The Parliament is assisted by a number of Committees in the discharge of its duties. The Parliamentary Committees exercise effective control over government activity on a regular and continuing basis. These committees comprise representative to various groups and parties in the Parliament. These groups and parties are given representation in proportion to their respective strengths in the parliament. Committee work in a more intimate and informal atmosphere on non-party lines.
Committee Name | Chairman | Objectives |
Business Advisory Committee | Speaker | It plans and regulates the business of the house and renders advice regarding the allocation of time for discussion of different matters. |
Private member’s bills and resolutions committee | Deputy Speaker | The committee classifies the bills submitted by members of the house according to their importance. |
Committee on petitions | – | The committee examines the petitions submitted to it and suggests remedial measures. |
Rules Committee | Speaker | It considers matters of procedure and the conduct of the business in the House and make suggestions for the improvement of procedures |
Committee on privileges | – | Regarding the violation of privileges of members of parliament and recommends appropriate action. |
Committee on welfare Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes | – | The committee also ensures effective implementation of the constitutional safeguards for the backward communities |
Committee on Government Assurances | – | It examines how far the assurances and undertakings given by the ministers on the floor of the house have been implemented within the stipulated period |
Committee on absence of members | – | The committee examines the leave applications of members. It is also looks into cases where members have been missing from the house without permission for more than six months. It can condone the absence of such members or declare the seat vacant and ask for a by election to fill up the same. |
Estimates Committee | Deputy Speaker | The Committee examines the annual estimates and suggests alternative policies to the government to ensure efficiency and economy in administration |
Public Accounts Committee | Opposites Leader in Lok Sabha | It ensures that expenditure has not exceeded the grants made by the Parliament and the money has been spent for the purpose for which it was sanctioned. Committee ensures regularity and economy in expenditure |
Committee on Public undertakings | – | This committee examines the working of public undertakings including their accounts and finances |
Joint Committee on Salaries & Allowances | – | The committee frames rules for regulating of salaries and amenities like housing, telephone, postal, secretarial and medical facilities |
Joint Committee on offices of Profit | – | This committee examines the composition of various committees and bodies constituted by the Union and State Governments, and recommends whether persons holding those offices should be disqualified from being elected as a member of Parliament or not. |
Select Committee | – | These committees are constituted for the consideration of different kinds of bills. These committees collect information and submit reports on bills referred to them. |
Committee on subordinate legislation | – | This committee examines rules and regulations enacted by the executive to fill the gaps in the laws enacted by Parliament and ascertains how far these rules are within the limits prescribed in the main law. |
Parliamentary Subjects Committee
Parliamentary subjects committees are its standing committees, six committees are constituted by the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha and 11 by the Speaker of Lok Sabha. Some of these committees are joint committees. Each standing committee comprises 45 members (30 from Lok Sabha and 15 from Rajya Sabha). These committees work during the recess of the Parliament and discuss individual demands for grants for each ministry (or) department and submit their report to the parliament.