This article covers “Daily Current Affairs” and the topic details “Parliamentary Committees”. This topic has relevance in the “Polity and Governance” section of the UPSC CSE exam.

 PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEES

This article covers “Daily Current Affairs” and the topic details “Parliamentary Committees”. This topic has

relevance in the “Polity and Governance” section of the UPSC CSE exam.

For Prelims:

What are Parliamentary Committees?

For Mains:

GS2: Polity and Governance

Parliament and State legislatures—structure, functioning, conduct of business, powers & privileges and

issues.

Why in the news?

The Lok Sabha Ethics Committee is currently investigating a complaint regarding the alleged

involvement of a Member of Parliament in the ‘Cash-for-Query’ case.

PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEES

 A Parliamentary Committee refers to a group of Members of Parliament (MPs) appointed,

elected, or nominated by the Speaker.

 These committees operate under the Speaker’s guidance and trace their origins to the British

Parliamentary System.

 Their authority is rooted in Article 105, which addresses MPs’ privileges, and Article 118,

granting Parliament the power to establish rules governing its procedures and business conduct.

 The Committees present their findings to either the House or the Speaker.

 It’s essential to note that Parliament is not obligated to follow the committee’s recommendations.

TYPES OF PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEES

 Parliamentary Committees encompass Financial Committees, Departmentally Related Standing

Committees, Other Parliamentary Standing Committees, and Ad hoc Committees.

 Financial Committees: They constitute the Estimates Committee, Public Accounts Committee,

and the Committee on Public Undertakings.

 Departmentally Related Standing Committees: In 1993, seventeen Departmentally Related

Standing Committees were instituted to scrutinise budget proposals and significant government

policies, with their number later expanding.

 Ad hoc Committees serve specific purposes and dissolve upon completing their assigned tasks

and presenting a report.

 Parliament also has the option to form a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) with members

from both Houses for in-depth scrutiny of a subject or bill.

 Additionally, each House has other Standing Committees, such as the Business Advisory

Committee and the Privileges Committee.

SIGNIFICANCE OF PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEES:

 Improves Parliament’s Effectiveness: These committees scrutinise legislation and hold the

executive accountable, enhancing Parliament’s effectiveness.

 Facilitates Inter-Ministerial Coordination: Working closely with multiple Ministries, these

committees foster inter-ministerial coordination.

 Performs Vital Functions: They examine Bills, grant demands, annual reports, and long-term

plans of Ministries/departments.

 Provides Technical Expertise: They offer a platform for Members to engage with domain

experts and government officials, enabling Parliament to deliberate on complex matters

requiring technical expertise.

 Builds Consensus Across Political Parties: Closed-door committee meetings allow members to

question and discuss issues, leading to consensus freely.

 Shares Legislative Mandate: These committees share the legislative mandate and are

responsible for control, vigilance, and supervision, supporting the legislature in fulfilling its

duties.

 Provides Thorough Investigation and Analysis: They conduct thorough investigations and

analysis, essential for Parliament’s effective functioning.

 Handles Legislative Process: Due to time constraints and the complexity of legislative

activities, the Committees manage a significant portion of the legislative process.

ISSUES WITH PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEES:

 Recommendatory nature: Parliamentary committees lack enforcement power, relying on the

government’s discretion to act on their recommendations, potentially undermining their

effectiveness.

 Limited resources: Insufficient staff and expertise hinder committees from conducting in-depth

studies and preparing comprehensive reports.

 Lack of independence: Influence from the government or other powerful entities can

compromise committees’ impartiality and independence.

 Poor referral rate: Not all bills undergo committee scrutiny, resulting in unequal levels of

legislative examination.

 Short time period: Committees often face time constraints, hampering their ability to review

bills and government proposals thoroughly.

Despite these challenges, parliamentary committees play a vital role in democracy. By strengthening the

committees and addressing the issues they face, governments can make them more effective in holding

the executive accountable and improving the quality of legislation.

Q1. With reference to Parliamentary Committees, consider the following statements:

1. The Parliamentary Committees find their mention in the Constitution of India.

2. The Parliament is obligated to follow the committee’s recommendations.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: (d)

Q2. Consider the following:

1. The Parliamentary Committees improve parliament’s effectiveness.

2. They are completely free from influences from the government and pressure groups.

3. All constitutional amendment bills undergo committee scrutiny.

How many of the abovementioned statements are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

Answer: (a)

Q3. Parliamentary democracy would be incomplete without Parliamentary committees. Discuss.