Context:
Process to re-constitute parliamentary committees started
Parliamentary committees:
- A committee of Members of Parliament (MPs) who are elected or appointed from amongst the members of the house or nominated by the Speaker or Chairman.
- The concept of Parliamentary committees originated in the British Parliament.
- Operate under – Direction of the Speaker of Lok Sabha or Chairman of Rajya Sabha and present their findings and recommendations to the respective houses.
- Status – Constitutional bodies
- Article 105 – Powers, privileges, etc., of the houses of Parliament and of the members and committees thereof.
- Article 118 – Each House of Parliament may make rules for regulations, subject to the provisions of this constitution, its procedure and the conduct of its business.
Classification of Parliamentary committees:
- Standing Committees – Permanent and regular committees which are constituted from time to time.
- Example – Financial Committees, Departmentally Related Standing Committees (DRSC) etc.
- Ad hoc Committees– Appointed for a specific purpose and cease to exist when they finish the task assigned to them.
Financial Committees:
| Name of committee | Number of members | Tenure | Members nominated or elected | Function |
| Estimates committee | 30 members from Lok Sabha | 1 year | Elected by the Lok Sabha | Auditing the revenue and the expenditure of the Government of India |
| Public Accounts committee | Not more than 22 (15LS + 7RS) | 1 year | Elected by the two houses | To suggest alternative policies to bring about efficiency in administration. To examine whether the money is well laid out within the limits of the policy implied in the estimates, etc. |
| Committee on Public Undertakings | Not more than 22 (15LS + 7RS) | 1 year | Elected by the two houses | To examine the report and accounts of the public sector undertaking (PSUs) and assessing their impacts on the economy |
Source: The Indian Express
Previous Year Question
Which of the following committees is the largest Committee of the Parliament?
[UPSC Civil Service Exam – 2014 Prelims]
(a) The Committee on Public Accounts
(b) The Committee on Estimates
(c) The Committee on Public Undertakings
(d) The Committee on Petitions
Answer: (b)
