by: Dr.

PIYUSH CHAUBEY

GS PAPER- 2

Parliamentary
Committees

Scan To Solve MCQ’s

nextias.com
 nextias.com
PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEES

Parliamentary Committees have their origins in the British Parliament. The Constitution of
India makes a mention of these committees at different places but without making any specific
provisions regarding their composition, tenure, functions, etc. They draw their authority
from Article 105, which deals with the privileges of MPs, and Article 118, which gives
Parliament authority to make rules to regulate its procedure and conduct of business.
The need for these committees can be justified because the functions of the Parliament are
varied, complex and voluminous. Moreover, it has neither the adequate time nor the necessary
expertise to make a detailed scrutiny of all legislative measures and other matters. Therefore, it
is assisted by a number of parliamentary committees in the discharge of its duties though.
Definition- A parliamentary committee means a committee that:
 Is appointed or elected by the House or nominated by the Speaker/ Chairman.
 Works under the direction of the Speaker / Chairman.
 Presents its report to the House or to the Speaker /Chairman.
 Has a secretariat provided by the Lok Sabha / Rajya Sabha.
The consultative committees, which also consist of members of Parliament, are not parliamentary
committees as they do not fulfil the above four conditions.

The various Committees of Parliament can be classified into the following categories:

 Financial Committees: These include the Estimates Committee, Public Accounts

Committee, and the Committee on Public Undertakings. They were established in 1950
and are responsible for examining financial matters, government expenditures, and the
functioning of public undertakings.
 Departmentally Related Standing Committees: There are 24 Departmentally Related
Standing Committees, which were established in 1993. They focus on scrutinising budgetary
proposals and important government policies. Each committee has 31 members, with 21
from Lok Sabha (Lower House) and 10 from Rajya Sabha (Upper House).
 Other Parliamentary Standing Committees: These committees cover a wide range of
subjects and issues. Some examples include the Committee on External Affairs, Committee
on Home Affairs, Committee on Science and Technology, etc. They are responsible for
examining bills, legislation, and other matters related to their respective areas of focus.
 Ad hoc Committees: Ad hoc Committees are appointed for a specific purpose and cease
to exist after completing their assigned task and submitting a report to the House. They
can include Select Committees on Bills, Joint Parliamentary Committees (JPCs), and other
specialised committees established for a particular issue.
 Joint Parliamentary Committees (JPCs) are formed with members from both Houses and
are tasked with detailed scrutiny of a specific subject or Bill. Select Committees are set
up by either of the two Houses and comprise members from that particular House. JPCs
and Select Committees are typically chaired by ruling party MPs and are dissolved after
submitting their reports.

https://www.instagram.com/psir_by_piyush.chaubey/ https://piyushchaubey.com 1
 nextias.com
PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEES

FINANCE COMMITTEES

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC):

 The PAC was first initiated in 1921, according to the stipulations of the Government of India
Act from 1919. Currently, this committee comprises 22 members - 15 from the Lok Sabha
(Lower House) and seven from the Rajya Sabha (Upper House).
 Members of this committee are chosen each year by Parliament itself based on proportional
representation by means of a single transferable vote system, allowing for all political parties
to have appropriate representation. Each member serves for a term of one year.
 Notably, ministers are excluded from being elected as committee members. In case a
member of any other Committee constituted by the Government is elected to the PAC,
the Speaker of the Lok Sabha decides whether he should continue to be a member of
the former Committee. PAC is described as the ‘twin sister’ of the Estimates Committee.
 The PAC’s chairperson is selected from within the committee by the Speaker.
Traditionally, until 1966-67, this position was held by a member of the ruling party. However,
a convention has been in place since 1967, according to which the chairperson is
chosen from the Opposition.
 The PAC is tasked with scrutinising the yearly audit reports of the Comptroller and Auditor
General of India (CAG), presented before the Parliament by the President. The CAG provides
three audit reports -
 audit report on appropriation accounts,
 audit report on finance accounts, and
 audit report on public undertakings.
 This committee’s role is not limited to examining public expenditure from a legal and
formal perspective but extends to reviewing aspects of the economy, prudence, wisdom,
and propriety to identify instances of wasteful expenditure, loss, corruption, extravagance,
inefficiency, and unnecessary expenses.
Role
 PAC examines the appropriation accounts and the financial accounts of the Union
government and any other accounts laid before the Lok Sabha.
 It scrutinises the appropriation accounts and the audit report of CAG on it, the committee
has to satisfy itself that the money that has been disbursed was legally available for the
applied service or purpose.
 It examines the money spent on any service during a financial year in excess of the amount
granted by the Lok Sabha for that purpose.
 It examines the accounts of autonomous and semi-autonomous bodies, the audit of which
is conducted by the CAG.
Limitation
 Its recommendations are advisory and not binding on the ministries.
 It is not concerned with the questions of policy in a broader sense.

