PARLIAMENTARY

COMMITTEES
AN OVERVIEW
PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEES : AN INTRODUCTION
• Parliamentary Committee means a committee which is appointed or elected by the House or
nominated by the Speaker and which works under the direction of the Speaker and presents its
report to the House or to the Speaker.
• Parliamentary Committees are seen as House in microcosm, in the sense that that their composition
closely resembles that of the House. That is why, they are also called Mini parliament.
• The work done by the Parliament is not only varied and complex in nature, but also considerable in
volume. That is the reason Parliament transacts a great deal of its business through its committees.
• Main Reasons for the growing importance of Committees are :
➢ Limited time at the disposal of Parliament
➢ Matters can be examined in detail by the Committees
➢ Committees are able to handle subjects of technical nature because they have the assistance of domain experts
➢ Saves the time of the Parliament
PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEES : AN INTRODUCTION
• Every committee consists of a Chairperson and certain number of Members. The number of Members vary in each Committee. The Chairperson
presides over the sitting of a Committee. The Chairperson is responsible for scheduling of sittings of the Committee and other day to day
administrative matters. The secretarial assistance is provided by the Lok Sabha Secretariat or the Rajya Sabha Secretariat.

• As per convention, the decisions in committees are taken by consensus. However, in case any member has some reservation, he or she may give
dissent note which is appended to the final report.
• By their nature, Parliamentary Committees are of two kinds:

Standing Committees and

Ad hoc Committees.

• Standing Committees are permanent and regular committees which are constituted from time to time in pursuance of the provisions of an Act of
Parliament or Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha. The work of these Committees is of continuous nature. The Financial
Committees, DRSCs and some other Committees come under the category of Standing Committees.
• Ad hoc Committees are appointed for a specific purpose and they cease to exist when they finish the task assigned to them and submit a report.
Examples are Joint Committees, Select Committees on Bills, other JPCs, etc.
PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEES : AN INTRODUCTION
• The principal Ad hoc Committees are the Select and Joint Committees on Bills.
Railway Convention Committee, Joint Committee on Food Management in
Parliament House Complex etc also come under the category of ad hoc
Committees.
• Broadly, the Parliamentary Committees may be classified into the following
categories:
(a) Financial Committees
(b) Departmentally Related Standing Committees.
(c) Other Parliamentary Standing Committees; and
(d) Ad hoc Committees.
FINANCIAL COMMITTEES : AN OVERVIEW
Name of Committee Strength House Membership Chairman

Estimates Committee 30 Lok Sabha Members of Lok Sabha elect through Chairman is appointed
the proportional representation by the speaker from the
method by the Single Transferable members.
Vote system.
Public accounts 22 Both Lok Sabha and Members of Lok Sabha elect through Chairman is appointed
committee the proportional representation by the speaker from the
(15 LS +7 RS) Rajya Sabha
method by the Single Transferable members.
Vote system.

