Introduction | परिचय
English: Parliament performs several constitutional functions—law-making, financial control, executive accountability, representation and deliberation. However, the entire Parliament cannot examine every Bill, expenditure proposal, policy decision or administrative action in sufficient technical detail on the floor of the House. Parliamentary Committees bridge this institutional gap. They enable smaller groups of Members of Parliament to undertake detailed scrutiny, gather evidence, question officials and experts, examine public expenditure and present recommendations to the Houses.
हिंदी: Parliament अनेक constitutional functions perform करती है—law-making, financial control, executive accountability, representation और deliberation। लेकिन पूरा सदन प्रत्येक Bill, expenditure proposal, policy decision या administrative action की पर्याप्त technical detail में examination नहीं कर सकता। Parliamentary Committees इस institutional gap को bridge करती हैं। इनके माध्यम से Members of Parliament के छोटे groups detailed scrutiny करते हैं, evidence gather करते हैं, officials और experts से questions पूछते हैं, public expenditure examine करते हैं तथा Houses के समक्ष recommendations प्रस्तुत करते हैं।
1. What is a Parliamentary Committee? | Parliamentary Committee क्या है?
English: Broadly, a Parliamentary Committee is a committee constituted or elected by a House of Parliament, or nominated by its Presiding Officer, that works under the direction of the Presiding Officer and presents its report to the House or to the Presiding Officer. Committees derive their functioning from constitutional provisions, Rules of Procedure, parliamentary conventions and directions of the Presiding Officers.
हिंदी: Broadly Parliamentary Committee ऐसी committee है जो Parliament के किसी House द्वारा constituted या elected होती है अथवा Presiding Officer द्वारा nominated होती है, Presiding Officer के direction में कार्य करती है और अपनी report House या Presiding Officer को प्रस्तुत करती है। इनका functioning constitutional provisions, Rules of Procedure, parliamentary conventions और Presiding Officers के directions से guided होता है।
2. Why are Parliamentary Committees Necessary? | संसदीय समितियाँ क्यों आवश्यक हैं?
English: Modern governance is technically complex. Parliament deals with defence procurement, digital regulation, taxation, public health, environment, infrastructure, international relations and hundreds of government programmes. Detailed examination of such issues requires time, expertise and sustained attention. Committees provide an institutional mechanism for deeper scrutiny than is normally possible during debates in the House.
हिंदी: Modern governance technically complex है। Parliament को defence procurement, digital regulation, taxation, public health, environment, infrastructure, international relations और hundreds of government programmes जैसे issues deal करने होते हैं। इनका detailed examination time, expertise और sustained attention मांगता है। Committees House debates की तुलना में deeper scrutiny का institutional mechanism provide करती हैं।
3. Parliament in Miniature | लघु संसद
English: Parliamentary Committees are sometimes described as 'Parliament in miniature' because they reproduce, on a smaller scale, Parliament's functions of deliberation, scrutiny and accountability. Their smaller size can encourage more detailed and less theatrical discussion than is possible in the full House.
हिंदी: Parliamentary Committees को कभी-कभी 'Parliament in miniature' कहा जाता है क्योंकि ये smaller scale पर Parliament के deliberation, scrutiny और accountability functions को perform करती हैं। Smaller size detailed और comparatively less theatrical discussion को facilitate कर सकती है।
4. Constitutional Basis | संवैधानिक आधार
English: The Constitution does not provide an exhaustive catalogue of Parliamentary Committees. However, it contains provisions that recognise committees and permit the Houses to regulate their procedure. Article 105 deals with parliamentary privileges, while Article 118 empowers each House to make rules for regulating its procedure and conduct of business. Several committee mechanisms consequently operate through the Rules of Procedure of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.
हिंदी: Constitution Parliamentary Committees की exhaustive list provide नहीं करता। हालांकि Constitution committees को recognise करने वाले provisions रखता है और Houses को procedure regulate करने की power देता है। Article 105 parliamentary privileges से संबंधित है, जबकि Article 118 प्रत्येक House को अपने procedure और conduct of business regulate करने के लिए rules बनाने की power देता है। इसलिए अनेक committees Lok Sabha और Rajya Sabha के Rules of Procedure के माध्यम से operate करती हैं।
5. Broad Classification | व्यापक वर्गीकरण
English: Parliamentary Committees are broadly classified into Standing Committees and Ad Hoc Committees. Standing Committees have a continuing character and are reconstituted periodically. Ad Hoc Committees are constituted for a specific purpose and generally cease to exist after completing the assigned task and submitting their report.
हिंदी: Parliamentary Committees को broadly Standing Committees और Ad Hoc Committees में classify किया जाता है। Standing Committees continuing character रखती हैं और periodically reconstituted होती हैं। Ad Hoc Committees specific purpose के लिए constituted होती हैं और assigned task complete तथा report submit करने के बाद generally cease to exist कर जाती हैं।
6. Standing Committees | स्थायी समितियाँ
English: Important categories of Standing Committees include Financial Committees, Department-related Standing Committees and various other committees concerned with parliamentary business, privileges, petitions, subordinate legislation, government assurances and welfare-related matters.
हिंदी: Standing Committees की important categories में Financial Committees, Department-related Standing Committees तथा parliamentary business, privileges, petitions, subordinate legislation, government assurances और welfare-related matters से संबंधित अन्य committees शामिल हैं।
7. Ad Hoc Committees | तदर्थ समितियाँ
English: Ad Hoc Committees are temporary committees created for a particular assignment. Select Committees on particular Bills and Joint Parliamentary Committees constituted for specified matters are important examples. Their mandate is defined by the task for which they are established.