2 https://www.instagram.com/psir_by_piyush.chaubey/ https://piyushchaubey.com
 nextias.com
PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEES

 It conducts a post-mortem examination of accounts (showing the expenditure already

incurred).
 It cannot intervene in matters of day-to-day administration.

The Estimates Committee:

 The Estimates Committee’s formation was inspired by the Standing Financial Committee
established in 1921. In 1950, the then-finance minister, John Mathai, recommended a similar
structure for the post-independence Indian government.
 Initially, the committee consisted of 25 members, which was expanded to 30 in 1956.
The Estimates Committee Is the largest Committee of the Parliament. This committee
consists solely of Lok Sabha members, with no representatives from the Rajya Sabha.
Ministers are excluded from being elected as committee members.
 Every year, these members are elected from the Lok Sabha, with each party receiving
proportionate representation through a single transferable vote.
 The speaker appoints the committee’s chairperson from its members, typically a
member from the ruling party. The committee is responsible for scrutinising the budget
estimates and suggesting possible savings in public expenditure, hence, referred to as the
‘continuous economy committee.’

Specifically, the committee’s duties include-

 Proposing efficiencies, organisation improvements, and administrative reforms consistent

with the underlying policy of the estimates.
 Offering alternative policies to enhance administrative efficiency and economy.
 Assessing if the funds are well utilised within the policy’s boundaries implied in the
estimates.
 Recommending the format in which the estimates should be presented to Parliament.

Challenges or limitations of the committee-

 Its suggestions are not binding, and

 It can only review budget estimates after they are approved by Parliament.
 It also lacks the authority to challenge the policy established by Parliament and lacks expert
assistance from the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG). Furthermore,
 It only examines selected ministries and departments each year and does not examine all
the estimates of a single year.

Committee on Public Undertakings:

 Established in 1964 upon the recommendation of the Krishna Menon Committee, this
committee initially comprised 15 members (10 from the Lok Sabha and 5 from the Rajya
Sabha). However, in 1974, the number of members was raised to 22 (15 from the Lok
Sabha and 7 from the Rajya Sabha).
 The members are chosen yearly by the Parliament from among its members according to
proportional representation by means of a single transferable vote.

https://www.instagram.com/psir_by_piyush.chaubey/ https://piyushchaubey.com 3
 nextias.com
PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEES

 The committee’s chairperson is chosen by the Speaker from among its members who
belong to the Lok Sabha only.

The Committee’s Functions Include

 It examines the reports and accounts of public undertakings, and

 It scrutinises the reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General on public undertakings.
 The committee assesses the management of public undertakings in the context of their
autonomy and efficiency and in line with sound business principles and prudent commercial
practices.

Committee’s Limitation

 It can not examine the matters of major government policy as distinct from business or
commercial functions of the public undertakings
 It can’t interfere in day-to-day administration and can’t question the policy in a broader
sense.
 It can not examine Matters for the consideration of which machinery is established by any
special statute under which a particular public undertaking is established.

