Union finance minister Pranab Mukherjee has asked bureaucrats to seek his consent before sending any policy note with financial implications to the Union Cabinet for approval.
The move to remind the ministries of the Central government became necessary after it was found that on several occasions bureaucrats had sent final notes for the consideration of the Union Cabinet without the knowledge of the finance minister, sources revealed.
Since the administrative head of the government is the Cabinet Secretary, his office has issued a circular asking all ministries to “obtain approval of the minister of finance” in all cases appraised by the Expenditure Finance Committee (EFC) and Public Investment Board (PIB). A copy of the circular is in the possession of this newspaper.
EFC appraisal is required in cases pertaining to planned and unplanned expenditure, whereas PIB clearance is required in cases involving investment through Central public sector enterprises. The two appraising bodies, interestingly, work under the ministry of finance.