Parliamentary Committees
📊 High-Yield Data & Statistical Fact Sheet
- Definition & Basis: Parliamentary Committees are established by the House or nominated by the Presiding Officer under Article 118(1) (rules of procedure). They operate under the direction of the Speaker/Chairman and present reports to the House.
- The Three Pillars of Financial Scrutiny:
- Public Accounts Committee (PAC): 22 members (15 Lok Sabha + 7 Rajya Sabha). Formed in 1921 (under the GoI Act 1919). Ministers are barred from election. Chairman is conventionally appointed from the Opposition (since 1967) by the Speaker.
- Estimates Committee: 30 members (the largest committee in Parliament; all 30 members are from the Lok Sabha; Rajya Sabha holds zero representation). Formed in 1950 on the recommendation of then Finance Minister John Mathai.
- Committee on Public Undertakings (COPU): 22 members (15 Lok Sabha + 7 Rajya Sabha). Established in 1964 on the recommendation of the Krishna Menon Committee.
- Departmentally Related Standing Committees (DRSCs):
- 24 committees in total (16 under the Lok Sabha Speaker, 8 under the Rajya Sabha Chairman).
- Composition: Each consists of 31 members (21 from the Lok Sabha, 10 from the Rajya Sabha).
- 2025 Milestone: The Estimates Committee completed 75 years of continuous service (1950–2025).
1. CLASSIFICATION & CHARACTERISTICS
CLASSIFICATION & CHARACTERISTICS
CLASSIFICATION & CHARACTERISTICS
| Cue Words | Notes |
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| Analyze key facts and concepts related to CLASSIFICATION & CHARACTERISTICS. | Parliamentary Committees are classified into two broad categories based on their durability: |