THE DEPARTMENTAL STANDING COMMITTEES

The Departmental Standing Committees were established in the Indian Parliament in 1993
based on the Lok Sabha’s Rules Committee recommendations. Initially, they were 17 in total,
but their number was increased to 24 in 2004.
 Purpose- The primary purpose of these committees is to ensure the Executive’s
accountability, particularly financial accountability, to the Parliament. They also assist
Parliament in discussing the budget more efficiently. Each of the 24 standing committees
oversees all the central government’s ministries and departments under their jurisdiction.
 Composition- Each committee comprises 31 members, with 21 from the Lok Sabha and
10 from the Rajya Sabha. The Lok Sabha Speaker nominates Lok Sabha members, and the
Rajya Sabha Chairman nominates the Rajya Sabha members.
 Special Seatures
 Ministers are not eligible for nomination to any standing committee.
 Each standing committee’s tenure is one year from the date of its formation.
 Of the 24 committees, 8 work under the Rajya Sabha and 16 under the Lok Sabha.
 Functions:
 Review the grant demands of the concerned ministries or departments before their discussion and
voting in the Lok Sabha.
 Examine bills related to the concerned ministries or departments.
 Review the annual reports of ministries or departments.
 Consider national basic long-term policy documents presented before the Houses.

4 https://www.instagram.com/psir_by_piyush.chaubey/ https://piyushchaubey.com
 nextias.com
PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEES

The procedure followed by standing committees for considering grant demands and
preparing a report:-

 Adjournment of the Houses for a fixed period after the general budget discussion.
 Review of the concerned ministries’ grant demands during this period.
 Submission of their report within the period without asking for more time.
 Consideration of the grant demands by the House in light of the committees’ reports.

COMMITTEES TO INQUIRE

Committee Name Specific Features Role

Committee on  Committee in Lok Sabha-  Scrutinises petitions on bills and
Petitions: 15 members issues of general public significance.
 Committee in the Rajya  Accepts representations on Union
Sabha - 10 members subjects from individuals and
groups.
Committee of  Committee in Lok Sabha-  Performs semi-judicial functions.
Privileges: 15 members  Examines instances of privilege
 Committee in the Rajya breaches of the House and its
Sabha - 10 members members
Ethics  Established in the Rajya  Enforces the conduct code for
Committee: Sabha in 1997 and in Lok Parliament members.
Sabha in 2000  Examines misconduct cases and
suggests suitable action
 Maintains discipline and decorum in
Parliament

COMMITTEES TO SCRUTINISE AND CONTROL

Committee Name Specific Features Role

Committee on  Established in 1953  reviews the assurances, promises,
Government  It consists of 15 Lok Sabha and commitments made by ministers
Assurances members and 10 Rajya on the House floor and reports on
Sabha members. their fulfilment extent.

Committee on  Formed in 1953  Scrutinises and reports the regulatory,

Subordinate  Consists of 15 members rule, sub-rule, and bye-law-making
Legislation from both Houses powers of the Executives

https://www.instagram.com/psir_by_piyush.chaubey/ https://piyushchaubey.com 5
 nextias.com
PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEES

Committee on  Constituted in 1975  Examines all documents presented

Papers Laid on  Composition- 15 members on the House table by ministers
the Table from Lok Sabha and 10 to confirm their compliance with
from Rajya Sabha. the Constitution, associated Act or
rules.
Committee on  Composition- 30 member  Considers the reports of the National
Welfare of SCs committee (20 Lok Sabha Commission for the SCs and STs
and STs + 10 Rajya Sabha)  Evaluates matters concerning the
welfare of SCs and STs
Committee on  Formed in 1997  Considers reports of the National
Empowerment of  Composition- 30 member Commission for Women
Women committee (20 Lok Sabha  Scrutinises the Union Government's
+ 10 Rajya Sabha) measures for securing women's
status, dignity, and equality
Joint Committee  Composition- 15 member  Examines the composition and
on Offices of committee (10 Lok Sabha nature of committees and bodies
Profit + 5 Rajya Sabha) appointed by Central, state, and
union territory governments
 Suggests whether persons
occupying these offices should be
disqualified from being elected as
Parliament members or not.

COMMITTEES RELATED TO THE DAY-TO-DAY BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE

Committee Name Specific Features Role

Business Advisory  Composition- 15 members  Organises the House's
Committee from Lok Sabha + 11 members schedule
from Rajya Sabha  Allocates time for
 Speaker of Lok Sabha acts as legislative and other
its chairman business presented by the
government.
Committee on Private  It's a special committee in the  Categorises bills and
Members’ Bills and Lok Sabha with 15 members designates time for
Resolutions  The Deputy Speaker acts as its discussions on bills and
chairman. resolutions introduced by
private members (non-
 In the Rajya Sabha, the Business ministers).
Advisory Committee handles
these tasks.

