex issues.

"All the facts related to the GoMs were placed before the Cabinet. Governments used to function on the basis of GoMs and we decided to end these. We confirmed the decision to abolish such EGoMs and GoMs," Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad told reporters after the Cabinet meet.

Announcing the decision to scrap nine EGoMs and 21 GoMs, the PMO had said this would expedite the process of decision-making and "usher in greater accountability in the system."

The ministries and departments will now process the issues pending before EGoMs and GoMs and take appropriate decisions at the level of ministries and departments itself, said the statement.

Wherever the ministries face difficulties, the Cabinet Secretariat and the Prime Minister's Office will facilitate the decision-making process.

Former Defence Minister A K Antony was heading most of the EGoMs. The panels were formed to take decisions on issues like corruption, inter-state water disputes, administrative reforms and gas and telecom pricing.

EGoMs had the power to take decisions on the line of the Union Cabinet. The recommendations of the GoMs were to be placed before the Cabinet for a final call.