हिंदी: Ad Hoc Committees temporary committees होती हैं जो particular assignment के लिए create की जाती हैं। Particular Bills पर Select Committees तथा specified matters की examination के लिए constituted Joint Parliamentary Committees इनके important examples हैं। इनका mandate उस specific task से defined होता है जिसके लिए इन्हें establish किया गया है।
8. Financial Committees | वित्तीय समितियाँ
English: Parliamentary financial control does not end with the passing of the Budget. Parliament must also examine whether money was spent for authorised purposes, whether expenditure was economical and whether public enterprises function efficiently. Three particularly important financial committees are the Public Accounts Committee, Estimates Committee and Committee on Public Undertakings.
हिंदी: Parliamentary financial control Budget pass होने के साथ समाप्त नहीं होता। Parliament को यह भी examine करना होता है कि money authorised purposes के लिए spend हुआ या नहीं, expenditure economical था या नहीं और public enterprises efficiently function कर रहे हैं या नहीं। तीन particularly important financial committees हैं—Public Accounts Committee, Estimates Committee और Committee on Public Undertakings।
9. Public Accounts Committee | लोक लेखा समिति
English: The Public Accounts Committee, or PAC, is a central institution of post-expenditure parliamentary scrutiny. It examines accounts showing the appropriation of sums granted by Parliament and reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India relevant to its mandate. Its focus is fundamentally on whether public money has been spent in accordance with parliamentary authorisation and applicable financial principles.
हिंदी: Public Accounts Committee यानी PAC post-expenditure parliamentary scrutiny की central institution है। यह Parliament द्वारा granted sums के appropriation से संबंधित accounts तथा अपने mandate से relevant Comptroller and Auditor General of India की reports examine करती है। इसका fundamental focus यह है कि public money parliamentary authorisation और applicable financial principles के अनुसार spend हुआ या नहीं।
10. Composition of PAC | PAC की संरचना
English: The Public Accounts Committee consists of 22 members—15 from Lok Sabha and 7 from Rajya Sabha. Members are elected annually according to the principle of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote. A Minister cannot be elected as a member of the Committee.
हिंदी: Public Accounts Committee में 22 members होते हैं—15 Lok Sabha से और 7 Rajya Sabha से। Members annually proportional representation by means of single transferable vote के principle के अनुसार elected होते हैं। कोई Minister Committee का member elected नहीं हो सकता।
11. Chairperson of PAC | PAC का अध्यक्ष
English: By parliamentary convention, the Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee has generally been appointed from the Opposition since 1967. This convention strengthens the perception of independent financial scrutiny. It is important to note that this is a parliamentary convention rather than a constitutional requirement.
हिंदी: Parliamentary convention के अनुसार 1967 से Public Accounts Committee का Chairperson generally Opposition से appointed किया जाता है। यह convention independent financial scrutiny की perception को strengthen करता है। महत्वपूर्ण बात यह है कि यह constitutional requirement नहीं बल्कि parliamentary convention है।
12. PAC and CAG | PAC और CAG
English: The relationship between the PAC and the CAG is crucial for legislative financial accountability. The CAG audits government accounts and expenditure under the constitutional and statutory framework, while the PAC uses audit findings as an important basis for parliamentary scrutiny. The CAG does not replace Parliament; rather, audit findings enable Parliament to exercise informed oversight.
हिंदी: PAC और CAG का relationship legislative financial accountability के लिए crucial है। CAG constitutional और statutory framework के तहत government accounts और expenditure का audit करता है, जबकि PAC audit findings को parliamentary scrutiny के important basis के रूप में use करती है। CAG Parliament को replace नहीं करता; बल्कि audit findings Parliament को informed oversight exercise करने में सक्षम बनाती हैं।
13. PAC is Primarily Post-Facto | PAC का Post-Facto Character
English: The PAC primarily examines expenditure after it has taken place. Therefore, it is largely a post-facto oversight mechanism. It is not an executive body and does not itself administer departments or sanction expenditure.
हिंदी: PAC primarily expenditure होने के बाद उसकी examination करती है। इसलिए यह largely post-facto oversight mechanism है। यह executive body नहीं है और स्वयं departments administer या expenditure sanction नहीं करती।
14. Estimates Committee | प्राक्कलन समिति
English: The Estimates Committee examines estimates included in the Budget and suggests economies, improvements in organisation, efficiency and administrative reform. It can examine whether money is well laid out within the limits of policy implied in the estimates and may suggest alternative policies to bring about efficiency and economy in administration.
हिंदी: Estimates Committee Budget में included estimates examine करती है और economy, organisational improvement, efficiency तथा administrative reform से संबंधित suggestions देती है। यह examine कर सकती है कि estimates में implied policy limits के भीतर money properly utilised हो रहा है या नहीं और administration में efficiency तथा economy लाने के लिए alternative policies suggest कर सकती है।
15. Composition of Estimates Committee | Estimates Committee की संरचना
English: The Estimates Committee consists of 30 members, all drawn from the Lok Sabha. Rajya Sabha has no representation on this Committee. Its members are elected annually according to proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote. Ministers cannot be members.
हिंदी: Estimates Committee में 30 members होते हैं और सभी Lok Sabha से होते हैं। Rajya Sabha का इस Committee में representation नहीं होता। Members annually proportional representation by means of single transferable vote के आधार पर elected होते हैं। Ministers इसके members नहीं हो सकते।
16. PAC vs Estimates Committee | PAC बनाम Estimates Committee
English: A useful conceptual distinction is that the PAC is predominantly concerned with expenditure already incurred and parliamentary authorisation, whereas the Estimates Committee focuses more on estimates, economy, efficiency and improvements in administration. UPSC frequently tests this functional distinction.