Committee on PSU 22 Both Lok Sabha and Members of Lok Sabha elect through Chairman is appointed
proportional representation method by the speaker from the
(15 LS +7 RS) Rajya Sabha
by the Single Transferable Vote members of Lok Sabha
system. only.
 FINANCIAL COMMITTEES
• Estimate Committee, established in 1950 for the first time, has a very important role to play. It reports as to what
economies, improvements in organisation, efficiency or administrative reform, consistent with the policy underlying
the estimates may be effected in the Government of India. It also suggests alternative policies in order to bring
about efficiency and economy in administration and examines whether the money is well laid out within the limits
of the policy implied in the estimates. It also suggests the form in which the estimates shall be presented to
Parliament. Therefore this Committee covers the entire gamut of the Ministries and organisations under the
Government of India.
• Other Financial Committees such as PAC and CoPU work closely with the CAG. They work as watchdogs on behalf
of the Parliament.
• PAC is the oldest parliamentary committee. It was first constituted way back in 1861, but its real origin is in 1921
when it was given actual powers and assistance of professionals to do its work. After independence, it started
working as a full fledged parliamentary committee under the Speaker.
• In 1967, a convention was set to appoint a member of the opposition party as its Chairperson. Shri M R Masani
was the first opposition leader to be the Chairperson of the PAC. This healthy convention is still continuing.
• Its major focus is to examine whether the moneys have been spent for the purpose they were allocated. It does
not act as an accountant, rather it also examines from the viewpoint of wisdom, faithfulness and economy in
expenditure.
FINANCIAL COMMITTEES
• One of the main functions of the PAC is to examine the Audit Report of the CAG. Till the third
Lok Sabha, all the audit paras of the CAG were examined. However, as the numbers of audit
paras increased substantially, the PAC started to examine the paras selectively. For paras not
taken up for examination, PAC uses the practice of asking the Ministries to submit a mote
indicating corrective/remedial actions taken, duly vetted by Audit.
• PAC has been effective in introducing financial discipline in the Government expenditure. The
consciousness in the administration that there is a parliamentary body to scrutinize what is
being done by it, acts as a deterrent against any tendency towards slackness, negligence or
arbitrariness.
• PAC is an extremely prestigious committee and some of its reports have led to major changes
in Government policy. In its third report of the first Lok Sabha, the Committee had
recommended the separation of Audit from Accounts which was later endorsed by the
Administrative Reforms Commission in 1968 and implemented by the Government in 1976.
There have been major impact of the PAC recommendations on governments taxation policy,
fiscal responsibility and other such issues.
 FINANCIAL COMMITTEES
• The Committee on Public Undertaking (CoPU) was constituted for the first time in
1964. Its constitution was necessitated on account of the need to exercise
parliamentary financial control over public enterprises which were being controlled
and managed by the Government of India. A substantial proportion of public money
was being invested in these undertakings and it was considered necessary to have
some sort of parliamentary oversight on these undertakings.
• Its function is to examine the reports and accounts of public undertakings (PU),
reports of the CAG on PUs, to examine whether the affairs of Pus are being handled
in accordance with sound business principles and prudent commercial practices.
• Like PAC, it also receives the assistance of the CAG in discharging its functions.
DEPARTMENTALLY RELATED STANDING COMMITTEES

• DRSCs came into being in 1993 so that Parliament may exercise its oversight functions in
relation to each Ministry more closely. Initially there were 17 DRSCs. In 2004, the number
of DRSCs was increased to 24.
• Every such Committee has 31 members. Each Committee contains 21 members from Lok
Sabha & 10 members of Rajya Sabha. Ministers are not members of DRSCs.
• Of these 24 Committees, 16 DRSCs are serviced by the Lok Sabha sect and 8 are serviced
by the Rajya Sabha Sectt. Members of Lok Sabha is nominated by the Hon. Speaker, Lok
Sabha, whereas members of Rajya Sabha is nominated by the Chairman of the Rajya
Sabha. Each Committee has a Chairperson as nominated by Hon. Speaker and Chairman,
Lok Sabha.
DEPARTMENTALLY RELATED STANDING COMMITTEES

