Parliamentary
Committees in India
Introduction
Parliamentary Committees form the backbone of legislative oversight in India and are a high-weightage topic in UPSC Prelims/Mains, SSC CGL/CHSL, RRB NTPC, Delhi Police and State PCS exams. These small expert groups of MPs perform detailed scrutiny of Bills, Budget demands, government policies and executive performance that full Parliament cannot do due to time constraints.
Why Committees Matter for Exams:
· Financial Committees (PAC, Estimates, COPU) = Most Repeated
· 24 Department Related Standing Committees (DRSCs) = UPSC favourite
· Joint Parliamentary Committees (JPCs) = Current affairs (2G, Bofors)
· Direct questions on functions, composition, chairmanship
In simple terms, committees are Parliament's research teams that question ministers, examine CAG audits, study ministry performance and recommend improvements. This blog covers all 3 Financial Committees, 24 DRSCs, selection process, powers, limitations and PYQ patterns in exam-ready format with tables and mind maps.
Perfect for aspirants who need clear concepts without complex theory!
Table of Contents
Parliamentary Committees
Parliamentary Committees are small groups of MPs formed to study Bills, examine government policies, and oversee executive functioning. They act as Parliament's eyes and ears.
Total Committees: 24 DRSCs + 3 Financial Committees + others
Types of Parliamentary Committees
Two Main
Types:
|
Type |
Nature |
Tenure |
Examples |
|
Standing Committees |
Permanent |
1 year |
DRSCs, Financial Committees |
|
Ad-hoc Committees |
Temporary |
Till task completion |
JPC, Select Committees |
Learn Powers, functions, and Articles of Prime Minister & Council of Ministers with examples.
Standing Committees vs Ad-hoc Committees
|
Feature |
Standing Committees |
Ad-hoc Committees |
|
Permanence |
Exist year after year |
Formed for specific purpose |
|
Tenure |
1 Academic Year |
Till report submitted |
|
Reconstitution |
Reconstituted annually |
Dissolved after work |
|
Members |
Fixed allocation |
Purpose-specific |
|
Examples |
PAC, DRSCs |
JPCs, Select Committees |
Department Related Standing Committees (DRSCs)
They provide detailed scrutiny
of Ministry-wise Budget Demands and legislative business that full
House cannot handle due to time constraints.
Origin & Evolution
|
Year |
Development |
Number of DRSCs |
|
1989 |
3 initial committees (Agriculture, Science & Tech, Environment) |
3 |
|
1993 |
Formal establishment (Lok Sabha Rules Committee recommendation) |
17 |
|
2004 |
Expanded + restructured |
24 (16 LS + 8 RS) |
Composition & Structure
Each DRSC has:
Total Members: 31- Lok Sabha: 21 members- Rajya Sabha: 10 membersTerm: 1 Academic Year (April–April)Key Features:
Nominated by Speaker (LS) / Chairman (RS)
Proportional party representation
No Ministers allowed (cease membership if appointed Minister)
Chairmanship rotates (LS/RS alternately)
Jurisdiction Split:
|
House |
Number |
Examples |
|
Lok Sabha |
16 DRSCs |
Defence, Home, Finance |
|
Rajya Sabha |
8 DRSCs |
External Affairs, Health |
Complete List of 24 DRSCs
Part-I (Lok Sabha Jurisdiction – 16 Committees):
|
S.No. |
Committee Name |
Ministries Covered |
|
1 |
Agriculture, Animal Husbandry & Food Processing |
Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, etc. |
|
2 |
Defence |
Defence (Most Important) |
|
3 |
Home Affairs |
Home Affairs (Most Important) |
|
4 |
Finance |
Finance (Most Important) |
|
5 |
External Affairs |
External Affairs |
|
6 |
Chemicals & Fertilizers |
Chemicals, Fertilizers |
|
7 |
Energy |
Power, New & Renewable Energy |
|
8 |
Industry |
