New Delhi: The Cabinet Secretariat has reportedly relaxed approval requirements for certain international agreements, allowing ministries to sign bilateral memoranda of understanding (MoUs) without prior clearance from the Union Cabinet, provided they do not involve financial commitments or major security implications.
Under the revised procedure, a clearance from the Ministry of External Affairs will be sufficient for such agreements. However, reports stated that the ministries concerned must report the signed agreement to the Cabinet within six months.
Previously, all MoUs or international agreements with foreign governments required prior Cabinet approval, regardless of their scope or significance. Officials said the change reflects the government’s effort to streamline administrative processes and avoid delays caused by lengthy approval procedures for relatively minor agreements
According to a communication issued to Union ministries on 18 February, the exemption will apply only to agreements vetted by the MEA and lacking binding financial obligations.
However, agreements involving national security concerns will still require clearance from the Cabinet Committee on Security before being finalised.