• Every Ministry of the Union of India fall within the jurisdiction of one of the DRSCs. The broad
Functions of DRSCs are
(a) Consideration of the Demands for Grants,
(b) Examination of Bills referred to them by the Chairman, Rajya Sabha, or the Speaker,
Lok Sabha, as the case may be.
(c) Consideration of Annual Reports on the Ministries.
(d) Consideration of national basic long term policy documents presented to the House and
referred to the Committee by the Chairman, Rajya Sabha, or the Speaker, Lok Sabha, as
the case may be.
• These committees do not consider matters of day-to-day administration of the
Ministries/Departments concerned.
OTHER PARLIAMENTARY STANDING COMMITTEES
• In addition to the DRSCs, there are certain other Parliamentary Standing
Committees constituted to discharge specific functions in relation to the work
of Parliament.
• The membership of these Committees differ. Some of these Committees are
constituted separately for the two Houses while some of these committees
have members from both the Houses.
• An overview of these Committees are given in the Following pages.
OTHER PARLIAMENTARY STANDING COMMITTEES
Name Number of House Membership Chairman
Members
Business advisory 15 LS Separate for both The members are The Chairman and
committee houses nominated by the Speaker are ex-officio
11 RS
Speaker or the Chairmen.
Chairman.
Committee on Private 15 Lok Sabha only The members are Deputy Speaker is the
members Bills and nominated by the ex officio
Resolutions Speaker. Chairperson.
Committee on the 15 Lok Sabha only The members are –
absence of members nominated by the
from the sitting of the Speaker.
House
Rules Committee 15 LS Separate for both The members are Speaker and
houses nominated by the Chairman are the ex-
16 RS
Speaker or the officio chairman.
Chairman.
OTHER PARLIAMENTARY STANDING COMMITTEES
Name of the Strength House Membership Chairman
Committee
Government Assurance 15 LS Separate for both houses nominated by the Presiding Officer. As appointed by the Presiding Officer

10 RS
Paper Laid on the Table 15 LS Separate for both houses nominated by the Presiding Officer As appointed by the Presiding Officer

10 RS
Subordinate Legislation 15 LS Separate for both houses nominated by the Presiding Officer. As appointed by the Presiding Officer

15 RS
Welfare of SC and ST 30 Both Lok Sabha and Rajya nominated by the Presiding Officer As appointed by the Presiding
Sabha Officer
(20 LS +10 RS)

Women Empowerment 30 Both Lok Sabha and Rajya nominated by the Presiding Officer As appointed by the Presiding
Sabha Officer
(20 LS +10 RS)

Offices of Profit (Joint) 15 Both Lok Sabha and Rajya nominated by the Presiding Officer As appointed by the Presiding
Sabha Officer
(10 LS +5 RS)
OTHER PARLIAMENTARY STANDING COMMITTEES
Name of the Committee Strength House Membership Chairman

Committee on petitions 15 LS Separate for both houses Nominated by the Speaker or the As appointed by the
Chairman. Presiding Officer
10 RS

Committee on privilege 15 LS Separate for both houses Nominated by the Speaker or the As appointed by the
Chairman. Presiding Officer
10 RS

Ethics committee 15 LS Separate for both houses Nominated by the Speaker or the As appointed by the
Chairman. Presiding Officer
10 RS

General Purposes Committee No Fixed Strength Separate for both Houses Nominated by the Speaker or the Speaker or Chairman
Chairman.

Rules Committee 15 Separate for both Houses Nominated by the Speaker or the Speaker or Chairman
Chairman.

Library Committee 6 LS Joint Nominated by the Speaker or the As appointed by the

3 RS Chairman. Presiding Officer
AD HOC COMMITTEES
• Additionally, there are certain Committees of the Parliament which are constituted for specific or
defined objectives. These Committees are constituted/reconstituted as per need. For example:

Joint Parliamentary Committee On Maintenance Of Heritage Character And Development Of Parliament House Complex

Committee On Food Management In Parliament House Complex

Committee On Installation Of Potraits Statues Of National Leaders And Parliamentarians In Parliament House Complex

Committee On Security In Parliament Complex

MPLADS Committee

Committee On Provision Of Computers To Members Of Lok Sabha

Railway Convention Committee

Committee On Violation Of Protocol Norms And Contemptuous Behaviour Of Government Officers With Members Of Lok Sabha

Committee On Welfare Of Other Backward Classes

Committee To Inquire Into The Improper Conduct Of A Member
JOINT PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEES/SELECT COMMITTEES
• Any Committee which has members of both Houses is a Joint Committee. They may be
standing committees or constituted for a specific purpose by the House.
• Joint Committee is constituted either on a motion adopted by one House and agreed
to by the other House. Such a Committee can be constituted also by the Presiding
Officers of the two Houses. In case there is disagreement between the two Houses,
Joint Committee cannot be constituted.
• Select Committees are usually constituted to deliberate on the provisions of a Bill. It is
done on the motion of the House. The motion itself lays down the names of the
members who will be in the Committee. The willingness of Members to serve on such
a Committee are ascertained in advance. Ministers who are members of the other
House may become member but they do not have the right to vote.
JOINT PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEES (JPC)
• Sometimes the issue of constitution of JPC becomes a contentious issue. Whenever any incident of mismanagement of
public money or any other incident of national importance comes to light, there is a demand to get the issue
examined by a JPC. There have been many occasions when JPCs were formed to examine such issues.

