Context:
Indian Lok Sabha Speaker attended the 150th Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Summit in Tashkent in Uzbekistan.
Inter-Parliamentary Union:
- International organization of Parliaments which was established in 1889 in Paris to promote representative democracy and world peace.
- Mandate –
- Facilitates parliamentary diplomacy and empowers parliaments and parliamentarians to promote peace, democracy, and sustainable development around the world.
- Also defends the human rights of parliamentarians through a dedicated committee made up of MPs from around the world.
- 1st multilateral political organization in the world, encouraging cooperation and dialogue between all nations.
- Members – Comprises 180 member parliaments and 15 associate members.
- India is a member country.
- Headquarters – Geneva
- Financed primarily by its members out of public funds.
- Includes The Forum of Women Parliamentarians, a unique entity that provides women Members of Parliament a global platform to input into international decision making.
- Structure –
- IPU Assembly – Principal statutory body that expresses the views of the IPU on political issues.
- Governing Council – Plenary policymaking body of the IPU; Composed of 3 representatives from each member parliament.
Source: ET
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)