हिंदी: Important conceptual distinction यह है कि PAC predominantly already incurred expenditure और parliamentary authorisation से concerned होती है, जबकि Estimates Committee estimates, economy, efficiency और administrative improvements पर अधिक focus करती है। UPSC इस functional distinction को frequently test करता है।
17. Committee on Public Undertakings | सार्वजनिक उपक्रम समिति
English: The Committee on Public Undertakings, or COPU, examines the reports and accounts of public undertakings and relevant CAG reports. It also considers whether the affairs of public undertakings are being managed in accordance with sound business principles and prudent commercial practices, subject to its parliamentary mandate.
हिंदी: Committee on Public Undertakings यानी COPU public undertakings की reports और accounts तथा relevant CAG reports examine करती है। यह अपने parliamentary mandate के अंतर्गत यह भी consider करती है कि public undertakings के affairs sound business principles और prudent commercial practices के अनुसार managed हो रहे हैं या नहीं।
18. Composition of COPU | COPU की संरचना
English: COPU consists of 22 members—15 from Lok Sabha and 7 from Rajya Sabha. Ministers are not eligible to be members. Like the PAC, it includes members from both Houses, unlike the Estimates Committee.
हिंदी: COPU में 22 members होते हैं—15 Lok Sabha और 7 Rajya Sabha से। Ministers इसके members बनने के eligible नहीं होते। PAC की तरह इसमें दोनों Houses का representation होता है, जबकि Estimates Committee केवल Lok Sabha की committee है।
19. Financial Committees: Quick Comparison | त्वरित तुलना
English: For Prelims, remember: PAC—22 members, 15 Lok Sabha plus 7 Rajya Sabha; Estimates Committee—30 members, all Lok Sabha; COPU—22 members, 15 Lok Sabha plus 7 Rajya Sabha. Ministers cannot be members of these financial committees.
हिंदी: Prelims के लिए याद रखें: PAC—22 members, 15 Lok Sabha + 7 Rajya Sabha; Estimates Committee—30 members, सभी Lok Sabha; COPU—22 members, 15 Lok Sabha + 7 Rajya Sabha। इन financial committees में Ministers members नहीं हो सकते।
20. Department-related Standing Committees | Department-related Standing Committees
English: Department-related Standing Committees, commonly called DRSCs, provide specialised parliamentary scrutiny of ministries and departments. The present system consists of 24 DRSCs, each associated with specified ministries or departments of the Union Government.
हिंदी: Department-related Standing Committees यानी DRSCs ministries और departments की specialised parliamentary scrutiny provide करती हैं। Present system में 24 DRSCs हैं और प्रत्येक specified Union ministries या departments से associated है।
21. Composition of DRSCs | DRSC की संरचना
English: Each DRSC consists of 31 members—21 from Lok Sabha and 10 from Rajya Sabha. Members are nominated by the Speaker of Lok Sabha and Chairman of Rajya Sabha respectively. A Minister cannot be nominated as a member of a DRSC.
हिंदी: प्रत्येक DRSC में 31 members होते हैं—21 Lok Sabha और 10 Rajya Sabha से। Members respectively Speaker of Lok Sabha और Chairman of Rajya Sabha द्वारा nominated होते हैं। कोई Minister DRSC का member nominate नहीं किया जा सकता।
22. Major Functions of DRSCs | DRSC के प्रमुख कार्य
English: DRSCs examine Demands for Grants of concerned ministries, Bills referred to them, annual reports of ministries and long-term policy documents referred to them. They do not consider the day-to-day administration of departments.
हिंदी: DRSCs concerned ministries की Demands for Grants, उन्हें referred Bills, ministries की annual reports और referred long-term policy documents examine करती हैं। ये departments की day-to-day administration consider नहीं करतीं।
23. Examination of Demands for Grants | Demands for Grants की जाँच
English: After the general discussion on the Budget, DRSCs examine the Demands for Grants of ministries under their jurisdiction and submit reports. This provides Members with an opportunity to analyse expenditure priorities and programme performance in greater detail than floor discussion normally permits.
हिंदी: Budget की general discussion के बाद DRSCs अपने jurisdiction में आने वाली ministries की Demands for Grants examine करती हैं और reports submit करती हैं। इससे Members को expenditure priorities और programme performance का detailed analysis करने का अवसर मिलता है।
24. Parliamentary Committees and Bills | Bills और Parliamentary Committees
English: Bills may be referred to committees for detailed examination, but every Bill introduced in Parliament is not automatically required to undergo committee scrutiny. This distinction is important. Committee examination can improve legislation through clause-by-clause scrutiny, stakeholder consultation and technical assessment.
हिंदी: Bills को detailed examination के लिए committees को refer किया जा सकता है, लेकिन Parliament में introduced प्रत्येक Bill का committee scrutiny से गुजरना automatically mandatory नहीं है। यह distinction महत्वपूर्ण है। Committee examination clause-by-clause scrutiny, stakeholder consultation और technical assessment के माध्यम से legislation improve कर सकती है।
25. Select Committee | Select Committee
English: A Select Committee is generally constituted by one House for detailed examination of a particular Bill. Its membership is drawn from that House. After examining the Bill, it reports back to the House.
हिंदी: Select Committee generally किसी particular Bill की detailed examination के लिए एक House द्वारा constituted होती है। इसके members उसी House से होते हैं। Bill examine करने के बाद committee अपनी report House को submit करती है।
26. Joint Committee on a Bill | Bill पर Joint Committee
English: A Joint Committee on a Bill contains members from both Houses. Like a Select Committee, it undertakes detailed examination of the Bill, but its joint composition enables participation of Members from both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.
हिंदी: Bill पर Joint Committee में दोनों Houses के members शामिल होते हैं। Select Committee की तरह यह Bill की detailed examination करती है, लेकिन joint composition के कारण Lok Sabha और Rajya Sabha दोनों के Members participate करते हैं।
27. Joint Parliamentary Committee | संयुक्त संसदीय समिति
English: The expression Joint Parliamentary Committee, or JPC, is commonly used for an ad hoc joint committee constituted to examine a specific issue, subject or controversy. Its exact composition, powers and terms of reference depend on the motion or decision establishing it. A JPC should therefore not be confused with a permanent constitutional body.