• Such JPCs have been formed on the following issues:

1. Joint Committee To Examine The Constitutional And Legal Position Relating To Office Of Profit

2. JPC To Enquire Into Irregularities In Securities And Banking Transactions

3. JPC To Enquire Into Bofors Contract

4. JPC On Stock Market Scam And Matters Relating Thereto (Ketan Mehta Scam)

5. JPC On Pesticide Residues In And Safety Standard For Soft Drinks, Fruit Juice And Other
Beverages

6. JPC To Examine Matters Relating To Allocation And Pricing Of Telecom Licenses And Spectrum
GENERAL POINTS ABOUT THE COMMITTEES
• The term of a Committee is one year. But Members are usually re-appointed.
• Members may resign from a Committee. Such a letter should be addressed to
Speaker and not the Chairperson of the Committee. The resignation is
automatic, it means that Speaker does not have to accept it. It is ineffective
only in case of any defect. If it is Joint Committee, the letter has to be sent to
the Presiding Officer of the House to which the member belongs.
• Usually, Ministers are not Members of Committees. Once a member is
appointed a minister, he or she automatically ceases to be member of the
Committee.
POWERS AND FUNCTIONS
• Parliamentary Committees derive their powers from the Constitution, Rules of
Procedure and Directions of the Speaker. Following powers are common to all
Committees:
• Power to appoint Sub-Committees
• Power to take evidence or Call for documents
• Power to send for persons, papers and records
• Power to make special reports
• Power to devise its own procedures
SALIENT FEATURES
• Sittings of a Committee are held during the session of Lok Sabha. However, sitting during
inter-session are also held. It is a common practice to schedule the sitting of a Committee after
3 PM on the days when the House is in session. Time and date of a sitting are fixed by the
Chairman. Venue is always in the PHE.
• Quorum for a sitting is one-third of the members of the Committee. Of late, there has been
some instances of a Committee sitting not being held due to lack of quorum. On this account,
there has been a discussion to reduce the quorum for the sittings. But no final decision has
been taken.
• Sittings of the Committees are held in private and are not open to public. No outsider or press
is admitted to the sittings. The sittings of a Committee are considered as confidential.
• No member can brief the press about the deliberations in the Committee. However, with the
permission of Speaker, the Chairperson may brief the press.
• Proceedings in Committees are broadly conducted in the same manner but in a more informal
atmosphere. A member can speak more than once on a subject.
SALIENT FEATURES
• All questions at a sitting of a Committee are decided by a majority of votes of the
members present and voting. However, as far as possible, effort is made to arrive at
a consensus. If it is not possible, then the difference in opinion are recorded.
• Ministers are generally not called before the Committee to give evidence. However,
in some cases, Ministers were called to give evidence. This happened when the JPC
was examining the irregularities in securities and banking transactions.
• The officials under the State Government are called before the Committee only after
the express approval of the Speaker.
• After its constitution, the Committee in its first sitting, chooses the subjects for detailed
examination and report. After the selection of subjects, the same is circulated to all
the members through Bulletin Part- II.
SALIENT FEATURES
• Thereafter, it is the prerogative of the Chairperson to decide as to which subjects are
to be taken and in what sequence.
• In the course of its sittings, the Committee calls the senior officials of the ministries
and PSUs to give oral evidence before the Committee. A list of points pertaining to
the subject is also sent to the Ministry for written answers.
• The written answers are circulated among members so that they are aware of the
complete picture about the subject.
• If considered necessary, private individuals/stakeholders/subject experts are also
called to depose before the committee.
• After every sitting of the committee, minutes of the sitting are prepared to capture
the happenings within the sitting.
STUDY TOURS OF THE COMMITTEE
• Committees may undertake on the spot study tours to acquaint itself with the
working of an institution or establishment under its examination.
• While on tour, Committee holds informal sittings. The aim is to get in depth
knowledge of the issue or situation. No decisions are taken at these meetings.