6 https://www.instagram.com/psir_by_piyush.chaubey/ https://piyushchaubey.com
 nextias.com
PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEES

Rules Committee  In Lok Sabha- 15 members,  Reviews procedure and

including the Speaker as its ex- business conduct in the
officio chairman. House.
 In Rajya Sabha- 16 members,  Recommends amendments
including the Chairman as its or additions to the House
ex-officio chairman. rules.
Committee on  It's a special Lok Sabha  Processes applications
Absence of Members committee with 15 members. from members for leave of
 No such committee in the absence from the House
Rajya Sabha, the House itself sessions
manages these matters.  Scrutinises cases of
members absent for 60
days or more without
permission.

HOUSE-KEEPING COMMITTEES

Committee Name Specific Features Role

General Purposes Composition- it includes  Discusses and advises on
Committee House affairs not covered
 The presiding officer by other parliamentary
(Speaker/Chairman) as its ex- committees.
officio chairman,
 Deputy Speaker/ Chairman
 Members of the panel of
chairpersons
 Chairpersons of all
departmental standing
committees
 Leaders of recognized parties
and groups in the House
 Other members nominated
by the presiding officer.
House Committee  Composition- In the Lok Sabha,  Addresses matters related
it consists of 12 members to members' residential
accommodation and
amenities like food,
medical aid, etc., in their
houses and hostels in
Delhi

https://www.instagram.com/psir_by_piyush.chaubey/ https://piyushchaubey.com 7
 nextias.com
PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEES

Library Committee  Composition- 9 member  Addresses all library-

committee (6 Lok Sabha + 3 related matters of the
Rajya Sabha) Parliament
 Helps members utilise the
library's services.
Joint Committee on  Constituted under the Salary,  Frames rules for the
Salaries and Allowances Allowances and Pension of payment of salary,
of Members Members of Parliament Act, allowances, and pensions
1954 to Parliament members
 Composition- 15 members
(10 from Lok Sabha and 5
from Rajya Sabha)

Merits of having standing committees:-

 Proceedings free from party bias- Committees can make objective assessments in a non-
partisan environment, something often not feasible on the floor of the House due to party-
line pressure.
 Acts as consensus building forum- Committees have closed-door meetings, which allows
MPs of different parties to freely question and discuss issues and arrive at a consensus.
 Flexibility- They adopt a more flexible procedure than the Lok Sabha.
 Detailed analysis- They allow for more detailed, close, continuous, in-depth, and
comprehensive parliamentary control over the executive. This is because- In the last 10
years, Parliament met for 67 days per year, on average, this time is not enough to discuss
all the issues in depth whereas committees function throughout the year and can better
examine the policies, bills, and other matters
 Increases efficiency- They encourage economy and efficiency in public expenditure as the
ministries and departments are now more careful in formulating their demands.
 Diversity- They offer all members of Parliament opportunities to participate and understand
the government’s functioning.
 Expert opinion and inclusiveness-They can avail themselves of expert or public opinion
to make their reports and are authorised to invite experts and eminent persons to testify
before them. For example- the Committee on Health and Family Welfare studied the
Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, of 2016. The Committee called upon a range of stakeholders,
including the National Commission for Women, doctors, and government officials, to better
their understanding of the issues before finalising their report.
 Role of opposition- The system allows opposition parties and the Rajya Sabha to play a
more significant role in exercising financial control over the executive.

Parliamentary committees in India face several challenges:-

 No, say, in day-to-day administration- These committees are restricted from dealing
with the day-to-day administration of the concerned ministries or departments.
 Advisory nature- The recommendations of these committees are advisory and not binding
on Parliament.

