The Cabinet Secretariat’s Handbook on Writing Cabinet Notes sets out how a proposal reaches the Union Cabinet. Where a proposal affects other departments, “the concurrence of Departments whose business is impacted, must be obtained.” Their comments “are required to be incorporated in the main note.”
A department may not leave the disagreement for the Cabinet to settle. A note suggesting that a ministry’s views “may be given in the meetings” would, the handbook says, “normally be an unacceptable departure.” The rule is stated plainly: “Vigorous and proactive efforts are required to be made to obtain the views of the Departments concerned.”