हिंदी: Joint Parliamentary Committee यानी JPC expression commonly ऐसी ad hoc joint committee के लिए use होती है जो specific issue, subject या controversy examine करने के लिए constituted होती है। इसकी exact composition, powers और terms of reference उस motion या decision पर depend करते हैं जिसके द्वारा इसे establish किया गया है। इसलिए JPC को permanent constitutional body नहीं समझना चाहिए।
28. Committee on Subordinate Legislation | अधीनस्थ विधान समिति
English: Modern legislation often delegates rule-making powers to the executive. The Committee on Subordinate Legislation scrutinises whether powers delegated by Parliament through statutes are being properly exercised by the executive. This is important because excessive or improper delegated legislation can weaken legislative control.
हिंदी: Modern legislation में Parliament अक्सर executive को rule-making powers delegate करती है। Committee on Subordinate Legislation examine करती है कि statutes के माध्यम से Parliament द्वारा delegated powers executive द्वारा properly exercise की जा रही हैं या नहीं। Excessive या improper delegated legislation legislative control को weaken कर सकता है, इसलिए यह scrutiny महत्वपूर्ण है।
29. Committee on Government Assurances | सरकारी आश्वासन समिति
English: Ministers frequently give assurances, promises or undertakings on the floor of Parliament. The Committee on Government Assurances examines such assurances and monitors whether they have been implemented within a reasonable period. This converts statements made in Parliament into a continuing accountability mechanism.
हिंदी: Ministers Parliament के floor पर assurances, promises या undertakings देते हैं। Committee on Government Assurances ऐसे assurances examine करती है और monitor करती है कि उन्हें reasonable period में implement किया गया या नहीं। इससे parliamentary statements continuing accountability mechanism में convert होते हैं।
30. Committee on Petitions | याचिका समिति
English: The Committee on Petitions provides an institutional channel through which petitions relating to matters within parliamentary competence may receive examination. It contributes to citizen-Parliament interaction and can bring public grievances or policy concerns into parliamentary scrutiny.
हिंदी: Committee on Petitions ऐसा institutional channel provide करती है जिसके माध्यम से parliamentary competence से संबंधित matters पर petitions की examination हो सकती है। यह citizen-Parliament interaction को strengthen करती है और public grievances या policy concerns को parliamentary scrutiny में ला सकती है।
31. Committee of Privileges | विशेषाधिकार समिति
English: The Committee of Privileges examines questions involving alleged breach of parliamentary privilege or contempt of the House when such matters are referred to it. Parliamentary privileges exist to enable the Houses and their members to discharge legislative functions effectively, not to create an unrestricted personal immunity.
हिंदी: Committee of Privileges alleged breach of parliamentary privilege या contempt of the House से संबंधित referred questions examine करती है। Parliamentary privileges का purpose Houses और उनके members को legislative functions effectively discharge करने में सक्षम बनाना है, unrestricted personal immunity create करना नहीं।
32. Business Advisory Committee | Business Advisory Committee
English: The Business Advisory Committee helps organise parliamentary business by recommending allocation of time for discussion of government legislative and other business. Efficient time allocation is crucial because Parliament must handle a large volume of business within limited sitting time.
हिंदी: Business Advisory Committee government legislative और other business की discussion के लिए time allocation recommend करके parliamentary business organise करने में सहायता करती है। Limited sitting time में large volume of business handle करने के कारण efficient time allocation महत्वपूर्ण है।
33. Rules Committee | नियम समिति
English: The Rules Committee considers matters relating to the procedure and conduct of business of the House and recommends amendments or additions to the rules where necessary. It therefore contributes to the evolution of parliamentary procedure.
हिंदी: Rules Committee House के procedure और conduct of business से संबंधित matters consider करती है और आवश्यकता होने पर rules में amendments या additions recommend करती है। इस प्रकार यह parliamentary procedure के evolution में contribute करती है।
34. Committee Reports | समिति रिपोर्ट
English: Committee reports can contain detailed findings, observations and recommendations. They are valuable parliamentary documents and can shape public debate, administrative reform and future legislation. However, committee recommendations are generally advisory and are not automatically equivalent to law or binding judicial orders.
हिंदी: Committee reports detailed findings, observations और recommendations contain कर सकती हैं। ये valuable parliamentary documents होती हैं और public debate, administrative reform तथा future legislation को shape कर सकती हैं। हालांकि committee recommendations generally advisory होती हैं; वे automatically law या binding judicial orders के equivalent नहीं होतीं।
35. Evidence before Committees | समितियों के समक्ष साक्ष्य
English: Depending on their mandate and applicable rules, committees may obtain information from ministries, officials, experts, organisations and other stakeholders. Such evidence can help MPs understand technical and administrative dimensions of an issue before formulating recommendations.
हिंदी: अपने mandate और applicable rules के अनुसार committees ministries, officials, experts, organisations और other stakeholders से information obtain कर सकती हैं। ऐसा evidence MPs को recommendations formulate करने से पहले issue के technical और administrative dimensions समझने में मदद करता है।
36. Committee Scrutiny and Executive Accountability | Executive Accountability
English: The executive controls extensive financial and administrative resources. Parliamentary Committees reduce the information asymmetry between the government and legislature by enabling MPs to ask detailed questions, examine records and assess implementation. This strengthens the principle of responsible government.
