Parliamentary Committees
( UPSC Prelims)
News Context
Recently, the Lok Sabha Speaker mentioned that Parliamentary Committees do not oppose the government; instead, they serve as supportive and corrective tools that provide constructive guidance.
About Parliamentary Committees (PCs)
• A PC is either appointed or elected by the House or nominated by the Speaker, and operates under the Speaker's guidance.
• It submits its report to the House or the Speaker.
• PCs trace their roots back to the British Parliament.
o They derive their authority from Article 105 (which addresses the privileges of MPs) and Article 118 (which grants Parliament the power to establish rules for regulating its procedures and business conduct).
Types of Parliamentary Committees
• Ad hoc Committee: These are established for a particular purpose and are dissolved once they complete their assigned task. For example, the Railway Convention Committee.
• Standing Committee: These are permanent and regular committees that are formed periodically. Examples include Financial Committees and the Committee on Subordinate Legislation.
Note: An Ad Hoc Committee is established by Parliament, while a Parliamentary Department Related Standing Committee evaluates independent regulators in sectors such as telecommunications, insurance, and electricity.
Details of Committees Recently in the News
| Committee | Key Details |
|---|---|
| Estimates Committee | • The largest among the three financial committees, with the others being the Committee on Public Undertakings and the Public Accounts Committee.• Comprises 30 Lok Sabha members; Ministers are not eligible to be part of it.• The Chairperson is appointed by the Speaker.• The tenure is 1 year.• Its functions include suggesting alternative policies for efficiency and examining whether expenditure is well-utilized within policy limits.(Has completed 75 years since its formation) |
| Consultative Committees (CCs) | • Operate under the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs as per the Allocation of Business Rules, 1961.• Formed after Lok Sabha elections or as needed.• Membership is voluntary, ranging from 10 to 30 MPs.• An MP can be a member of only one CC.• MPs from both Houses are nominated by the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs.• The objective is to facilitate informal consultation between the Government and MPs on policies and programmes. |
| Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) | • Chaired by the Prime Minister. The CCS is one of the eight Cabinet Committees.• Members include the Ministers of Defence, Home, Finance, and External Affairs. Defence chiefs and senior officials may also attend.• Its functions cover national security, defence, internal security, major security appointments, and foreign affairs with security implications.• Cabinet Committees are extra-constitutional and are provided under the Transaction of Business Rules, 1961.• Major committees like Political Affairs, Economic Affairs, and Appointments are chaired by the PM, while the Parliamentary Affairs Committee is chaired by the Defence Minister. |
| Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) | • Composed of the PM (Chairperson) and the Home Minister.• Responsible for senior government appointments, including Secretaries, AS, JS, and top positions in PSUs, banks, insurance companies, and autonomous bodies. |