8 https://www.instagram.com/psir_by_piyush.chaubey/ https://piyushchaubey.com
 nextias.com
PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEES

 Surpassed by parliament- As per data from PRS, as little as 25% of the Bills introduced
were referred to committees in the 16th Lok Sabha, as compared to 71% and 60% in
the 15th and 14th Lok Sabha, respectively. This represents a declining trend of national
legislation being subjected to expert scrutiny.
 Lack of Resources: Committees often lack necessary resources such as staff, funding, and
access to information, which can impede their ability to work effectively. A 2019 report
by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association found that parliamentary committees
in India are often understaffed and underfunded. The Public Accounts Committee (2017)
couldn’t complete its investigation into the Rafale fighter jet deal due to a lack of access to
information.
 Partisan Nature of Indian Politics: Political influence from the government or opposition
can sway the committees’ work and objectivity. A 2018 report by the Association
for Democratic Reforms found that political interference is a major challenge facing
parliamentary committees in India. Parliamentary Committee on Health (2019) cancelled a
hearing on medical negligence due to political interference.
 Lack of Public Interest: The inability to attract public interest can hinder committees in
gathering needed information and building support for their recommendations.
 Time Constraints: Committees are often under time pressure, limiting their ability to
conduct thorough investigations and make informed recommendations.
 Lack of Expertise: Committee members may lack expertise in the areas they are
investigating, complicating their understanding of complex issues and the formulation
of informed recommendations. For example- Standing Committee on Finance (2018) was
criticised for lacking expertise when reviewing the Finance Bill.
 Complexity of the Indian Government: Understanding the intricate institution of the
Indian government with its numerous departments and agencies can be challenging for
committees.
 Lack of Transparency: The Indian government often withholds information from the public,
which can impede committee investigations.
Even though committee reports aren’t binding on the government, it helps the legislature
ensure an oversight of the executive. For instance, during the recently concluded Budget
Session, reports tabled on the Demand for Grants highlighted certain inconsistencies on the
part of the government. The Committee on Rural Development & Panchayati Raj, in its report,
noted that the revised estimates always fell short of the budget estimates. More importantly,
the actual figures are also way less.

Consultative Committees: (though not parliamentary committee)

 Consultative committees are connected to various ministries/departments of the Central
Government, comprising members from both Houses of Parliament. The respective
Ministry's Minister/Minister of State acts as the chairman of that ministry's consultative
committee.
 They provide a platform for informal dialogue between ministers and Parliament members
about government policies, programs, and their implementation. The committees'
composition, functions, and procedures are determined by the Ministry of Parliamentary
Affairs, which also organises their meetings.

https://www.instagram.com/psir_by_piyush.chaubey/ https://piyushchaubey.com 9
 nextias.com
PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEES

 Membership in these committees is voluntary and dependent on the members’ and party
leaders’ choices. Each committee’s membership ranges between 10 and 30.
 These committees are generally formed after a new Lok Sabha is constituted following
the Lok Sabha General Elections. They dissolve with the dissolution of every Lok Sabha
and are reconstituted with each new Lok Sabha.
 Separate Informal Consultative Committees are also created for all Railway Zones.
Parliament members from a particular Railway Zone area are nominated on the Informal
Consultative Committee of that Railway Zone. Unlike the Consultative Committees
connected to various ministries/departments, the Informal Consultative Committees’
meetings are scheduled only during session periods.

Current Performance of Parliamentary Committees:

 The most notable recent committee work involves the Digital Data Protection Bill, beginning
in 2017 after the Puttaswamy judgement, which acknowledged privacy as a fundamental
right.
 The Justice Srikrishna Committee developed a data protection framework for India, the
final report of which formed the basis for the Personal Data Protection Bill 2019.
 This bill was then referred to the Joint Parliamentary Committee chaired by P.P. Chaudhary,
and their report in December 2021 led to the introduction of a new Draft Digital Data
Protection Bill.
 Many essential laws, such as the Prohibition of Child Marriage (Amendment) Bill, Anti-
Maritime Piracy Bill, Jan Vishwas Bill, Wildlife Protection (Amendment) Bill, Competition
(Amendment) Bill, Electricity (Amendment) Bill, Criminal Procedure (Identification) Bill, and
Multi-State Cooperative Societies (Amendment) Bill, have been referred to Committees.