• After the completion of the tour, a tour report is prepared by the Committee.
• The study tour may be undertaken by the full committee or the sub-committee.
• As per extant rules, a Committee is allowed to take two study tours during its
term of one year subject to a maximum of 10 days in total.
REPORTS OF THE COMMITTEE
• After it is felt that the examination of a subject has been completed by the Committee, a draft
report is prepared by the Secretariat. After the approval of the Chairperson, the draft report
is circulated among Members.
• The report is put before the Committee for adoption at the formal sitting. In case, it is not
possible for the Committee to meet physically, the report is adopted by circulation.
• A report of the committee consists of two parts; ‘Narration’ part and ‘Recommendation’ Part.
Once the report is ready, the narration part is transmitted to the Ministry concerned for
verification of facts put in that part. The entire report of the Committee is considered Secret
before it is presented to the House.
• After the report is ready in all respects, it is presented to the House. The Chairperson or any
other member of the Committee may present it to the House. As a convention, the reports of
the Committees are not discussed in the House.
REPORTS OF THE COMMITTEE
• After the report is presented to the House, a copy of the report is sent to the Ministry concerned with a request that action
taken on the recommendations may be furnished to the House within 6 months time.
• After the receipt of action taken from the ministry, they are examined again by the Committee and they are presented again
to the House in the form of an Action Taken Report. It has five chapters:
1. Report
2. Recommendations/observations accepted by the Government
3. Recommendations/observations which the Committee do not want to pursue in view of the reply of the
Government
4. Recommendations/observations in respect of which Replies of the Government not accepted by the Committee
5. Recommendations/observations in respect of which final reply by the Government is awaited
• After presentation to the House, the ATR is again sent to the ministry concerned with a request to furnish the statements of
action taken or proposed to be taken by them on recommendations contained in Chapter 1 and final replies to the
recommendations contained in Chapter V of the Report.
• The replies so received are consolidated in the form of a statement and laid on the table of the House.
PATHBREAKING/IMPORTANT RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE
COMMITTEES
• The recommendations of the Committees are not binding on the Government. However, the
Governments take the recommendations of the Committee very seriously and accepts
overwhelming majority of their recommendations. The advantage for the government is that
committees provide a fresh perspective to the issues under examination. The recommendations are
made after extensive deliberation with stakeholders including policy makers, domain experts and
end users. Consequently, government accords due regard to the recommendations of a committee.
• There have been many recommendations by various committees which have far reaching influence
on the welfare of the people. Some of them are summarised as under:
• On the recommendation of the Chemicals and Fertilizers committee, Government agreed to
include medical devices critical for the treatment of COVID 19, such as Ventilators, Oxygen
concentrators, etc. under national list of essential medicines for effective price control.
• On the recommendation of the Consumer affairs, food and Public Distribution committee,
Government agreed to look into the feasibility of introducing cash DBT transfer in urban areas and
allowing migrant rural beneficiaries obtain their foodgrain entitlement under NFSA in urban areas.
PATHBREAKING/IMPORTANT RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE
COMMITTEES

• On the recommendation of the Finance Committee, Government agreed to the

suggestion to nominate Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) as the
nodal agency for MSME financing akin to NABARD for agricultural financing.
• On the recommendation of the Committee on Welfare of OBCs, Government agreed
to give constitutional status to the National Commission for the welfare of OBCs.
• There are innumerable instances when a Parliamentary Committee came to the rescue
of common man and suggested appropriate modifications in policy or legislation to
make them more oriented to the welfare of the people.