Committees of parliament

1. FINANCIAL COMMITTEES
•They are three in number:
 Public Accounts Committee
 Estimates Committee
 the Committee on Public Undertakings.
(A) PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE (PAC)
•It is a financial committee constituted every year toexamine the
annual audit reports submitted by the CAG and report its finding to the
Parliament.it acts as the watchdog of the public purse by examining the audit
report on appropriation account and finance account.
•It was introduced in 1921 after its first mention in the GoI Act,1919. It
is now constituted every year under Rule 308 of the Rules of Procedure and
Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha.
•Not being an executive body, the Committee can only make decisions
that are advisory by nature.
•Chairman & Members: Its Chairman is appointed by the Speaker of
Lok Sabha (invariably from the opposition party since 1967). It presently
comprises 22 members (15 members elected by the Lok Sabha Speaker, and 7
members elected by the Rajya Sabha Chairman). They are elected by the
Parliament every year with proportional representation by means of a single
transferable vote. This election method gives equal representation to all the
members of the Parliament. No minister can become its member.
•Term: Every member is a part of the Committee for a year. After a year,
a new election takes place and members are changed or re-elected.
•Purpose: It examines public expenditure, which is not only examined
from a legal and formal point of view to discover technical irregularities, but
also from the point of view of the economy, prudence, wisdom and propriety.
The sole purpose to do this is to bring out cases of waste, loss, corruption,
extravagance, inefficiency and nugatory expenses.

Functions
•All the functions performed by the PAC are assisted by CAG.
•It examines appropriation accounts and finance accounts of the Union
Government which are laid before the Lok Sabha.
•It scrutinizes the audit reports of CAG to satisfy itself that:

•The money that has been disbursed was legally available for the
applied service or purpose.
•The expenditure conforms to the authority that governs it.
•Every re-appropriation has been made in accordance with the related
rules.
o It examines the accounts of the following bodies, the audit reports
of which are made by the CAG:
 State corporations
 Trading concerns
 Manufacturing projects
•It examines the accounts of the following bodies, the audit reports of
which are made by the CAG:
 Autonomous
 Semi-autonomous bodies
•It keeps a check on the money spent on any service during a financial
year. If the money is in excess of the amount granted by the Lok Sabha for that
purpose, it goes on to its report.
 Limitations of PAC
•Though it is empowered to act upon the audit reports of the CAG, and
also to keep a tab on the Union Government's expenses, there are still a few
limitations on it which it should adhere to. These are:
•Broadly, it cannot intervene in the questions of policy.
•It can keep a tab on the expenses only after they are incurred. It has no
power to limit expenses.
•It cannot intervene in matters of day-to-day administration.
•Any recommendation that the Committee makes is only advisory. They
can be ignored by the ministries.
•It is not vested with the power of disallowance expenditures by the
departments.
•Being only an executive body; it cannot issue an order. Only the
Parliament can take a final decision on its findings.

(B) ESTIMATES COMMITTEE

•Established in 1921, it is the largest Committee of the Parliament.
•Its purpose is to scrutinize the functioning of government ministries &
departments in terms of expenditure and utilization of funds. It also suggests
alternative policies in order to bring about efficiency and economy in
administration.
•Chairman & Members: It has 30 members, who are elected by the Lok
Sabha (no representation from Rajya Sabha) with proportional representation
by means of a single transferable vote. Initially, the Committee had 25
members, which was later increased to 30. The Chairman is appointed by the
Speaker from amongst the members (invariably from the ruling party). No
minister can be a member.
•Term: Every member is a part of the Committee for a year. After a year,
a new election takes place and members are changed or re-elected.
 Functions
 It reports if the budget estimates affect economies, improvements
in organization, efficiency and administrative reform consistent
with the policy.
 To bring efficiency and economy in governmental administration, it
suggests alternative policies.
 It examines whether the money is well laid out within the limits of
the policy implied in the estimates.

 Limitations
•The power to examine the budget estimates is not an absolute one. The
Committee can only examine the budget after it is voted upon and not before
that.
•Nowhere the power to question the policies of the Parliament has been
conferred upon the committee.
•All its recommendations are advisory in nature and stand non-binding
for the Parliament.
•In a year, the Committee does not examine the budgets of all the
ministries/ departments. It chooses a few departments the budget of which it
wants to examine. Therefore, budget estimates of all the ministries /
departments are examined over a period of years and not in one year.