Heavy Industries, Steel |
|
9 |
Transport, Tourism & Culture |
Civil Aviation, Shipping, Tourism |
|
10 |
Health & Family Welfare |
Health (Important) |
|
11 |
Education, Women, Children |
HRD, Women & Child Development |
|
12 |
Commerce |
Commerce & Industry |
|
13 |
Science & Technology |
Science & Technology, Space |
|
14 |
Communications & IT |
Communications, IT |
|
15 |
Food, Consumer Affairs |
Consumer Affairs, Food |
|
16 |
Water Resources |
Jal Shakti |
Part-II (Rajya Sabha Jurisdiction – 8 Committees):
|
S.No. |
Committee Name |
Ministries Covered |
|
17 |
Personnel, Public Grievances |
Personnel, Pensions |
|
18 |
Urban Development |
Housing & Urban Affairs |
|
19 |
Rural Development |
Rural Development |
|
20 |
Social Justice & Empowerment |
Social Justice, Tribal Affairs |
|
21 |
Coal, Mines, Steel |
Coal, Mines, Steel |
|
22 |
Commerce (Joint) |
Commerce (shared) |
|
23 |
Environment, Forests |
Environment, Forests & Climate |
|
24 |
Labour, Textiles |
Labour, Textiles |
Functions of DRSCs (5 Key Roles)
Primary Functions (Most Repeated in PYQs):**
1. Demands for Grants – Examine Ministry Budget before Parliament voting
2. Legislative Scrutiny – Detailed study of Bills referred by Parliament
3. Annual Reports – Review Ministry performance reports
4. Long-term Policy – Study 5-Year Plans, policy documents
5. Special Studies – Any subject of public importance
Powers of DRSCs (Investigative Authority)
✅ Summon
witnesses (Ministers, Secretaries, Experts)
✅ Demand documents/papers
✅ Conduct field visits/study tours
✅ Appoint consultants/sub-committees
✅ Present reports with recommendations to
Parliament
Limitations:
❌ No binding powers (recommendatory only)
❌ Cannot question policy decisions
❌ No judicial authority
❌ Reports not discussed in Parliament
(usually)
WORK ENERGY POWER – COMPLETE NOTES!
Financial Committees
Three Key Financial Committees:
|
Committee |
Established |
Members |
Chairman |
Function |
|
Public Accounts Committee (PAC) |
1921 |
22 (15 LS + 7 RS) |
Non-govt MP |
Audit Reports (CAG) |
|
Estimates Committee |
1950 |
30 (All LS) |
Non-govt MP |
Economy + Efficiency |
|
Committee on Public Undertakings (COPU) |
1964 |
22 (15 LS + 7 RS) |
Non-govt MP |
PSU Performance |
Other Important Standing Committees
|
Committee |
Purpose |
|
Committee on Welfare of SC/ST |
SC/ST welfare schemes |
|
Committee on Women |
Women-related legislation |
|
Committee on Petitions |
Public grievances |
|
Committee on Privileges |
MP privileges/ethics |
|
Business Advisory Committee |
Parliament business allocation |
|
Rules Committee |
Parliament procedures |
Important Ad-hoc Committees
|
Committee |
Purpose |
Examples |
|
Joint Parliamentary Committees (JPCs) |
Specific Bills/Scandals |
2G Spectrum JPC, Bofors JPC |
|
Select Committees |
Examine specific Bills |
GST Bill Select Committee |
|
Railway Convention Committee |
Railway finances |
|
|
Public Undertakings Selection Committee |
Select PSUs for COPU |
Functions and Powers of Committees
Main Functions:
1. Legislative scrutiny (Bills examination)
2. Financial oversight (Budget/Demands)
3. Executive accountability (Ministry performance)
4. Policy review (Long-term documents)
Powers:
· Summon witnesses (Ministers, officials)
· Demand documents/papers
· Conduct studies/tours
· Present reports to Parliament
Limitations:
· No binding decisions (recommendatory only)
· Cannot question policy decisions
· No judicial powers
MONEY & BANKING – COMPLETE EXAM NOTES WITH MCQs.
MCQs
Q1. Which
committee examines the audit reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General
(CAG)?