हिंदी: Executive extensive financial और administrative resources control करता है। Parliamentary Committees MPs को detailed questions पूछने, records examine करने और implementation assess करने का अवसर देकर government और legislature के बीच information asymmetry को reduce करती हैं। इससे responsible government का principle strengthen होता है।
37. Committees and Separation of Powers | शक्तियों का पृथक्करण
English: Parliamentary scrutiny does not mean that committees themselves become executive agencies. Their central role is legislative oversight, examination and recommendation. Maintaining this distinction preserves both accountability and institutional responsibility.
हिंदी: Parliamentary scrutiny का अर्थ यह नहीं कि committees स्वयं executive agencies बन जाएँ। इनका central role legislative oversight, examination और recommendation है। इस distinction को maintain करना accountability और institutional responsibility दोनों के लिए आवश्यक है।
38. Bipartisanship and Deliberation | द्विदलीयता और विचार-विमर्श
English: Committee settings may allow greater scope for evidence-based and cross-party discussion than highly visible floor debates. Political differences do not disappear, but members may have more opportunity to engage with technical evidence and negotiate recommendations.
हिंदी: Committee settings highly visible floor debates की तुलना में evidence-based और cross-party discussion के लिए greater scope provide कर सकती हैं। Political differences समाप्त नहीं होते, लेकिन members को technical evidence engage करने और recommendations पर negotiate करने का अधिक opportunity मिलता है।
39. Importance for Legislative Quality | विधायी गुणवत्ता
English: Detailed committee scrutiny can identify ambiguous drafting, implementation problems, unintended consequences, fiscal implications and conflicts with existing laws. Stakeholder consultation may reveal practical problems that are not obvious during a short parliamentary debate. Therefore, committee scrutiny can improve legislative quality.
हिंदी: Detailed committee scrutiny ambiguous drafting, implementation problems, unintended consequences, fiscal implications और existing laws के साथ conflicts identify कर सकती है। Stakeholder consultation ऐसे practical problems reveal कर सकती है जो short parliamentary debate में obvious नहीं होते। इसलिए committee scrutiny legislative quality improve कर सकती है।
40. Is Committee Scrutiny of Every Bill Mandatory? | क्या प्रत्येक Bill का Committee Scrutiny अनिवार्य है?
English: No general constitutional rule requires every Bill to be referred to a Parliamentary Committee. Bills may be passed without committee referral. However, from the perspective of deliberative democracy, important or technically complex Bills can benefit substantially from structured committee examination.
हिंदी: ऐसा कोई general constitutional rule नहीं है कि प्रत्येक Bill को Parliamentary Committee को refer करना mandatory हो। Bills committee referral के बिना भी pass हो सकते हैं। लेकिन deliberative democracy के perspective से important या technically complex Bills structured committee examination से substantially benefit कर सकते हैं।
41. Challenge: Limited Time | सीमित समय
English: Committees often have to examine complex ministries, budgets, legislation and policy documents within limited time. A large workload can restrict the depth of scrutiny, especially where specialised technical analysis is required.
हिंदी: Committees को complex ministries, budgets, legislation और policy documents limited time में examine करने होते हैं। Large workload scrutiny की depth restrict कर सकता है, particularly जहाँ specialised technical analysis required हो।
42. Challenge: Research Capacity | अनुसंधान क्षमता
English: Effective legislative scrutiny increasingly requires expertise in economics, technology, climate science, data governance, defence and other specialised fields. Strengthening independent research and technical support for committees can improve the quality of parliamentary oversight.
हिंदी: Effective legislative scrutiny के लिए increasingly economics, technology, climate science, data governance, defence और अन्य specialised fields की expertise आवश्यक है। Committees के लिए independent research और technical support strengthen करने से parliamentary oversight की quality improve हो सकती है।
43. Challenge: Follow-up on Recommendations | Recommendations पर Follow-up
English: The value of a committee report depends partly on whether its recommendations receive serious consideration and follow-up. Action Taken Reports and government responses are therefore important. Without systematic follow-up, valuable recommendations may have limited practical impact.
हिंदी: Committee report की value partly इस बात पर depend करती है कि उसकी recommendations को serious consideration और follow-up मिलता है या नहीं। इसलिए Action Taken Reports और government responses important हैं। Systematic follow-up के बिना valuable recommendations का practical impact limited हो सकता है।
44. Challenge: Attendance and Participation | उपस्थिति और भागीदारी
English: The effectiveness of committees ultimately depends on active participation by members. Regular attendance, preparation, engagement with evidence and continuity of institutional knowledge are essential for meaningful scrutiny.
हिंदी: Committees की effectiveness ultimately members की active participation पर depend करती है। Regular attendance, preparation, evidence के साथ engagement और institutional knowledge की continuity meaningful scrutiny के लिए essential हैं।
45. Challenge: Transparency versus Confidentiality | पारदर्शिता बनाम गोपनीयता
English: Committee work creates a legitimate tension between transparency and confidentiality. Confidential deliberation can encourage candid discussion and protect sensitive information, but excessive secrecy may reduce public understanding. The appropriate balance depends on parliamentary rules, the nature of information and the public interest.
हिंदी: Committee work transparency और confidentiality के बीच legitimate tension create करता है। Confidential deliberation candid discussion encourage कर सकती है और sensitive information protect कर सकती है, लेकिन excessive secrecy public understanding reduce कर सकती है। Appropriate balance parliamentary rules, information की nature और public interest पर depend करता है।
46. Reform: Greater Committee Scrutiny of Bills | Bills की अधिक Committee Scrutiny
English: One important reform is to strengthen the practice of referring significant Bills, especially complex or rights-sensitive legislation, to appropriate committees. This need not mean delaying legislation indefinitely; committees can operate within defined timelines while ensuring consultation and technical scrutiny.