 Similarities between PAC and Estimates Committee

•Both are financial committees and both are Standing
•Committees of the Parliament.
•Members of both are elected and Chairman of both are nominated by
the Speaker.
•A Minister cannot be a member or Chairman of any of them.
 Differences between PAC and Estimates Committee
•While PAC has 22 members (15 LS, 07 RS), Estimates Committee has 30
members.
•While PAC members belong to both Houses of the Parliament,
Estimates Committee members belong to Lok Sabha only.
•While PAC Chairman is from opposition, Estimates Committee
Chairman is always from ruling party or dispensation.
•While Estimates Committee scrutinizes the estimates, PAC scrutinizes
the appropriation and manner of spending. Thus, work of Estimates
Committee is ex-ante analysis, while that of PAC is ex-post facto analysis.
(C) COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC UNDERTAKING
 It examines the reports and accounts of Public Sector
Undertakings (PSUs). The functions of this committee are
mentioned in the IV Schedule of the Rules of Procedure and
Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha.
 Introduced in 1964, it came into existence on the
recommendations of the Krishna Menon Committee.
 Chairman & Members: It has 22 members (15 from Lok Sabha 7
from Rajya Sabha), who are elected by the Parliament on the basis
of proportional representation by means of a single transferable
vote. The Chairman is appointed by the Speake from amongst the
members (no member from Rajya Sabha chosen as Chairman).
 Term: Every member is a part of the Committee for a year After a
year, a new election takes place and members changed or re-
elected.
 Functions
•It examines the reports and accounts of the PSUs.
•CAG's reports on PSUs are also taken up.
•It checks upon the credibility of the business of PSUs.
•It checks the efficiency and autonomy of PSUs.
 Limitations
 There is a cap on the number of PSUs it can examine reports
The Committee cannot take upon reports of more than 10 PSUs in a year.

2. COMMITTEES TO INQUIRE
(A) COMMITTEE ON PETITIONS
 First constituted on Feb 20, 1924) it was known by the name of
Committee on Public Petitions" till 1933,
 It is constituted by the Speaker under Rule 306 of the Rules of
Procedure and conduct of Business in Lok Sabha.
 It has 25 members, 15 from Lok Sabha and 10 from Rajya Sabha.
 A Minister is not nominated to this Committee.
 Functions
•It scrutinizes public complaints sent to it in the form of petitions to
make MPs aware of their opinion and to request action. Petitions may be sent
regarding Bills, matters pending before the House, and any other matter of
public interest related to the work of the government. After the Committee
examines the complaints, it addresses the complaints and suggests remedial
measures in its report. An Action Taken Report is also published based on the
recommendations adopted by the Government. The Committee is also
empowered to consider representations and letters from various individuals,
associations, etc. which are otherwise not covered by the rules relating to
Petitions, and give directions for their disposal.
•However, representations which fall in the following categories are not
considered by the Committee but are filed on receipt in the Secretariat:
•anonymous letter or letters on which names and/ or addresses of
senders are not given or are illegible; and
•endorsement copies of letters addressed to authorities other than the
Speaker or the House unless there is a specific request on such a copy praying
for redress of the grievance.
(B) COMMITTEE OF PRIVILEGE
•It has 25 members (15 from LS and 10 from RS).
•Functions: Examines questions involving breach of rights, privileges
and immunities enjoyed by MPs referred to it by the House or by the Speaker.
It determines the facts of each case whether a breach of privilege is involved
and makes suitable recommendations in its report.
(C) ETHICS COMMITTEE
• This Committee consists of 15 Members in Lok Sabha (nominated by
the Speaker) and 13 Members in Rajya Sabha (nominated by the Chairman).
The term of the Committee is one year.
 Functions: To examine every complaint relating to unethical conduct of
a Member of Lok Sabha/Rajya Sabha referred to it by the Speaker
/Chairman and make such recommendations as it may deem fit and
formulate a code of conduct for Members and suggest amendments or
additions to the code of conduct from time to time.

