Jul 5, 2025
12
mins read
Parliamentary committees are specialized bodies of legislators appointed to assist Parliament’s work. They conduct detailed scrutiny of legislation, policies, and administration in smaller groups, then report their findings to the full House. These committees “provide a channel for citizens, experts, and stakeholders to take part in the legislative process”, helping improve transparency and accountability. By delegating intensive examination to committees, Parliament can manage its heavy workload more effectively. For example, Article 118(1) of the Indian Constitution empowers each House to make rules about committees.They draw their authority from Article 105 and Article 118.
Article 105 – Parliamentary Privileges
Grants committees freedom of speech, legal immunity, and protections for their members and proceedings—ensuring they can function courageously and without external pressure.
Extends privilege to witnesses and non-member participants, preserving parliamentary confidentiality and candor.
Article 118 – Rule-making Power
Authorizes each House to formulate rules of procedure and conduct for itself and its committees.
Enables adaptation of pre-constitutional rules, empowering committees to define their mandates, structure, and working methods.
Parliamentary committees act as a vibrant interface between the legislature and the executive. They provide expertise and time for detailed study that the full House cannot afford during its limited sittings. This ensures executive accountability: committees examine government policies, budgets, and programs closely, then report back to Parliament. By functioning throughout the year, Parliamentary committees “help make up for” the short parliamentary calendar and give MPs time to delve into complex issues. Their reports - though not binding - carry weight and often lead to improvements in laws (for instance, Parliamentary Standing Committee recommendations have strengthened major Bills like the Consumer Protection Act, 2019). In short, parliamentary committees enhance legislative efficiency and ensure that the voice of citizens can be heard through expert inquiry and public input.
Parliamentary Committees of India are broadly classified as Standing (permanent) or Ad Hoc (temporary):
Parliamentary Standing Committees (Permanent): These exist continuously and are reconstituted every year. They include Financial Committees (e.g. Public Accounts Committee, Estimates Committee, Committee on Public Undertakings) and Departmental Standing Committees (24 in number, covering all Ministries). They work on budgets, bills, and policies of specific ministries.
Ad Hoc Committees (Temporary): These are formed for special tasks. Examples include Joint Parliamentary Committees (JPCs) or Select Committees set up to examine a particular Bill or issue. Once their report is submitted, they cease to exist.
Beyond these broad categories, Indian Parliament also has Housekeeping (Service) Committees for internal administration, and Business Committees to organize House proceedings (discussed below).
Parliamentary Committees Type | Key Characteristics | Composition (LS/RS) | Tenure | Selection Process | Examples |
Standing | Permanent committees reconstituted annually; oversee policy areas; empowered by parliamentary rules. | Financial & DRSCs: 1. Public Accounts Committee(PAC) & Committee on Public Undertakings(COPU): 15 LS + 7 RS (22 total) 2. Estimates Committee: 30 LS 3. Departmentally Related Standing Committees(DRSCs): 21 LS + 10 RS (31 total) | 1 year (or till reconstituted) | Financial & DRSCs: - 1. Elected by Proportional Representation-Single Transferable Vote; 2. Nominated by Speaker/Chairman | PAC, Estimates, DRSCs, Business Advisory, Ethics, SC/ST Welfare |
Ad Hoc | Temporary, issue-specific; dissolve after report submission. | Varies; typically 2:1 ratio, e.g., JPCs: LS double RS | Till task completion (typically 6‑12 months) | Constituted via motion in House(s) or by presiding officers | Select Committees on Bills, Joint Parliamentary Committees (e.g., Saradha Scam JPC) |
Table of content
The table summarises the types of Parliamentary standing committees important for your preparation on parliamentary committee UPSC preparation.