हिंदी: एक important reform significant Bills, especially complex या rights-sensitive legislation, को appropriate committees में refer करने की practice strengthen करना है। इसका अर्थ legislation को indefinitely delay करना नहीं होना चाहिए; committees defined timelines में consultation और technical scrutiny कर सकती हैं।
47. Reform: Expert Research Support | विशेषज्ञ अनुसंधान सहायता
English: Committees should have access to high-quality non-partisan research, sector specialists, data analysis and comparative legislative experience. Strong research capacity enables MPs to question ministries more effectively and evaluate competing policy claims.
हिंदी: Committees को high-quality non-partisan research, sector specialists, data analysis और comparative legislative experience की access मिलनी चाहिए। Strong research capacity MPs को ministries से अधिक effectively questions पूछने और competing policy claims evaluate करने में सक्षम बनाती है।
48. Reform: Stronger Follow-up Mechanism | मजबूत Follow-up Mechanism
English: Ministries should provide clear and timely responses to important recommendations. Parliament can strengthen monitoring of Action Taken Reports and identify recommendations that remain pending or have been rejected, along with reasons.
हिंदी: Ministries को important recommendations पर clear और timely responses provide करने चाहिए। Parliament Action Taken Reports की monitoring strengthen कर सकती है और pending या rejected recommendations को reasons के साथ identify कर सकती है।
49. Reform: Institutional Memory | संस्थागत स्मृति
English: Frequent changes in committee membership can weaken continuity. Better documentation, professional secretariat support and systematic briefing can preserve institutional memory even when membership changes.
हिंदी: Committee membership में frequent changes continuity weaken कर सकते हैं। Better documentation, professional secretariat support और systematic briefing membership बदलने पर भी institutional memory preserve कर सकते हैं।
50. Reform: Data-driven Oversight | डेटा आधारित निगरानी
English: Parliamentary scrutiny should increasingly use outcome indicators, programme data, audit findings and independent evaluation rather than relying only on expenditure figures. The question should not merely be 'How much money was spent?' but also 'What public outcome was achieved?'
हिंदी: Parliamentary scrutiny को केवल expenditure figures पर depend करने के बजाय outcome indicators, programme data, audit findings और independent evaluation का increasingly use करना चाहिए। Question केवल 'कितना पैसा spend हुआ?' नहीं बल्कि 'उस expenditure से कौन-सा public outcome achieve हुआ?' भी होना चाहिए।
51. Committees and Good Governance | समितियाँ और सुशासन
English: Parliamentary Committees support good governance by promoting accountability, transparency, financial prudence, legislative quality and evidence-based policymaking. They can identify administrative weaknesses before those weaknesses develop into larger governance failures.
हिंदी: Parliamentary Committees accountability, transparency, financial prudence, legislative quality और evidence-based policymaking को promote करके good governance support करती हैं। ये administrative weaknesses को larger governance failures बनने से पहले identify करने में मदद कर सकती हैं।
52. Committees and Constitutional Democracy | समितियाँ और संवैधानिक लोकतंत्र
English: Elections provide democratic legitimacy to governments, but constitutional democracy also requires continuing accountability between elections. Parliamentary Committees help convert the principle of executive responsibility into regular institutional scrutiny.
हिंदी: Elections governments को democratic legitimacy provide करते हैं, लेकिन constitutional democracy में elections के बीच continuing accountability भी आवश्यक है। Parliamentary Committees executive responsibility के principle को regular institutional scrutiny में convert करने में मदद करती हैं।
53. Parliamentary Sovereignty: Indian Context | भारतीय संदर्भ
English: Parliamentary Committees should not be understood through the doctrine of unlimited parliamentary sovereignty. India's Parliament operates under a written Constitution, judicial review, federalism, fundamental rights and constitutional limitations. Committees function within the same constitutional order.
हिंदी: Parliamentary Committees को unlimited parliamentary sovereignty doctrine के perspective से नहीं समझना चाहिए। India's Parliament written Constitution, judicial review, federalism, fundamental rights और constitutional limitations के अंतर्गत operate करती है। Committees भी इसी constitutional order के भीतर function करती हैं।
54. Prelims Trap: Constitutional or Parliamentary Body? | Prelims Trap
English: Do not assume that every important Parliamentary Committee is directly created by a specific constitutional Article. Many committees derive their detailed composition and functions from parliamentary rules and conventions. For example, the PAC is an important parliamentary financial committee, but its detailed structure is governed by parliamentary rules rather than a constitutional Article specifying '22 members'.
हिंदी: यह assume नहीं करना चाहिए कि प्रत्येक important Parliamentary Committee directly किसी specific constitutional Article द्वारा created है। कई committees की detailed composition और functions parliamentary rules तथा conventions से derive होती हैं। उदाहरण के लिए PAC important parliamentary financial committee है, लेकिन उसकी 22-member structure किसी constitutional Article में specified नहीं है।
55. Prelims Trap: PAC and CAG | PAC और CAG
English: CAG and PAC are distinct institutions. The CAG is a constitutional authority under Article 148. PAC is a Parliamentary Committee. The CAG conducts audit under its constitutional and statutory mandate; PAC performs parliamentary examination using, among other materials, relevant audit reports.
हिंदी: CAG और PAC distinct institutions हैं। CAG Article 148 के तहत constitutional authority है। PAC Parliamentary Committee है। CAG अपने constitutional और statutory mandate के तहत audit करता है; PAC relevant audit reports सहित विभिन्न materials का use करके parliamentary examination करती है।
56. Prelims Trap: Estimates Committee | Estimates Committee
English: The Estimates Committee is not a joint committee of both Houses. All its 30 members belong to Lok Sabha. This is one of the most frequently tested factual distinctions regarding financial committees.
