Parliamentary Committees

• The Constitution of India makes a mention of these committees at different places.
• Parliamentary Committees are appointed or elected by the House or nominated by the Speaker / Chairman
• These committees 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 consultative committee - not a parliamentary committee

• parliamentary committees are of two types –
  1. Standing Committees
  2. Ad Hoc Committees.

Six Standing Committees

1. Financial Committees
(a) Public Accounts Committee
(b) Estimates Committee
(c) Committee on Public Undertakings
2. Departmental Standing Committees (24)
3. Committees to Inquire
4. Committees to Scrutinize and Control
5. Committees Relating to the Day-to-Day Business of the House
6. House-Keeping Committees or Service Committees (Committees concerned with the Provision of Facilities and Services to Members)

Ad Hoc Committees

• Two categories - Inquiry Committees and Advisory Committees.

Facts Box

• provisions of the Government of India Act of 1919. This committee is assisted by the CAG.
• Estimates Committee - constituted in 1950 on the recommendation of John Mathai (finance minister).
• The function of the committee is to examine the estimates Public Accounts Committee - set up first in 1921 under the included in the budget and suggest ‘economies’ in public expenditure.
• Committee on Public Undertakings -created in 1964 on the recommendation of the Krishna Menon Committee. It examine the reports and accounts of public undertakings .