(A) Estimates Committee
(B) Public Accounts
Committee (PAC)
(C) Committee on Public Undertakings
(D) Finance Committee
Ans: B
Explanation:
PAC
scrutinises CAG audit
reports. Most repeated question. [UPSC Prelims 2013]
Q2. Who is
the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee?
(A) Prime Minister
(B) Finance Minister
(C) Non-government
member
(D) Speaker of Lok Sabha
Ans: C
Explanation:
PAC Chairman is always
from opposition (tradition since 1967). [SSC CGL 2021]
Q3. The
Estimates Committee consists of:
(A) 22 members
(B) 30 members
(C) 15 members
(D) 31 members
Ans: B
Explanation:
Estimates Committee
= 30 Lok Sabha members
only (no Rajya Sabha). [RRB NTPC 2020]
Q4. Which
committee examines the reports of Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs)?
(A) Public Accounts Committee
(B) Estimates Committee
(C) Committee on Public
Undertakings (COPU)
(D) DRSC on Industry
Ans: C
Explanation:
COPU
reviews PSU performance.
[UPSC CDS 2022]
Q5. The
Public Accounts Committee was first established in:
(A) 1947
(B) 1921
(C) 1950
(D) 1964
Ans: B
Explanation:
PAC
established in 1921
(pre-independence). [SSC CHSL 2019]
Q6.
Estimates Committee examines government expenditure for:
(A) Audit compliance
(B) Economy and efficiency
(C) Legal compliance
(D) Policy implementation
Ans:B
Explanation:
Economy + efficiency
of expenditure (not policy). [UPSC Prelims]
Q7. Total
members in Department Related Standing Committees (DRSCs):
(A) 21
(B) 24
(C) 31
(D) 30
Ans: C
Explanation:
DRSCs = 21 Lok Sabha + 10 Rajya Sabha = 31
members. [SSC CGL 2022]
Q8. How
many DRSCs are there in Lok Sabha?
(A) 8
(B) 16
(C) 24
(D) 31
Ans: B
Explanation:
16 Lok Sabha DRSCs + 8
Rajya Sabha DRSCs = 24 total. [RRB NTPC 2021]
Q9. Which
Financial Committee has NO Rajya Sabha members?
(A) Public Accounts Committee
(B) Committee on Public Undertakings
(C) Estimates Committee
(D) All have RS members
Ans: C
Explanation:
Estimates Committee
= 30 Lok Sabha members
only. [UPSC 2019]
Q10. COPU
was established in:
(A) 1921
(B) 1950
(C) 1964
(D) 1993
Ans: C
Explanation:
Committee on Public
Undertakings formed in 1964.
[SSC MTS 2020]
Q11.
Standing Committees are:
(A) Temporary
(B) Permanent (1-year
tenure)
(C) Dissolved after report
(D) Formed by President
Ans: B
Explanation:
Standing committees reconstituted annually.
[UPSC CDS]
Q12.
Ad-hoc Committees are dissolved after:
(A) 1 year
(B) Task completion
(C) Speaker's order
(D) Election
Ans: B
Explanation:
JPCs, Select Committees
= temporary. [SSC CGL 2018]
Q13. Joint
Parliamentary Committees (JPCs) examine:
(A) Annual Budget
(B) Specific
Bills/Scandals
(C) CAG reports
(D) Demands for Grants
Ans: B
Explanation:
2G JPC, Bofors JPC.
[RRB NTPC 2019]
Q14. Who
nominates members to Parliamentary Committees?
(A) Prime Minister
(B) Speaker/Chairman
(C) President
(D) Party leaders
Ans: B
Explanation:
Speaker (LS) / Chairman
(RS) nominates proportionally. [UPSC Prelims]
Q15.
Committee on Public Undertakings (COPU) has how many members?
(A) 30
(B) 31
(C) 22
(D) 24
Ans: C
Explanation:
COPU = 15 LS + 7 RS = 22 members.
[SSC CHSL 2021]
Q16.
