4.
DEPARTMENTAL STANDING ▪️Limitations and Restrictions
COMMITTEES (DRSCs)(24). ### Functional Limitations
▪️Historical Evolution 1. Cannot interfere in day-to-day administration
● 1993: 17 committees established 2. Recommendations are advisory only
● 2004: 7 more added 3. Cannot examine matters under other
● Current Total: 24 committees parliamentary committees
● Origin: Recommended by Rules 4. Time-bound reporting requirement
Committee of Lok Sabha 5. Cannot suggest cut motions
### Jurisdictional Boundaries
▪️Key Structure and Composition
1. Can only examine referred bills
Distribution of Control
2. Limited to assigned ministries
● Under Lok Sabha: 16 committees
3. Cannot override other parliamentary committees
● Under Rajya Sabha: 8 committees
4. No executive powers
● Important: All committees are joint
committees despite being under specific
house control
◾CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEES
1. Meaning and Purpose
Membership
Definition
● Total Members: 31 in each committee
● - Consultative committees are attached to
○ - Lok Sabha: 21 members
various ministries/departments of the
○ - Rajya Sabha: 10 members
Central Government.
Purpose
● Term: One year from constitution
● - Provide a forum for informal
● Nomination:
discussions between ministers and MPs
○ - LS members: Nominated by
on policies and programmes.
Speaker
● - Focus on the manner of implementation
○ - RS members: Nominated by
of government policies.
Chairman
2. Composition
Leadership
▪️Important Restrictions
● - Chaired by the Minister/Minister of State
1. **Ministers**:
in charge of the ministry.
- Cannot be nominated as members
● - Members of both Houses of Parliament.
- Existing members appointed as ministers must
Membership
resign
● - Voluntary for MPs, based on their choice
2. **Jurisdiction**:
and their party leaders' decision.
- Each committee covers specific
● - Maximum membership: 30 members.
ministries/departments
● - Minimum membership: 10 members.
- No overlap allowed with other parliamentary
3. Constitution and Tenure
committees
Constitution
● - Constituted by the Ministry of
▪️Functions & Powers Parliamentary Affairs.
Primary Responsibilities ● - Formulated guidelines for composition,
1. **Budget Related**: functions, and procedures.
- Examine demands for grants ● - Arranges meetings during session and
- Make recommendations before Lok Sabha inter-session periods.
voting Tenure
- Cannot suggest cut motions ● - These committees are dissolved with
the dissolution of Lok Sabha.
2. **Legislative**: ● - Reconstituted after the constitution of
- Examine bills only referred to them every new Lok Sabha.
- Consider general principles and clauses
- Only introduced bills can be referred
3. **Oversight**:
- Review annual reports
- Examine long-term policy documents
- Monitor ministry performance