Type of Parliamentary Standing Committee | Category of Parliamentary Committee | Examples / Sub-Committees |
Financial Committees | Key parliamentary standing committees responsible for financial scrutiny and budget control. | - Public Accounts Committee (PAC) - Estimates Committee - Committee on Public Undertakings |
Departmentally Related Standing Committees (DRSCs) | Sector-specific Parliamentary standing committees of Parliament that examine the working of individual ministries. There are 24 such committees. | - 24 Departmental Standing Committees |
Committees to Inquire | Investigate specific issues, privileges, and petitions to uphold integrity and ethical conduct in Parliament. | - Committee on Petitions - Committee of Privileges - Ethics Committee |
Committees to Scrutinize and Control | Oversight mechanisms for executive actions and legislative controls ensuring transparency. | - Committee on Government Assurances - Committee on Subordinate Legislation - Committee on Papers Laid on the Table - Committee on Welfare of SCs and STs - Committee on Empowerment of Women - Joint Committee on Offices of Profit |
Committees on Day-to-Day Business of the House | Organize business flow and procedures for smooth functioning of parliamentary sessions. | - Business Advisory Committee - Committee on Private Members’ Bills and Resolutions - Rules Committee - Committee on Absence of Members from Sittings of the House |
Housekeeping or Service Committees | Support internal management of parliamentary affairs and member services. | - General Purposes Committee - House Committee - Library Committee - Joint Committee on Salaries and Allowances of Members |
Ad Hoc Parliamentary Committees of India
Ad hoc committees are temporary parliamentary bodies formed with a specific mandate and dissolved after submitting their report. They are vital tools of legislative oversight and include two main types:
Inquiry Committees investigate particular issues—such as Joint Parliamentary Committees (JPCs) set up to probe scams like the 2G spectrum or Bofors allocation—collecting evidence, summoning officials, and offering reform recommendations.
Advisory Committees, including Select and Joint Committees on Bills, conduct clause-by-clause scrutiny of legislation referred by either House. They follow parliamentary rules, engage stakeholders, and suggest amendments to strengthen proposed laws.
Ad hoc committees help Parliament respond effectively to emerging challenges and complex Bills. Though their lifespan is limited, their specialized focus enhances legislative quality and reinforces executive accountability—key for UPSC aspirants understanding the parliamentary committee framework.
Parliamentary committees of India perform several key functions that strengthen governance:
Legislative Scrutiny: Committees examine bills clause by clause, suggest amendments, and study their impact in detail. This leads to more informed debate in Parliament. For example, a Departmental Standing Committee may analyze a proposed law before it is discussed on the floor.
Oversight of Expenditure: Special financial committees ensure checks on government spending. The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) reviews the Comptroller and Auditor General’s reports to verify that money granted by Parliament has been spent as intended. The Estimates Committee scrutinizes budget estimates and suggests economies while the Committee on Public Undertakings examines the performance of state-run companies.
Policy Evaluation: Committees study government policies and programs in depth. They summon experts, ministries, and stakeholders to gather evidence. As a result, MPs gain a nuanced understanding and can identify issues or improvements before Parliament debates a bill.
Transparency and Public Input: Committees enhance transparency by involving the public. They invite written submissions (memoranda), conduct field visits, and take oral evidence from citizens or experts. “They offer opportunities for public input, thus enhancing the transparency and inclusiveness of the decision-making process”. This openness builds trust between the government and people.
Specialized Oversight: Certain committees focus on narrow areas. For instance, the Committee on Subordinate Legislation scrutinizes rules and regulations made by the Executive to ensure delegated powers are not misused. The Committee on Government Assurances tracks promises made by Ministers in the House to check if they are fulfilled.
In effect, Parliamentary committees of India let Parliament work in “a calmer atmosphere” where detailed study and free discussion are possible. The committee system thus aids Parliament in its duties “effectively, expeditiously and efficiently”, complementing the work of the full House.
Parliamentary committees of India are indispensable to India’s governance for several reasons:
Interface between People and Government: They act as a bridge connecting citizens and lawmakers. Through public hearings and expert consultations, they bring diverse viewpoints into policymaking.
Enhanced Legislative Quality: By examining issues in detail, committees improve the quality of legislation. Their recommendations often shape final laws, making them more robust and pragmatic.
Executive Accountability: Committees ensure the government remains answerable. As one committee guide notes, they “prevent misuse of power exercisable by the Executive” and enforce accountability without obstructing governance.
