Parliamentary Committees

• Parliamentary Committee is a panel of MPs that is appointed or elected by the House or nominated by the Speaker.
• Parliamentary Committees works under the direction of the Speaker.
• Parliamentary Committees presents its report to the House or to the Speaker.
• Origin: They have their origins in the British Parliament.
• They draw their authority from
• Article 105: It deals with the privileges of MPs.
• Article 118: It gives Parliament authority to make rules to regulate its procedure and conduct of business.

Parliamentary Committees: Significance

Former US President Woodrow Wilson observed that “Congress in session is Congress on public exhibition, whilst Congress in its committee rooms is Congress at work”.

• Vibrant Democracy: Parliamentary Committees and Cabinet committees are not a part of the Constitution. They ensure healthy democracy and governance through scrutiny and better policies.
• Mini Parliament: Since the time allotted during the sessions are inadequate, standing committees are mini parliaments comprising opposition members to scrutinise all policies.
• Beyond Party Politics: Discussions are confidential and off-camera, party affiliations usually do not come in the way of MPs speaking their minds in ways they are unable to do in Parliament,
• Facilitate inter-ministerial coordination: Committees work closely with multiple Ministries, and provide significant value-addition.
  • The Committees look into the demands for grants of Ministries/departments, examine Bills pertaining to them, consider their annual reports, and look into their long-term plans and report to Parliament.
• Legislating: It is impossible to discuss every bill in Parliament in depth due to the volume of legislation.
  • A proposed law is thoroughly discussed and analysed by committees, ensuring that every law is advantageous to residents.
• Better Legislating: Compared to open House talks, when party positions take precedence, committee discussions allow members for a more meaningful exchange of views.
• Ensure better rules and regulations: The Committee on Subordinate Legislation examines and informs the house about the appropriate exercise of regulations, rules, sub-rules, bye-laws, etc., granted by the Constitution within the parameters of various provisions.
• Accountability: The Committee on Government Assurances examines the many guarantees, commitments, undertakings, etc. made by ministers and periodically reports on the degree to which such guarantees have been carried out.
• Participation of MPs: The Committee on Members’ Absences reviews every request for a leave of absence from House proceedings and evaluates each instance of a member’s absence.
  • This ensures that every member takes part in the productive legislative process and diverse debates and discussions.

Parliamentary Committees: Concern Associated

• MPs rarely show up for meetings
• One committee with too many ministries
• When appointing MPs to committees, most political parties do not adhere to the rules.
• Specializations have very little time due to the DRSCs’ one-year constitution.
• Recent allocation is seen as an attempt to eliminate opposition from key posts, to muzzle their voices.

Parliamentary Committees: Impact of Report

• Not Binding: Reports of Departmentally Related Standing Committees are recommendatory in nature, but they do carry significant weight.
• In the past, governments have accepted suggestions given by the Parliamentary Committees and incorporated them into the Bill after it has come back to the House for consideration and passage.
• Government has to report back on whether these recommendations have been accepted. Based on this, the Committees table Action Taken Reports, detailing the status of the government’s action on each recommendation.
• Suggestions by the Select Committees and JPCs — which have a majority of MPs and heads from the ruling party — are accepted more frequently.

Stat IQ

Sugar Production

• India has now become the world’s largest producer and consumer of sugar.
• India is also world’s 2nd largest exporter of sugar.
  • Sugar Season (Oct-Sep) 2021-22 recorded highest sugar exports of over 109 lakh metric tons.
  • Exports earned foreign currency of about Rs 40,000 crore for the country.
• Production: In Sugar Season (Oct-Sep) 2021-22, a record of more than 5000 Lakh Metric Tons (LMT) sugarcane was produced in India.
  • Out of which, about 3574 LMT of sugarcane was crushed by sugar mills to produce about 394 LMT of sugar (Sucrose).
  • Out of this, 35 LMT sugar was diverted to ethanol production and 359 LMT sugar was produced by sugar mills.
• Diversion of sugar to ethanol and exports: High Production led to unlocking of value chain of the whole industry. It improved financial conditions of sugar mills leading to more optional mills in ensuing season.
  • Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme: Government aims to achieve the target of 20% blending by 2025-26.

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