Context:
PAC to take up ‘performance review’ of regulatory bodies.
Public Accounts Committee:
- Introduced in 1921 after its mention in the Government of India Act, 1919
- Now constituted every year under Rule 308 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha.
- Appointment – Chairman of the Committee is appointed by the Speaker of Lok Sabha.
- Conventionally, the Chairman of the PAC is from the opposition party
- Members – Presently comprises 22 members (15 members elected by the Lok Sabha Speaker, and 7 members elected by the Rajya Sabha Chairman)
- Members are elected annually
- A minister can not be a member of the committee
- Purpose – Ascertain whether money granted to the Government by the Parliament has been spent within the “scope of demand”
- Functions –
- The PAC scrutinizes the appropriation accounts and the finance accounts of the government.
- It examines the reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India.
- The committee ensures that public funds are used efficiently and for the intended purposes.
- Limitation – It can only make recommendations; it does not have the power to enforce decisions.
Read more about: Parliamentary Committees
Source: The Hindu
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)
