PARLIAMENTARY STANDING COMMITTEES

PARLIAMENTARY STANDING COMMITTEES

TOPIC: Polity

Context- The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Rural Development spotlighted the failure to pay unemployment allowances and also recommended a hike in wage rates and in the number of days of guaranteed work, and a revision of the 60:40 wage-material ratio under the scheme.

Concept-

• The Constitution of India makes a mention of these committees at different places, but without making any specific provisions regarding their composition, tenure, functions,
  • All these matters are dealt by the rules of two Houses.
• Accordingly, a parliamentary committee means a committee that:
  • Is appointed or elected by the House or nominated by the Speaker / Chairman
  • Works under the direction of the Speaker / Chairman
  • Presents its report to the House or to the Speaker / Chairman
  • Has a secretariat provided by the Lok Sabha / Rajya Sabha
• The introduction of 17 department-related standing committees (DRSCs) on March 31, 1993 was a significant innovation that increased parliamentary scrutiny and gave MPs a larger role in examining legislation and important decisions of the day.
• There are 24 DRSCs — 16 from Lok Sabha and 8 from Rajya Sabha. Each committee has 21 MPs from Lok Sabha and 10 from Rajya Sabha.
• Role of DRSCs:
  • Given the volume of legislative business and the time constraints it is not possible for MPs to discuss and scrutinise all bills in the House.
  • Parliamentary committees, either formed for a specific bill (select committee) or permanent (standing committees that are reconstituted annually) allow for a scrutiny with the possibility of tapping subject experts from outside and other stakeholders in an environment where MPs are not bound by party positions or whips.