Model Answer
0 min readIntroduction
The Indian Parliament, beyond its legislative function, relies heavily on a robust committee system to facilitate detailed scrutiny of bills, policies, and expenditure. These committees act as ‘mini-Parliaments’, providing a platform for in-depth analysis and expert consultation. The committee system, evolved over time, is a crucial component of representative democracy, enhancing the quality of legislation and ensuring governmental accountability. Financial committees, in particular, play a vital role in overseeing the nation’s finances, ensuring fiscal discipline, and promoting transparency. Their effectiveness directly impacts the institutional strength of the Parliament.
Structure of the Parliamentary Committee System
The Parliamentary Committee system in India can be broadly categorized into:
- Standing Committees: These are permanent committees constituted for a specific period (usually one year) and deal with matters of continuous nature. Examples include the Standing Committee on Finance, the Committee on Estimates, and the Public Accounts Committee.
- Ad-hoc Committees: These are appointed for a specific task and cease to exist once the task is completed. Examples include Joint Parliamentary Committees (JPCs) formed to examine specific bills (like the JPC on the Citizenship Amendment Bill, 2019).
- Committees of Houses: These committees are appointed by either the Lok Sabha or the Rajya Sabha to deal with procedural matters. Examples include the Business Advisory Committee and the Privileges Committee.
Financial Committees: A Detailed Look
The three primary financial committees are:
- Public Accounts Committee (PAC): Scrutinizes reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) and ensures that public money has been spent as authorized by the Parliament. It has 22 members – 15 from Lok Sabha and 7 from Rajya Sabha.
- Committee on Estimates: Estimates the costs of various government schemes, policies, and projects. It has 30 members – 20 from Lok Sabha and 10 from Rajya Sabha.
- Standing Committee on Finance: Examines bills relating to finance, prepares reports on budgetary proposals, and scrutinizes the financial working of ministries. It has 31 members – 20 from Lok Sabha and 11 from Rajya Sabha.
Functions of Financial Committees:
- Scrutiny of Expenditure: PAC’s examination of CAG reports highlights inefficiencies and irregularities in government spending.
- Budgetary Control: The Standing Committee on Finance provides valuable insights into budgetary proposals, influencing policy decisions.
- Policy Evaluation: The Committee on Estimates assesses the financial viability and effectiveness of government programs.
- Accountability: These committees hold the executive accountable for its financial decisions.
Institutionalization of Indian Parliament: The Role of Financial Committees
Financial committees have significantly contributed to the institutionalization of the Indian Parliament in several ways:
- Enhanced Accountability: By scrutinizing expenditure and questioning government officials, these committees have increased accountability and transparency in financial matters.
- Improved Policy-Making: The detailed analysis and recommendations of these committees often lead to improvements in policy formulation and implementation. For example, recommendations of the Standing Committee on Finance have led to revisions in budgetary allocations and policy frameworks.
- Strengthened Parliamentary Oversight: These committees provide a platform for detailed scrutiny that is often not possible on the floor of the Parliament, strengthening parliamentary oversight of the executive.
- Expertise and Deliberation: The committees bring together members with diverse expertise, fostering informed debate and deliberation on complex financial issues.
However, challenges remain. Low attendance rates of members, lack of research support, and limited impact of committee reports due to executive reluctance to fully implement recommendations hinder their effectiveness. The 2019 report by PRS Legislative Research highlighted that a significant percentage of committee reports are not debated in Parliament.
Conclusion
The Parliamentary Committee system, particularly the financial committees, is a cornerstone of the Indian Parliament’s functioning. They have demonstrably enhanced accountability, improved policy-making, and strengthened parliamentary oversight. While challenges persist in maximizing their potential, continued investment in resources, increased member participation, and greater executive responsiveness to committee recommendations are crucial for further institutionalizing the Indian Parliament and ensuring effective governance. Strengthening these committees is vital for a more robust and accountable democracy.
Answer Length
This is a comprehensive model answer for learning purposes and may exceed the word limit. In the exam, always adhere to the prescribed word count.