2 minInstitution
Institution

Parliamentary Standing Committee

Parliamentary Standing Committee क्या है?

Parliamentary Standing Committees are permanent and regular committees of the Indian Parliament, constituted to scrutinize bills, budgets, and policies of various ministries and departments. They play a crucial role in parliamentary oversight and detailed examination of legislative proposals.

ऐतिहासिक पृष्ठभूमि

The system of Departmentally Related Standing Committees (DRSCs) was established in 1993 to provide for a more detailed scrutiny of legislative and financial matters. Initially, 17 DRSCs were set up, which were later increased to 24 in 2004. These committees are a significant evolution in India's parliamentary practice, moving beyond ad hoc committees.

मुख्य प्रावधान

6 points
  • 1.

    Composition: Each DRSC consists of 31 members (21 from Lok Sabha and 10 from Rajya Sabha), nominated by the Speaker of Lok Sabha and Chairman of Rajya Sabha respectively.

  • 2.

    Tenure: Members serve for a term not exceeding one year.

  • 3.

    Functions: They scrutinize bills referred to them, examine demand for grants of ministries, consider annual reports, and review long-term policy documents. They do not generally consider matters of day-to-day administration.

  • 4.

    Nature of Recommendations: Their recommendations are advisory and not binding on the government, but they carry significant weight and are often accepted.

  • 5.

    Types: Broadly categorized into Standing Committees (permanent) and Ad Hoc Committees (temporary, for specific purposes). Standing Committees include Financial Committees (e.g., Public Accounts, Estimates, Public Undertakings) and Departmentally Related Standing Committees (DRSCs).

  • 6.

    Role in Legislative Process: Bills, after introduction, are often referred to DRSCs for detailed examination, stakeholder consultation, and report submission to Parliament, enhancing the quality of legislation.

दृश्य सामग्री

Parliamentary Standing Committees: Structure, Functions & Role

This mind map illustrates the structure, types, functions, and significance of Parliamentary Standing Committees in India, crucial for understanding parliamentary oversight and governance.

Parliamentary Standing Committees

  • Types
  • Departmentally Related Standing Committees (DRSCs)
  • Functions
  • Key Financial Committees
  • Role & Significance
  • Challenges

Evolution of Parliamentary Committee System in India

This timeline traces the historical development of the parliamentary committee system in India, highlighting key milestones that led to its current structure and role.

The parliamentary committee system in India has evolved from its colonial origins to a robust mechanism for legislative oversight. The establishment and expansion of DRSCs in the post-liberalization era significantly strengthened Parliament's capacity for detailed scrutiny, moving beyond mere legislative approval to in-depth examination of policy and administration.

  • 1921First Public Accounts Committee (PAC) established under the Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms (pre-independence)
  • 1950Estimates Committee established in independent India
  • 1964Committee on Public Undertakings (CoPU) established
  • 199317 Departmentally Related Standing Committees (DRSCs) established to provide detailed scrutiny of government ministries
  • 2004DRSCs expanded to 24, covering almost all ministries and departments
  • 2015-2024Increased reliance on committees for legislative scrutiny, debates on effectiveness, concerns over attendance and politicization of proceedings
  • 2025Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence raises concerns on ex-servicemen welfare and healthcare gaps (Current News)

हालिया विकास

4 विकास

There's an ongoing debate about the effectiveness of committees, especially regarding the binding nature of their recommendations and the time allotted for scrutiny.

Concerns have been raised about the increasing bypassing of committees for crucial legislation, leading to reduced parliamentary scrutiny.

Emphasis on digitalization of committee proceedings and reports for greater transparency and accessibility.

Discussions on strengthening the research support available to committees to enhance their analytical capabilities.

स्रोत विषय

Panel Questions Low Job Absorption for Ex-Servicemen, Cites Healthcare Gaps

Polity & Governance

UPSC महत्व

Crucial for UPSC GS Paper 2 (Polity and Governance), frequently asked in both Prelims (e.g., composition, functions, types) and Mains (e.g., role in legislative process, effectiveness, challenges). Understanding their role is vital for analyzing parliamentary functioning and legislative quality.

Parliamentary Standing Committees: Structure, Functions & Role

This mind map illustrates the structure, types, functions, and significance of Parliamentary Standing Committees in India, crucial for understanding parliamentary oversight and governance.

Parliamentary Standing Committees

Standing (Permanent)

Ad Hoc (Temporary)

24 DRSCs (16 LS, 8 RS)

Composition: 31 Members (21 LS, 10 RS)

Scrutiny of Bills

Consideration of Demand for Grants

Examination of Policy Documents

Public Accounts Committee (PAC)

Estimates Committee

Enhance Parliamentary Oversight

Provide Expertise & Detailed Scrutiny

Advisory Recommendations (Not Binding)

Low Attendance & Politicization

Connections
TypesDepartmentally Related Standing Committees (DRSCs)
Departmentally Related Standing Committees (DRSCs)Functions
Key Financial CommitteesFunctions
FunctionsRole & Significance
+1 more

Evolution of Parliamentary Committee System in India

This timeline traces the historical development of the parliamentary committee system in India, highlighting key milestones that led to its current structure and role.

1921

First Public Accounts Committee (PAC) established under the Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms (pre-independence)

1950

Estimates Committee established in independent India

1964

Committee on Public Undertakings (CoPU) established

1993

17 Departmentally Related Standing Committees (DRSCs) established to provide detailed scrutiny of government ministries

2004

DRSCs expanded to 24, covering almost all ministries and departments

2015-2024

Increased reliance on committees for legislative scrutiny, debates on effectiveness, concerns over attendance and politicization of proceedings

2025

Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence raises concerns on ex-servicemen welfare and healthcare gaps (Current News)

Connected to current news