PROCEDURE OF PARLIAMENT,,,,,,

1. This post was republished to IAS Help at 19:21:12 27/01/2010
Indian Polity #11 | Study Material::General Studies | IAS Help
Category Indian Polity
PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEES IN INDIA
Overview
 Since Parliament needs to perform substantial functions in limited time, it cannot go into the
details of every legislative and other matter that comes before it
 For this reason, Parliamentary Committees are constituted to study in detail the legislative
and other matters that come before Parliament
 Committees can be appointed in both Houses of Parliament, and their roles and functions
are more or less similar
Functions of the Committees
 To consider the Demand for Grants of various Departments/Ministries and make reports to
the Houses
 To examine Bills that are referred to the Committee by the Lok Sabha or the Rajya Sabha
 To study annual reports of various Ministries and Departments
 To consider policy documents presented to the Houses if/when referred to the Committee
by the Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha
TYPES OF COMMITTEES
Ad hoc Committees
 They are appointed for a specific purpose and cease to exist when the task is finished
 They can either belong to one particular Parliament House or be a joint committee
 There are two types of Ad hoc committees
o Committees appointed either by a motion in Parliament or by the Speaker/Chairman
to enquire into a specific subject
o Select or Joint Committees on Bills. These Committees are constituted to study and
report on specific Bills
 Examples of Ad hoc Committees: Committees on Draft Five Year Plans, Railway Convention
Committee, Fertilizer Pricing Committee etc
Standing Committees
 Standing Committees are Committees appointed every year or periodically, and their work
goes on in a continuous basis
 The three most important Standing Committees (which deal with finance) are worth special
mention
o Committee on Estimates
o Committee on Public Accounts
o Committee on Public Undertakings
 Additionally, there are 24 Departmentally Related Standing Committees that deal with
affairs of a specific Department/Ministry

2. IMPORTANT COMMITTEES
Departmentally Related Standing Committees
 There are a total of 24 Departmentally Related Standing Committees (DRSC)
 The DRSCs were first introduced in 1993 in a batch of 17, and a further 7 were added in 2004
 Each of these Committees consists of no more than 45 members. 30 are to be nominated
from the Lok Sabha and 15 from the Rajya Sabha
 Ministers are not eligible to be nominated to these Committees
 The term of the Committee is one year
Committee on Estimates
 Consists of 30 members elected from the Lok Sabha
 Ministers are not eligible for election to this Committee
 The term of the Committee is one year
 Primary functions include
o report what improvements in organisation, efficiency or administration can be made
o suggest policies to bring about improvements in efficiency and economy
 the Committee can select and study estimates pertaining to any Ministry or government
body as it may see fit
 Committee can also examine matters of special interest that come up or are referred to it by
the Speaker
Committee on Public Accounts
 Consists of 22 members: 15 elected from the Lok Sabha and 7 from the Rajya Sabha
 Ministers are not eligible for election to this Committee
 Term of office is one year
 Primary function is to determine if money granted by the Parliament has been spent by
the Government within the scope of the Demand
 The Committee bases its examinations on the Appropriation Accounts of the Government
and the Audit Reports presented by the Comptroller and Auditor General
 The Committee is not concerned with policy, but only with execution of the policy and its
results
Committee on Public Undertakings
 Consists of 22 members: 15 elected from the Lok Sabha and 7 from the Rajya Sabha
 Ministers are not eligible for election to this Committee
 Term of office is one year
 Functions of the Committee include
o Examine reports and accounts of Public Undertakings
o Examine reports of the CAG on Public Undertakings
o Examine whether Public Undertakings are being managed with sound business
principles and prudent commercial practices
 The Committee does not examine government policy or day-to-day administration of the
Undertakings
Other important committees