3. COMMITTEES TO SCRUTINISE AND CONTROL

(A) COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT ASSURANCES
•It scrutinizes the assurances, promises and undertakings given by
Ministers on the floor of the House. It ensures that commitments made by the
government are implemented promptly.
•For Lok Sabha, it is a 15-member body, whereas Rajya Sabha has 10
members.
(B) COMMITTEE ON SUBORDINATE LEGISLATION
•During the formulation of legislation, the Parliament lays down broad
principles on various issues and leaves the procedural details to the
government to frame in the form of rules and regulations.
 •This Committee analyzes whether the powers to make regulations,
rules and sub-laws are being properly exercised. It examines all subordinate
legislation made by the government,
•For both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, it is a 15-memberbody.
(C) COMMITTEE ON PAPERS LAID ON THE TABLE
• The practice of laying papers on the Table enforces executive accountability.
It is the logical corollary of the Parliament's inherent right to information. The
government lays some important reports, agreements and other
miscellaneous papers on the table with a view to making them public. In order
to enforce the accountability of public undertakings, it has been made
mandatory for such bodies to lay their annual reports and audited accounts on
the table of the two Houses of Parliament.
• It was not always possible for members to exercise vigilance in respect of all
the aspects of papers laid on the table. So, there was a need to constitute a
Committee on Papers Laid on the Table.

• There are different Committees on Papers Laid on the Table for Rajya Sabha
and Lok Sabha. Both the Committees do not differ in functions, but they differ
in the constitution of its members.
 Constitution of the Committee in Rajya Sabha
•First constituted in 1982, it consists of 10 members nominated by the
Chairman.
•Its chairman is appointed by the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha from
amongst the members of the Committee. If the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya
Sabha is a member of the Committee, he shall be appointed Chairman of the
Committee.
•Its normal tenure is one year but continues to hold office until a new
Committee is nominated.
Constitution of the Committee in Lok Sabha
•First constituted in 1975, it consists of 15 members nominated by the
Speaker.
 •The Chairperson of the Committee is appointed by the Speaker from
amongst the Members of the Committee.
•The Committee shall hold office for a term not exceeding one year.
Powers
•The Committee has the power to require the evidence of persons or the
production of papers or records.
•It has the authority to treat any evidence tendered before it as secret or
confidential.
• It may undertake on-the-spot study tours of the institutions or bodies
whose annual reports or audited accounts are required to be laid before the
Parliament.
(D) COMMITTEE ON WELFARE OF SCS AND STs
•It consists of 30 members (20 from LS and 10 from RS).
•The term of the Committee is one year. A Minister is not eligible for
election to the Committee and if a member becomes a Minister, he/she ceases
to a Member of the Committee.
•Functions: To consider all matters concerning the welfare of the SCs
and STs, falling within the purview of the Union Government and the Union
Territories, to consider reports submitted by the National Commission for
Scheduled Castes and National Commission for Scheduled Tribes and to
examine the measures taken by the Union Government to secure due
representation of the SCs and STs in services and posts in its control.

(E) COMMITTEE ON EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN

•It came into being on April 29, 1997 as a consequence of identical
Resolutions adopted by both the Houses on the occasion of the International
Women's Day on 8 March, 1996.
•The Committee consists of 30 Members (20 Members of LS nominated
by the Speaker, and 10 Members of RS nominated by the Chairman).
 •The term of the Committee is of one year. A Minister is not nominated
to the Committee.
•Functions: The Committee has been primarily mandated with the task
of reviewing and monitoring the measures taken by the Union Government in
the direction of securing for women equality, status and dignity in all matters.
The Committee also suggests necessary correctives for improving
status/condition of women in respect of matters within the purview of the
Union Government. The report of National Commission for Women is also
considered by this Committee.
(F) JOINT COMMITTEE ON OFFICES OF PROFIT
•This Committee consists of 15 Members (10 Members from LS and 5
from RS). The Committee is constituted for the duration of each Lok Sabha.
•Functions: To examine the composition & character of the Committees
appointed by the Central and State Governments and to recommend what
offices should disqualify and what offices should not disqualify a person for
being chosen as, and for being a Member of either House of Parliament under
Article 102 of the Constitution. The Committee also scrutinizes from time to
time, the Schedule to the Parliament (Prevention of Disqualification) Act,
1959, and recommends any amendments in the said Schedule, whether by
way of addition, omission or otherwise.
4. COMMITTEES RELATING TO THE DAY-TO-DAY BUSINESS OF THE
HOUSE
(A) BUSINESS ADVISORY COMMITTEE
 First constituted in 1952, its function is to recommend the time that
should be allotted for the discussion of such government legislative and
other business as the Speaker / Chairman, in consultation with the
Leader of the House, may direct to be referred to the Committee.
 The Committee is present in both Houses of the Parliament.
 It consists of 15 members in Lok Sabha, nominated & headed by the
Speaker and 11 members in Rajya Sabha, nominated headed by the
Chairperson.
 Ministers can't be members of this committee.
  The Committee usually meets at the start of each Session and then as
needed after that.
 The Committee makes its decision unanimously.
(B) COMMITTEE ON PRIVATE MEMBERS' BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS
•It classifies Bills and allocates time for the discussion on Bills &
Resolutions introduced by Private Members before their introduction in Lok
Sabha (there is no such Committee in Rajya Sabha).
•The Committee thus, performs the same function in relation to Private
Members' Bills & Resolutions as the Business Advisory Committees does in
regard to Government Business. The Committees holds office for a term not
exceeding one year.
•Consists of 15 members (nominated by the Speaker) and the Deputy
Speaker of Lok Sabha is its chairman.
(C) RULES COMMITTEE
• Its function is to consider matters of procedure & conduct of
business in the House and to recommend any amendments or additions to
these rules that may be deemed necessary.
•For Lok Sabha, it is a 15-member body, whereas Rajya Sabha has 16
members.
•The Committee is headed by the Chairman or the Speaker, as the case
may be, for Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha respectively.
(D) COMMITTEE ON ABSENCE OF MEMBERS
 This Committee considers all applications from Members for leave of
absence from the sittings of the House and examines every case where a
member has been absent for a period of 60 days or more, without
permission, from the sittings of the House.
 In its report, it makes recommendations with respect to each case as to
whether the absence should be condoned or leave applied granted or
whether the circumstances of the case justify that the House should
declare the seat of the Member vacant.
  The Committee consists of 15 members, who hold office for one year.
The Members are nominated by the Speaker. There is no such
Committee in Rajya Sabha.

