'Standing Committees' of Lok Sabha in India

Twenty Four (24) 'Department Related Standing committees (DRSCs)' of Loksabha

In 1993, in the history of Indian democracy a major initiative was taken in the direction of making the Parliament more effective in exercising control over and giving direction to the functioning Government (i.e.the executive) and thereby making the executive more accountable.

Parliamentary Standing Committee means a Committee which is appointed or elected by the House or nominated by the Speaker and which works under the direction of the Speaker and presents its report to the House.

Parliamentary Committees are of two kinds: Standing Committees and Ad hoc Committees.

The Financial Committees, Department Related (DRSCs), and some other Committees come under the category of "Standing Committees". 

"Ad hoc Committees" are appointed for a specific purpose and they cease to exist when they finish the task assigned to them and submit a report.

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Each Department Related Standing Committee (DRSCs) now consists of 31 members:

- 21 from Lok Sabha 

and 

- 10 from Rajya Sabha. 

The representation of different parties/groups in these Committees is in proportion to their strength in both the Houses of Parliament. 

A Minister is NOT nominated as a member of the Committee. 

The term of office of the members of the Committee does not exceed One year. 

The Standing Committees do not consider the matters of day-to-day administration of the concerned Ministries / Departments.

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The Standing Committees are required to examine, make & present the advisory Reports to the Houses in regards to various Bills & other subjects related to their respective alloted department/ministry:

The Reports of the Committees have persuasive value and are

treated as considered advice given by the Committee. 

The Ministry or the Department concerned, is required to take action on the recommendations and conclusions contained in the reportand furnish action taken replies thereon, within three months.

'Action-taken Notes' received from the Ministries/Departments are examined by the Committee and 'Action-taken Reports' thereon are presented to the House.

The Minister, with regard to the Ministry concerned, shall make once in six months a statement in the House regarding the status ofimplementation of recommendations contained in the Reports of'Departmentally Related Standing Committees (DRSCs)' of Lok Sabha.

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Standing Committees are required to examine, make & present Reports to the houses mainly in regards to:

- Such 'Bills' pertaining to the concerned Ministries / Departments as are referred to the Committee by the Chairperson,Rajya Sabha or the Speaker, Lok Sabha as the case may be, and make reports thereon;

- The consideration of Demands for Grants of the concerned Ministries / Departments

- Annual reports of Ministries / Departments

- Policy Documents (National Basic Long Term Policy Document).

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Prime Minister Shri P.V. Narasimha Rao once said:

"Committees have become a vital part of the institutional framework of Parliaments all over the world today..........it offers an opportunity to the members to have glimpse into the working of Governments and

understand the practical problems and constraints. It also helps them to gain expertise and specialisation about the subjects dealt with by the Committees, which in turn is bound to result in elevating the standard of debate on the floor of the House."

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Source:

https://loksabha.nic.in/