हिंदी: Estimates Committee दोनों Houses की joint committee नहीं है। इसके सभी 30 members Lok Sabha से होते हैं। Financial Committees के संबंध में यह frequently tested factual distinction है।
57. Prelims Trap: PAC Chairperson | PAC Chairperson
English: The practice of appointing an Opposition member as Chairperson of the PAC is a parliamentary convention. It should not be confused with an express constitutional command that the PAC Chairperson must belong to the Opposition.
हिंदी: PAC Chairperson के रूप में Opposition member को appoint करने की practice parliamentary convention है। इसे express constitutional command नहीं समझना चाहिए कि PAC Chairperson necessarily Opposition से ही होना चाहिए।
58. Prelims Trap: Committee Recommendations | Committee Recommendations
English: Parliamentary Committee recommendations are important and influential, but they are generally not legally binding merely because a committee has made them. Their force primarily arises from parliamentary scrutiny, political accountability, evidence and institutional authority.
हिंदी: Parliamentary Committee recommendations important और influential होती हैं, लेकिन केवल committee द्वारा recommendation किए जाने के कारण वे generally legally binding नहीं हो जातीं। उनका प्रभाव parliamentary scrutiny, political accountability, evidence और institutional authority से arise होता है।
59. Prelims Trap: DRSCs | DRSCs
English: Remember the numbers: 24 Department-related Standing Committees; each has 31 members—21 from Lok Sabha and 10 from Rajya Sabha. Ministers cannot be nominated to these committees.
हिंदी: Numbers याद रखें: 24 Department-related Standing Committees; प्रत्येक में 31 members—21 Lok Sabha और 10 Rajya Sabha से। Ministers इन committees में nominate नहीं किए जा सकते।
60. Role in Budgetary Accountability | बजटीय जवाबदेही
English: Financial control is a fundamental parliamentary function because taxation and public expenditure require legislative authorisation. Committees make this control more meaningful by examining not only authorisation but also economy, efficiency, audit findings and the functioning of public enterprises.
हिंदी: Financial control fundamental parliamentary function है क्योंकि taxation और public expenditure legislative authorisation require करते हैं। Committees authorisation के साथ economy, efficiency, audit findings और public enterprises के functioning को examine करके इस control को अधिक meaningful बनाती हैं।
61. Role in Policy Evaluation | नीति मूल्यांकन
English: Committees can examine whether programmes are meeting stated objectives, whether implementation gaps exist and whether institutional reforms are needed. This moves legislative oversight beyond formal compliance toward evaluation of governance outcomes.
हिंदी: Committees examine कर सकती हैं कि programmes stated objectives meet कर रहे हैं या नहीं, implementation gaps कहाँ हैं और institutional reforms की आवश्यकता है या नहीं। इससे legislative oversight formal compliance से आगे बढ़कर governance outcomes के evaluation तक पहुँचती है।
62. Role in Consensus Building | सहमति निर्माण
English: Committee deliberations can create opportunities for political parties to identify areas of agreement away from the immediate pressures of floor politics. Consensus is not guaranteed, but the institutional setting can encourage negotiation based on evidence and detailed discussion.
हिंदी: Committee deliberations political parties को floor politics के immediate pressures से अलग areas of agreement identify करने का opportunity दे सकती हैं। Consensus guaranteed नहीं है, लेकिन institutional setting evidence और detailed discussion पर based negotiation encourage कर सकती है।
63. Parliamentary Committees and Citizens | नागरिक और संसदीय समितियाँ
English: Where committees receive representations, memoranda or expert testimony, citizens and organised stakeholders can contribute information to legislative scrutiny. Such participation can deepen deliberative democracy, provided consultation is balanced and not captured by narrow interest groups.
हिंदी: जहाँ committees representations, memoranda या expert testimony receive करती हैं, वहाँ citizens और organised stakeholders legislative scrutiny में information contribute कर सकते हैं। Balanced consultation deliberative democracy deepen कर सकती है, provided process narrow interest groups द्वारा capture न हो।
64. Technology and Parliamentary Committees | Technology और समितियाँ
English: Digital document management, searchable evidence repositories, data visualisation and secure virtual consultation can strengthen committee research and accessibility. However, digitalisation must protect confidential evidence, cybersecurity and parliamentary privilege.
हिंदी: Digital document management, searchable evidence repositories, data visualisation और secure virtual consultation committee research तथा accessibility strengthen कर सकते हैं। लेकिन digitalisation में confidential evidence, cybersecurity और parliamentary privilege protect करना आवश्यक है।
65. Parliamentary Committees and Accountability Chain | जवाबदेही श्रृंखला
English: In a parliamentary system, the Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha. Committees supplement—not replace—this central mechanism of political responsibility. They provide continuous, specialised scrutiny that supports the broader accountability relationship between Parliament and the executive.
हिंदी: Parliamentary system में Council of Ministers collectively Lok Sabha के प्रति responsible है। Committees इस central political responsibility mechanism को supplement करती हैं, replace नहीं। ये Parliament और executive के broader accountability relationship को continuous specialised scrutiny के माध्यम से support करती हैं।
66. UPSC Mains Perspective | UPSC Mains दृष्टिकोण
English: A strong Mains answer should avoid merely listing committee names. Explain why committees matter: detailed scrutiny, executive accountability, financial control, legislative quality, expertise and consensus-building. Then discuss limitations such as inadequate Bill referral, limited research support, time constraints and weak follow-up, followed by practical reforms.
हिंदी: Strong Mains answer में केवल committees के names list नहीं करने चाहिए। Explain करें कि committees क्यों important हैं—detailed scrutiny, executive accountability, financial control, legislative quality, expertise और consensus-building। इसके बाद inadequate Bill referral, limited research support, time constraints और weak follow-up जैसी limitations तथा practical reforms discuss करें।
67. Suggested 10-Marker Structure | 10-Marker Structure
English: Introduction: define Parliamentary Committees in one or two lines. Body: mention three or four functions with examples such as PAC and DRSCs. Discuss two limitations. Conclude that stronger committees deepen parliamentary accountability without replacing debate on the floor of the House.
