Government of India 
            Cabinet Secretariat 
              Handbook on writing 
                      Cabinet Notes 
       
                               Updated till 15.04.2018 
            
            
                                                                       
                    Government of India 
                     Cabinet Secretariat 
            
            
            
            
            
            
            
            
            
            
            
                        Handbook on writing 
                                     Cabinet notes 
            
            
            
            
            
            
            
            
            
            
            
            
            
            
            
            
            
            
            
            
                                              https://cabsec.gov.in
                                                            
            
                                                           FOREWORD 
             
                      The  decisions  taken  by  the  Cabinet  and  Committees  of  the  Cabinet  are 
             fundamental  to  the  governance  of  the  country  and  form  the  basis  of  policy 
             formulation as also  for evaluating the impact of programmes, policies,   plans,   
             projects   and   schemes   of   the   Government.   The preparation of correct, 
             accurate and concise Cabinet notes is essential to facilitate decision making at the 
             highest level of the Government. 
             
             2.       For helping the Ministries/Departments write good quality Cabinet notes 
             that are conceptually clear, lucid and well-organized, the Cabinet Secretariat had 
             prepared a Handbook in 2011, capturing all necessary information on the subject. 
             The compilation has not only assisted the Ministries/ Departments but has also 
             contributed  towards improving the quality of Cabinet notes.  
              
             3.      Several new instructions  relating to preparation of Cabinet notes have since 
             been issued. While all these instructions are available on the website of the Cabinet 
             Secretariat (https://cabsec.gov.in), a need has been felt to update the Handbook by 
             reflecting all the extant instructions etc.  so that it can continue to serve as a single 
             reference document for preparation of Cabinet notes. Accordingly, the Handbook 
             has been updated. Besides preparation of the Cabinet notes, the Handbook also 
             explains  the  Rules  for  disposal  of  Business  in  the  Government,  including  the 
             process of amending the Government of India (Allocation of Business) Rules, 1961.  
             
             4.      I do hope that the  Ministries/ Departments will find this updated Handbook 
             useful.  
              
             5.      Suggestions  for  further  improvement  in  the  Handbook,  if  any,  may  be 
             forwarded to Director (Cabinet), Cabinet Secretariat, Rashtrapati Bhawan (e mail: 
             dir.cab-cabsec@nic.in)  
                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                        
                                                                      
             
                                                                                   Table of Contents 
                      
                      
                            Section                                                                                                                                                              Page No.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                                                                    
                             SECTION 1: SOME INTRODUCTORY ISSUES                                                                                                                                                        5 
                             SECTION 2: RULES OF BUSINESS IN BRIEF                                                                                                                                                      8 
                             SECTION 3: CONSOLIDATED INSTRUCTIONS                                                                                                                                                    11 
                             SECTION 4: FORWARDING CABINET NOTES                                                                                                                                                     39 
                             SECTION 5: CHECKLIST FOR AVOIDING COMMON DEFICIENCIES                                                                                                                                   42 
                             SECTION 6: SPECIMEN CABINET/COMMITTEES OF THE CABINET                                                                                                                                   48 
                             NOTE