Workload Management: With Parliament meeting only about 60–70 days a year on average, committees enable continuous legislative work. “Parliamentary Committees meet throughout the year,” helping compensate for limited floor time.
Expert Analysis: Members of Parliament come from varied backgrounds. Committees allow them to engage with domain experts and civil servants, gaining technical insight on complex issues.
In summary, parliamentary committees of India empower Parliament. They make it possible to conduct thorough oversight, foster bipartisan consensus in a “calmer” forum, and ultimately build trust in the democratic process.
Budgetary oversight is a core function of parliamentary committees. The Estimates Committee and PAC play especially critical roles:
Estimates Committee: It analyzes the Detailed Demands for Grants (the ministries’ budget proposals). It suggests ways to economize public spending and improve efficiency. The CAG notes that the Estimates Committee undertakes “detailed examinations of budget estimates” of each department. This ensures budgets are justified and aligned with policy priorities.
Public Accounts Committee: It examines actual expenditures after the fact. PAC looks at the Appropriation Accounts and Finance Accounts prepared by the Controller and Auditor General. By verifying that funds were spent properly, it holds the government accountable for its budgetary decisions.
Committee on Public Undertakings: Reviews investment and financial performance of government companies, which impacts how public money is allocated to PSUs.
Demand for Grants: Apart from committees, note that only a fraction of the budget is debated on the floor. For instance, in the 16th Lok Sabha just 17% of the budget was discussed. Parliamentary Committees fill this gap by examining Demands for Grants in detail.
Thus, through financial committees and departmental scrutiny, parliamentary committees ensure public funds are managed with accountability. The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) supports this process: as a PadhAI guide on constitutional bodies explains, the CAG “audits all receipts and expenditure” of the government. This audit forms the basis of committee reviews. For example, the PAC’s work is largely founded on CAG audit reports. In effect, committees (with CAG input) act as guardians of the public purse, scrutinizing how the budget is planned and spent.
Legislative Depth & Expertise
Parliamentary Committees provide domain-specific expertise to generalist MPs, enabling them to effectively analyze legislation and policy in depth.
Departmental Standing Committees (DRSCs) not only examine bills but also review ministry performance and budgets—mirroring a "mini-Parliament" that enhances institutional knowledge annually.
Mini-Parliament in Action
Elected via proportional representation, committees reflect the political balance of the full House, enabling bipartisan scrutiny in a non-adversarial, closed-door atmosphere.
This setting encourages collaborative evaluation, prompting more technical and less political discussion before any proposals reach the floor.
Detailed Bill Review & Public Engagement
When bills bypass Parliamentary committees, legislative quality suffers—India saw only 25% of bills referred to committees in the 16th Lok Sabha, compared to 71% earlier.
Parliamentary Committees provide a structured platform for public and expert input, ensuring legislation is fine-tuned through evidence and stakeholder engagement.
Check on Executive: Beyond Recommendations
Though not binding, Parliamentary committee reports create public records that pressurize government action.
They supply transparency and long-term accountability by documenting consultations, debates, and dissent, acting as a tool to mitigate unchecked majority rule.
Declining Referral to Committees
The proportion of bills referred has fallen dramatically—from 71% to around 25%—reducing structured scrutiny and weakening democratic parliamentary practices.
Limited Impact of Committee Reports
Even when committees submit detailed reports—such as those by DRSCs on motor vehicle and railway reforms—the government often fails to act on recommendations.
Moreover, these reports frequently fail to enter mainstream parliamentary debate, underscoring an underutilization of their outputs.
Operational Weaknesses
Committees lack sufficient research support, which limits their ability to analyze and influence complex policies.
High turnover due to one-year tenures, along with low member attendance and inability to hold virtual meetings, further erode their institutional expertise.
Executive Discretion & Brute Majority
Without mandatory referral, the executive can sidestep committees at its discretion. When a party holds a majority, this trend weakens legislative oversight, allowing bills to pass without detailed evaluation.