3. S. Committee House of Function(s) Notes
No. Parliament/
Composition
1 Business Advisory Lok Sabha Recommends the amount The Speaker is the ex-
Committee 15 (including of time to be allotted officio Chairman
Speaker) for business in Parliament Members are nominated
by the Speaker
Committee generally
meets at the beginning
of each Session
2 Committee on Lok Sabha Allot time to Private The Deputy Speaker is
Private Members’ 15 (including Members’ Bills and the ex-officio Chairman
Bills and Dy Speaker) Resolutions Members are nominated
Resolutions Examine Private Members’ by the Speaker
Bills seeking to amend
the Constitution before
introducing them in Lok
Sabha
Examine all Private
Members’ Bills after they
are introduced
but before they are taken
up for consideration
Classify the Bills based on
their matter, urgency into
Category A or Category B
3 Rules Committee Lok Sabha Considers matters of The Speaker is the ex-
(15 including procedure and conduct of officio Chairman
Speaker) business in the House Members are nominated
Recommends amendments by the Speaker
to the Rules of Procedure
and Conduct
of Business in Lok Sabha
4 Committee of Lok Sabha Examines every question Members are nominated
Privileges 15 regarding breach of by the Speaker
privilege of the House
or of members of any
Committee
Determines whether
breach of privilege was
involved and makes
Recommendations
5 Committee on Lok Sabha Examine all papers laid on Members are nominated
Papers Laid 15 the table of the House by by the Speaker
on the Table Ministers
Report to the House
whether there has been
compliance of the
Constitution
Report whether there has
been unreasonable delay

4. in laying the paper
Report whether both Hindi
and English version have
been laid
6 Committee on Lok Sabha Consider and report on Members are nominated
Petitions 15 petitions presented to the by the Speaker
House Ministers not eligible
Considers representation
from individuals and
associations
7 Committee on Lok Sabha Scrutinizes and reports Members are nominated
Subordinate 15 whether powers to make by the Speaker
Legislations rules, Ministers not eligible
regulations etc are being
properly exercised by the
Executive
8 Committee on Lok Sabha Scrutinize the assurances Members are nominated
Govt. Assurances 15 promises etc given by by the Speaker
Ministers and Ministers not eligible
report on their
implementation
9 Committee on Lok Sabha Considers requests from Members are nominated
Absence of 15 Members for leave of by the Speaker
Ministers absence from Makes
from Sittings of sittings of the House recommendations
the House Examines every case whether leave
where the member has should be granted,
been absent for absence granted or
60 days or more without seat declared vacant
permission
10 Joint Committee Both Houses Examine the composition Committee is
on Offices of Profit 15 - 10 from and character of constituted for the
LS, 5 from RS Committees duration of the
appointed by Government Lok Sabha
(Central and State)
Recommend what offices
should/should not
disqualify a person
as a member of either
House of Parliament
11 Committee on Both Houses Considers all matters Ministers not eligible
Welfare of SC/ST 30 - 20 from regarding the welfare of Term of the Committee
LS, 10 from RS SC/STs is one year
falling within purview of
Union Government and
Union Territories
Consider reports
submitted by National
Commission for SC/ST
Examine measures taken
by Union govt. to secure

5. due
representation of SC/ST in
govt. services and posts
12 Railway Both Houses Review dividend payable This was the first
Convention 18 – 12 from by Railways to General Committee to be
Committee LS, 6 from RS Revenues constituted after
Review other matters Independence (1949)
relating to Railways Minister of Finance and
finance Minister of Railways are
members
Ministers of State for
Finance and Railways are
also
Members
This is an ad hoc
Committee
13 Committee on Both Houses Reviews and monitors
Empowerment of 30 – 20 from measures taken by Union
Women LS, 10 from RS Govt.
to secure equality, status,
dignity for women in all
matters
Suggest measures for
improving status of
women
Review measures taken for
education and
representation of
women in legislative
bodies and other fields
Considers reports of
National Commission for
Women
Sources: Government of India, Parliament of India
LAST WEEK: AG, CAG ~~~~~ NEXT WEEK: CIVIL SERVICE