Need of Parliamentary Committees while having Parliament already as a discussion

forum:

 Time Allocation: The time to discuss a Bill in Parliament is allocated based on party size. In
contrast, Parliamentary Committees are smaller groups where every MP, regardless of their
party size, gets an opportunity and time to contribute to the discussion.
 Confidentiality: Committee discussions are confidential and not televised, allowing MPs
to express their views openly without party or constituency pressure. Many MPs agree with
former US President Woodrow Wilson’s observation that “Congress in session is Congress
on public exhibition, whilst Congress in its committee rooms is Congress at work.”
 Independence from Parliament’s Schedule: While Parliament has approximately 100
sittings per year, Committee meetings operate independently of Parliament’s calendar.
 Inter-ministerial Coordination: Committees work closely with several Ministries, promoting
inter-ministerial coordination. Bills referred to Committees often return to the House with
significant value addition.
 Comprehensive Examination: Committees scrutinise the demands for grants of Ministries/
departments, analyse Bills related to them, review their annual reports, study their long-
term plans, and report back to Parliament.

10 https://www.instagram.com/psir_by_piyush.chaubey/ https://piyushchaubey.com
 nextias.com
PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEES

PRACTICE QUESTION FOR MAINS

The Public Account Committee has been envisioned to ensure the financial accountability
of the executive. Explain its constitutional provisions and examine its current role.

PRACTICE QUESTIONS FOR PT ON PARLIAMENT

1. Consider the following statements with reference to the Parliament.

1. Under the Constitution, the Parliament of India consists of the President, the Council
of States and the Houses of People.
2. The Indian parliament is modelled on the British pattern of Parliament.
Which of the above given statements is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Correct Option: (c)

Explanation:
 Statement 1 is correct: Under the Constitution, the Parliament of India consists of
three parts viz, the President, the Council of States and the House of the People.
In 1954, the Hindi names ‘Rajya Sabha’ and ‘Lok Sabha’ were adopted by the Council
of States and the House of People respectively. The Rajya Sabha is the Upper House
(Second Chamber or House of Elders) and the Lok Sabha is the Lower House (First
Chamber or Popular House). The former represents the states and union territories of
the Indian Union, while the latter represents the people of India as a whole.
 Statement 2 is correct: In this respect, the framers of the Indian Constitution relied
on the British pattern rather than the American pattern. In Britain, the Parliament
consists of the Crown (King or Queen), the House of Lords (Upper House) and the House
of Commons (Lower House). By contrast, the American president is not an integral part
of the legislature. In the USA, the legislature, which is known as Congress, consists of
the Senate (Upper House) and the House of Representatives (Lower House).

2. Which of the following statements is not true with regard to the Parliament of
India.
(a) The President is an integral part of the Parliament.
(b) The structure of Parliament is defined in the Constitution.
(c) The Parliament of India is a sovereign body.
(d) Laws passed by the Parliament can be declared invalid by the Supreme Court.

https://www.instagram.com/psir_by_piyush.chaubey/ https://piyushchaubey.com 11
 nextias.com
PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEES

Correct Option: (c)

Explanation:
 Option a is correct: Though the President of India is not a member of either House of
Parliament and does not sit in the Parliament to attend its meetings, he is an integral
part of the Parliament. Under the Constitution, the Parliament of India consists of
three parts viz, the President, the Council of States and the House of the People.
 Option b is correct: Part V of the Constitution containing articles 79 to 122 deals with
the Parliament’s organization, composition, duration, officers, procedures, privileges,
powers, and so on. Article 79 of the Constitution describes the structure of
parliament. It states that the Parliament is made up of the President and two houses,
the Lower House or House of People and the Upper House or Council of States.
 Option c is not correct: Indian Parliament is not a sovereign body in the sense in
which the British Parliament is a sovereign body. The Parliament of India cannot be
considered a sovereign body because: its authority is confined to jurisdiction earmarked
by the constitution; of the presence of certain fundamental rights of citizens in the
constitution.
 Option d is correct: Article 13 of the Indian Constitution provides for the invalidity of
laws that are inconsistent. The supreme court has the power to review legislative
and administrative actions and declare them ultra vires(outside the scope of law)
if they are inconsistent with the Constitution.

