Question: Role, structure, and significance of Parliamentary Committees — Ad Hoc and Standing Committees — in Indian legislative governance
Introduction
Parliamentary committees form the institutional backbone of India's legislative oversight architecture, enabling detailed scrutiny that the full House, constrained by time and volume, cannot perform on its own.
Body
1. Definitional Distinction
Ad hoc committees are constituted for a specific, time-bound purpose — such as examining a particular Bill or investigating a specific matter — and dissolve upon completing that task. Standing Committees, by contrast, are permanent bodies reconstituted periodically, functioning on a continuous basis across legislative sessions.
2. Composition and Appointment
Both types may draw members from either or both Houses, depending on whether they are joint or House-specific committees. The Speaker of Lok Sabha and the Chairman of Rajya Sabha exercise appointment authority over their respective House committees, and jointly over joint committees. Neither type is exclusively the preserve of one presiding officer.
3. Functional Scope of Standing Committees
Departmentally Related Standing Committees scrutinise Demands for Grants, examine Bills referred to them, and review the working of ministries. This gives the legislature sustained oversight over executive functioning, bridging the gap between annual budget sessions.
4. Welfare Committees as a Specialised Category
Committees on the Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes exemplify Standing Committees with a constitutional equity mandate. They examine whether safeguards provided under the Constitution and law are being implemented effectively by ministries and public undertakings.
5. Governance Significance
Committee reports, though not binding, carry persuasive authority and frequently shape policy revisions. Strengthening committee infrastructure — through dedicated research support and timely tabling of reports — remains central to deepening parliamentary accountability.
Conclusion
The committee system converts Parliament from a deliberative forum into an effective oversight institution. Realising that potential requires consistent government responsiveness to committee findings and greater public visibility of committee proceedings.
Word count: 263
PYQ 2026
Consider the following statements about the Committee on the Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes of the Parliament of India : 1. Although members of this Committee are elected from both Houses of Parliament, the Chairperson of this Committee is appointed by the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. 2. Twenty members are elected by the Rajya Sabha and ten members by the Lok Sabha. 3. No Minister, except for the Union Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment, is eligible to be a member of this Committee. 4. Members are elected for a fixed term of two years from the date they enter their office. Which one of the following conclusions based on the above statements is correct ?
PYQ
The Estimates Committee of the Indian Parliament does NOT include which of the following among its functions?
(A) To suggest alternative policies to bring economy and efficiency in administration.
(B) To examine whether money granted by Parliament has been spent within the scope of the Demands for Grants.
(C) To examine the estimates of expenditure included in the budget.
(D) To suggest the form in which the estimates shall be presented to Parliament.
PYQ
Consider the following statements about the Departmentally Related Standing Committees (DRSCs) of the Indian Parliament:
1. They were set up in 1993 and their number was increased from 17 to 24 in 2004.
2. Each DRSC has 45 members — 30 from Lok Sabha and 15 from Rajya Sabha.
3. DRSCs examine Bills referred to them, including Money Bills and Constitution Amendment Bills.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
PYQ
Consider the following statements about the Committee on the Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes:
1. The Chairperson of the Committee is appointed by the Speaker of Lok Sabha from amongst its members.
2. The Committee can call for records and documents relating to matters under its examination from any Ministry.
3. The Committee can examine the working of welfare institutions run by private bodies with grants from the Central Government.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
PYQ
Which of the following is NOT a function of the Committee on the Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in India?
1. To examine whether safeguards provided for SCs and STs in the Constitution are being properly implemented.
2. To scrutinize demands for grants of Ministries exclusively dealing with SC/ST welfare before they are voted upon in Parliament.
3. To consider the reports of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes and National Commission for Scheduled Tribes and report on the measures taken by the Union and States.
Select the correct answer using the codes below: