The government announced names of members to be included under the Group of Ministers (GoM). The GoM have to take a final call on the base price for 3G and BWA spectrum as well as number of players to be allowed in each circle.

The GoM includes Mr Pranab Mukherjee (External Affairs), Mr Lalu Prasad (Railway), Mr Ram Vilas Paswan (Chemical and Fertilisers), Mr A. Raja (Telecom), Mr Anand Sharma (I&B), Mr Sharad Pawar (Agriculture), Mr A. K. Antony (Defence), Mr H.R. Bhardwaj (Law) and the Planning Commission Deputy Chairman, Mr Montek Singh Ahluwalia.

“It has accordingly been decided with the approval of the Prime Minister to constitute a Group of Ministers. The GoM will be serviced by the Department of Telecom,” said a Cabinet Secretariat letter.

The DoT had asked the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) to review its 3G policy guidelines.  The CCEA in turn referred it to the GoM thereby delaying the auction process.

Even though the decision taken by the GoM will not come under the election code of conduct, normal convention suggests that politicians may refrain from taking any controversial decision just ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.