Parliamentary Committees can:
(A) Enforce decisions
(B) Summon witnesses
(C) Pass laws
(D) Vote on Budget
Ans: B
Explanation:
Committees have investigative
powers (summon, documents). [UPSC 2021]
Q17. DRSCs
examine:
(A) Only CAG reports
(B) Demands for Grants
(C) Only Bills
(D) PSU performance
Ans: B
Explanation:
DRSCs
scrutinise Ministry
Budget Demands. [RRB Group D 2022]
Q18.
Recommendations of Parliamentary Committees are:
(A) Binding
(B) Recommendatory
(C) Judicial
(D) Enforceable by law
Ans: B
Explanation:
Non-binding
— government may accept/reject. [SSC CGL 2020]
Q19. Which
committee deals with MP privileges?
(A) Ethics Committee
(B) Committee on
Privileges
(C) Business Advisory Committee
(D) Petitions Committee
Ans: B
Explanation:
Committee on Privileges
handles breach of
privilege cases. [UPSC CDS]
Q20.
Business Advisory Committee decides:
(A) Committee membership
(B) Time allocation for
Bills
(C) Speaker election
(D) Whip selection
Ans: B
Explanation:
Allocates time for
parliamentary business. [State PCS]
Q21. Which
committee was formed for 2G Spectrum scam?
(A) Select Committee
(B) Joint Parliamentary
Committee (JPC)
(C) PAC
(D) Estimates Committee
Ans: B
Explanation:
JPCs for
major scandals. [SSC CGL 2019]
Q22.
Committee on Petitions is:
(A) Standing
(B) Ad-hoc
(C) Financial
(D) DRSC
Ans: A
Explanation:
Standing Committee
for public petitions. [RRB NTPC]
Q23. Who
chairs Financial Committees?
(A) Government MP
(B) Opposition MP
(C) Speaker
(D) Minister
Ans: B
Explanation:
Non-govt MP
chairs PAC, Estimates, COPU. [UPSC 2018]
Q24. Total
Parliamentary Committees chaired by Speaker:
(A) All committees
(B) None
(C) Financial only
(D) DRSCs only
Ans: B
Explanation:
Speaker nominates
but does not chair
committees. [SSC CHSL]
Q25. Which
examines rules made by executive under acts?
(A) Estimates Committee
(B) Committee on
Subordinate Legislation
(C) PAC
(D) COPU
Ans: B
Explanation:
Checks delegated
legislation (rules/notifications). [UPSC Prelims]
Learn national Income and it's measurement, concepts, methods, sectors and importance with detailed explanation and examples.
FAQs
Q1. How many Department Related
Standing Committees are there?
24 DRSCs (16 Lok Sabha + 8 Rajya Sabha).
Q2. Who chairs the Public Accounts
Committee?
Non-government MP (tradition since 1967).
Q3. Difference between Standing and
Ad-hoc committees?
Standing = permanent (1 year tenure), Ad-hoc = temporary
(task-specific).
Q4. What examines CAG audit reports?
Public Accounts Committee (PAC).
Q5. Estimates Committee examines?
Economy and efficiency of government expenditure.
Q6. Total members in DRSCs?
31 members (21 LS + 10 RS).
Q7. JPCs are formed for?
Specific Bills or scandals (like 2G Spectrum).
Q8. Who nominates committee members?
Speaker (LS) / Chairman (RS).
MARATHAS – Complete Notes for Competitive Exams!
Conclusion:
Parliamentary Committees are Parliament's most powerful tool for executive oversight and legislative quality control. For UPSC, SSC, RRB and Delhi Police exams, mastering 3 Financial Committees + DRSCs guarantees 8–12 marks from Polity section.
Must-Memorise (Score 100%):
Public Accounts Committee (PAC): CAG audit reports, Non-govt Chairman
Estimates Committee: Economy + efficiency, 30 LS members
COPU: PSU performance, 22 members
DRSCs: 24 committees, 31 members each (21 LS + 10 RS)
JPCs: Specific scandals/Bills (2G, Bofors)