हिंदी: Introduction में Parliamentary Committees को 1-2 lines में define करें। Body में PAC और DRSCs जैसे examples के साथ 3-4 functions लिखें। दो limitations discuss करें। Conclusion में लिखें कि stronger committees House floor debate को replace किए बिना parliamentary accountability deepen करती हैं।
68. Suggested 15-Marker Structure | 15-Marker Structure
English: Begin with the role of Parliament in executive and financial accountability. Classify committees briefly. Explain financial scrutiny, legislative scrutiny, DRSCs, evidence gathering and consensus-building. Critically evaluate declining or inadequate scrutiny, research capacity and follow-up. End with reforms focused on institutional strengthening rather than merely increasing the number of committees.
हिंदी: Parliament की executive और financial accountability role से शुरुआत करें। Committees को briefly classify करें। Financial scrutiny, legislative scrutiny, DRSCs, evidence gathering और consensus-building explain करें। Inadequate scrutiny, research capacity और follow-up का critical evaluation करें। Conclusion institutional strengthening-oriented reforms से करें।
69. Possible UPSC Mains Questions | संभावित UPSC प्रश्न
English:
1. Parliamentary Committees are the backbone of legislative scrutiny in a modern parliamentary democracy. Discuss.
2. Examine the role of financial committees in ensuring parliamentary control over public expenditure.
3. Department-related Standing Committees strengthen Parliament but remain underutilised in legislative scrutiny. Critically examine.
4. How can India's Parliamentary Committee system be strengthened to improve the quality of legislation and executive accountability?
हिंदी:
1. Modern parliamentary democracy में Parliamentary Committees legislative scrutiny की backbone हैं। चर्चा कीजिए।
2. Public expenditure पर parliamentary control सुनिश्चित करने में financial committees की भूमिका का परीक्षण कीजिए।
3. Department-related Standing Committees Parliament को strengthen करती हैं, लेकिन legislative scrutiny में उनका पर्याप्त उपयोग नहीं होता। Critically examine कीजिए।
4. Legislation की quality और executive accountability improve करने के लिए India's Parliamentary Committee system को कैसे strengthen किया जा सकता है?
70. Prelims Quick Revision | Prelims Quick Revision
English:
• Parliamentary Committees: Standing or Ad Hoc.
• PAC: 22 members—15 LS + 7 RS.
• Estimates Committee: 30 members—all LS.
• COPU: 22 members—15 LS + 7 RS.
• Ministers cannot be members of these financial committees.
• PAC is primarily post-expenditure scrutiny.
• PAC uses relevant CAG audit reports; CAG is a constitutional authority under Article 148.
• PAC Opposition Chairperson: convention, not constitutional requirement.
• DRSCs: 24 committees.
• Each DRSC: 31 members—21 LS + 10 RS.
• DRSCs examine Demands for Grants, referred Bills, annual reports and referred long-term policy documents.
• Every Bill is not automatically referred to a committee.
• Select Committee: members from one House.
• Joint Committee on a Bill: members from both Houses.
• JPC is generally ad hoc for a specified matter.
• Committee recommendations are generally advisory, not automatically legally binding.
• Article 118 empowers each House to make rules for its procedure and conduct of business.
हिंदी:
• Parliamentary Committees: Standing या Ad Hoc।
• PAC: 22 members—15 LS + 7 RS।
• Estimates Committee: 30 members—सभी LS।
• COPU: 22 members—15 LS + 7 RS।
• इन financial committees में Ministers members नहीं हो सकते।
• PAC primarily post-expenditure scrutiny करती है।
• PAC relevant CAG reports use करती है; CAG Article 148 के तहत constitutional authority है।
• PAC का Opposition Chairperson convention है, constitutional requirement नहीं।
• DRSCs: 24।
• प्रत्येक DRSC: 31 members—21 LS + 10 RS।
• DRSCs Demands for Grants, referred Bills, annual reports और referred long-term policy documents examine करती हैं।
• प्रत्येक Bill का committee referral automatic नहीं है।
• Select Committee: एक House के members।
• Joint Committee on a Bill: दोनों Houses के members।
• JPC generally specified matter के लिए ad hoc होती है।
• Committee recommendations generally advisory होती हैं।
• Article 118 Houses को procedure और conduct of business के rules बनाने की power देता है।
Conclusion | निष्कर्ष
English: Parliamentary democracy cannot function effectively through floor debates alone. Modern government is too complex, public expenditure too large and legislation too technical for meaningful accountability without specialised scrutiny. Parliamentary Committees provide the institutional depth required for such examination. Their real value lies not merely in producing reports but in strengthening the capacity of Parliament to question the executive, scrutinise expenditure, improve legislation and represent informed public concerns. Strengthening committee scrutiny, research capacity, stakeholder consultation and follow-up can therefore enhance both the effectiveness and legitimacy of India's Parliament.
हिंदी: Parliamentary democracy केवल floor debates के माध्यम से effectively function नहीं कर सकती। Modern government अत्यधिक complex है, public expenditure विशाल है और legislation increasingly technical है। Specialised scrutiny के बिना meaningful accountability कठिन है। Parliamentary Committees इस examination के लिए required institutional depth provide करती हैं। इनकी real value केवल reports produce करने में नहीं, बल्कि Parliament की executive से questions पूछने, expenditure scrutinise करने, legislation improve करने और informed public concerns represent करने की capacity strengthen करने में है। Committee scrutiny, research capacity, stakeholder consultation और follow-up को strengthen करना India's Parliament की effectiveness और legitimacy दोनों को enhance कर सकता है।
Attempt Quiz here : UPSC 2027 GS2 Quiz: Parliamentary Committees in India