02 Nov 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.
Sources: Ethics, parliamentary conduct and the Indian MP – The Hindu
Download plutus ias current affairs eng med 02nd Nov 2023
Q1. With reference to Parliamentary Committees, consider the following statements:
- The Parliamentary Committees find their mention in the Constitution of India.
- 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
Q2. Consider the following:
- The Parliamentary Committees improve parliament’s effectiveness.
- They are completely free from influences from the government and pressure groups.
- 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
Q3. Parliamentary democracy would be incomplete without Parliamentary committees. Discuss.
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