5. HOUSE-KEEPING COMMITTEES
(A) GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE
•Matters that do not fall under the jurisdiction of other Parliamentary
Committees are taken up by this Committee. The members of this Committee
comprise:
•Presiding Officer (Speaker / Chairman) as its ex-officio Chairman.
•Deputy Speaker Deputy Chairman in the case of Rajya Sabha).
•Members of the Panel of Chairpersons Panel of Vice-Chairpersons in
the case of Rajya Sabha).
•Chairpersons of all the Departmental Standing Committees of the
House.
•Leaders of recognized parties and groups in the House.
•Other members as nominated by the Presiding Officer.
(B) HOUSE COMMITTEE
• In Lok Sabha, the Committee consists of 12 members nominated by the
Speaker. In Rajya Sabha, the Committee consists of 10 members nominated by
the Chairman.

• Functions: The facilities given to the members of the Houses in the name of
residences, food, medical aid, etc. are supervised by this committee. The term
of the Committee is one year.
(C) LIBRARY COMMITTEE:
  The Library Committee is a Joint Committee consisting of 9 Members - 6
from Lok Sabha and 3 from Rajya Sabha. The Chairperson of the
Committee is appointed by the Speaker from amongst Members of the
Committee. However, in case the Deputy Speaker, Lok Sabha is also the
Member of the Committee, he/she shall be appointed as Chairperson of
the Committee.
• Functions: To consider and advise on such matters concerning the library as
may be referred to it by the Speaker from time to time; to consider suggestions
for the improvement of the library; and to assist Members of Parliament in
fully utilizing the services provided by the library.
(D) JOINT COMMITTEE ON SALARIES AND ALLOWANCES OF MEMBERS
•It is constituted under the Salary, Allowances & Pension of MPs Act,
1954.
•The one-year term of the Committee commences from the day on
which Committee elects its chairperson from amongst themselves.
•Functions: Apart from framing rules for regulating payment of salary,
allowances and pension of Members, the Committee also frames rules in
respect of amenities like medical, housing, telephone, postal, constituency and
secretarial facilities.
 DEPARTMENTAL STANDING COMMITTEES
•On the recommendation of the Rules Committee of the Lok Sabha, 17
DRSCs were set up in the Parliament in 1993. In 2004, seven more such
committees were set up, thus increasing their number from 17 to 24. Out of
these, 8 work under the Rajya Sabha and 16 under the Lok Sabha.
•Members: Each standing committee consists of 31 members (21 from
Lok Sabha and 10 from Rajya Sabha). The members of the Lok Sabha are
nominated by the Speaker, just as the members of the Rajya Sabha are
nominated by the Chairman from amongst its members.
•A minister is not eligible to be nominated as a member of any of the
standing committees. In case a member, after his nomination to any of the
standing committees, is appointed a minister, he then ceases to be a member
of the committee
 •Tenure: The term of office of each Standing Committee is one year
from the date of its constitution.
•Recommendations made them are advisory in nature, hence are not
binding on the Parliament.