Legislative Mandate for Committee Referral
Make it compulsory for all significant bills—including money or constitutional amendments—to be referred to relevant Parliamentary standing committees before parliamentary debate.
This would restore public trust and enhance the legislative framework.
Build Research Infrastructure & Training
Invest in robust research wings and staff support, to empower committee members and help process extensive documents and technical information efficiently.
Offer orientation programs for new MPs to enhance committee effectiveness.
Expand Post-Legislative & Implementation Review
Create mechanisms for tracking whether enacted laws are performing as intended-a function currently lacking in India’s system .
Parliamentary Committees should conduct follow-up reviews of key legislation one to two years post-enactment.
Enhance Transparency & Public Engagement
Publish simplified, readable versions of committee reports and encourage e-consultations and crowdsourced submissions.
This approach will boost public trust and enable more participatory law-making .
Enable Virtual Hearings & Broader Access
Permit virtual committee sessions under stringent confidentiality standards for better continuity, as recommended post-pandemic challenges faced during lockdown.
Modernizing procedures can increase frequency of meetings and member participation.
Q: What is a Parliamentary Standing Committee of Parliament?
A: A Parliamentary Standing Committee is a permanent parliamentary committee established by the rules of procedure. In India, Parliamentary standing committees are reconstituted annually and function throughout the year, overseeing specific areas or ministries. For example, financial committees like the Estimates Committee and PAC are Parliamentary standing committees. By contrast, an Ad Hoc committee is temporary and set up for a particular task (such as a Select Committee on a Bill).
Q: What are the main functions of parliamentary committees of India?
A: Parliamentary committees perform detailed analysis of legislation, government policies, and spending. They scrutinize bills clause by clause, examine the budget estimates and expenditures of ministries, and investigate specific issues. In doing so, they provide expert recommendations and hold the government accountable. They also enable public participation and transparency by taking evidence from citizens and experts.
Q: What is the role of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC)?
A: The PAC is tasked with examining the government’s accounts after expenditures have occurred. It reviews the Appropriation Accounts and Finance Accounts prepared by the Comptroller and Auditor General. Essentially, the PAC checks whether money granted by Parliament was used legally and efficiently. As one official guide puts it, the PAC ensures funds were “legally available for, and applicable to, the service to which they have been applied”. In short, the PAC ensures financial accountability of the executive.
Q: Why are parliamentary committees important?
A: Committees are crucial because they allow Parliament to handle a heavy workload and complex issues more effectively. Since Parliament meets for limited days, committees work year-round to study matters in depth. They bring subject-matter experts and MPs together in a less partisan setting, improving the quality of legislation and policy. Committees also boost transparency by involving the public, thereby strengthening the trust and accountability between the government and citizens.
Q: Which is the largest financial committee of the Indian Parliament?
A: The Estimates Committee is the largest parliamentary committee. It dates back to 1950 (originally from the 1920s) and has 30 members from the Lok Sabha. No other committee is larger in membership.
Parliamentary committees are the backbone of India’s legislative oversight. By dividing work among smaller, expert bodies, they ensure laws and policies are thoroughly vetted. They improve governance by enabling detailed scrutiny of budgets, bills, and administration, and by acting as bridges between the public and the executive. Committees also streamline the functioning of Parliament itself through housekeeping and business advisory roles. For UPSC aspirants and informed citizens alike, understanding these committees is key to grasping how India’s democracy holds its government accountable.
Internal Linking Suggestions
How to Begin Your UPSC Preparation : The Ultimate Guide For Beginners
UPSC Previous Year Question Papers with Answers PDF - Prelims & Mains (2014-2024)
How to Prepare Current Affairs for UPSC Exam: A Comprehensive Guide
51st G7 Summit 2025 – Countries, Key Issues, India’s Role & UPSC
External Linking Suggestions
UPSC Official Website – Syllabus & Notification: https://upsc.gov.in/
Press Information Bureau – Government Announcements: https://pib.gov.in/
NCERT Official Website – Standard Books for UPSC: https://ncert.nic.in