3. Despite the fact that the President of India is not a member of either House of
Parliament and does not attend its meetings, he is an integral part of the Parliament
due to which of the following factors?
1. A bill passed by both Houses of Parliament cannot become law unless it receives the
President’s assent.
2. He can dissolve the Lok Sabha
3. He can issue ordinances when the Houses are not in session
4. He can grant pardons
Select the correct answer from the codes given below:
(a) 1, 2 and 3 only
(b) 2, 3 and 4 only
(c) 3 and 4 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Correct Option: (a)

Explanation:
 Under the Constitution, the Parliament of India consists of three parts viz, the President,
the Council of States and the House of the People.
 Though the President of India is not a member of either House of Parliament and does
not sit in the Parliament to attend its meetings, he is an integral part of the Parliament.
This is because

12 https://www.instagram.com/psir_by_piyush.chaubey/ https://piyushchaubey.com
 nextias.com
PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEES

 a bill passed by both the Houses of Parliament cannot become law without the
President’s assent. Hence Statement 1 is correct.
 He also performs certain functions relating to the proceedings of the Parliament; for
example, he summons and prorogues both the Houses, dissolves the Lok Sabha, and
addresses both the Houses. Hence Statement 2 is correct.
 He also issues ordinances when the houses are not in session, and so on. Hence
Statement 3 is correct.
 Granting pardons is not a reason. Hence Statement 4 is not correct.

4. Consider the following statements.

1. The Second Schedule of the Constitution deals with the allocation of seats in the Rajya
Sabha to the states and union territories.
2. The seats are allotted to the states in the Rajya Sabha on the basis of population.
Which of the above-given statements is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Correct Option: (b)

Explanation:
 Statement 1 is not correct: Rajya Sabha is the Upper House (Second Chamber or
House of Elders) and it represents the states and union territories of the Indian Union.
The Fourth Schedule of the Constitution deals with the allocation of seats in the
Rajya Sabha to the states and union territories.
 Statement 2 is correct: The representatives of states in the Rajya Sabha are elected by
the elected members of state legislative assemblies. The election is held in accordance
with the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote.
The seats are allotted to the states in the Rajya Sabha on the basis of population.
Hence, the number of representatives varies from state to state.

5. The Parliament is not empowered by the Constitution to remove which of the following
officials?
1. Chairman of UPSC
2. Comptroller and Auditor General
3. Attorney General
4. Judges of High Court
Select the correct answer from the code given below
(a) 1, 2 and 3 only
(b) 2, 3 and 4 only
(c) 1 and 4 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

https://www.instagram.com/psir_by_piyush.chaubey/ https://piyushchaubey.com 13
 nextias.com
PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEES

Correct Option: (a)

Explanation:
 Statement 1 is not correct: The Chairman of UPSC can be removed by the President.
Parliament has no role either in his removal or appointment.
 Statement 2 is not correct: The Comptroller Auditor General of India can be
removed by the President only in accordance with the procedure mentioned in the
Constitution. Thus, he does not hold his office till the pleasure of the President, though
he is appointed by him.
 Statement 3 is not correct: Attorney General of India can be removed by the President
at any time. He can quit by submitting his resignation only to the President. Since he
is appointed by the President on the advice of the Council of Ministers, conventionally
he is removed when the council is dissolved or replaced.
 Statement 4 is correct: The Constitution provides that a judge can be removed
only by an order of the President, based on a motion passed by both Houses of
Parliament. Thus Any Supreme Court or High Court Judge can only be removed by
the Parliament after the President’s signature.

6. Consider the following statements with reference to Rajya Sabha.

1. The origin of the Rajya Sabha can be traced to the Montague-Chelmsford Report of
1919.
2. The Rajya Sabha is called the permanent House of the Parliament as it is never fully
dissolved.
Which of the above given statements is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Correct Option: (c)

Explanation:
 Statement 1 is correct: The origin of the Rajya Sabha or the Second Chamber can
be traced to the Montague-Chelmsford Report of 1919. This report introduced a
bicameral legislature, the Lower House or Central Legislative Assembly and the Upper
House or Council of State.
 The Upper House of the Parliament, Rajya Sabha or Council of States was constituted
on 3rd April 1952 and the first session was held on 13th May 1952.
 Statement 2 is correct: Rajya Sabha is the Upper House (Second Chamber or House of
Elders) and it represents the states and union territories of the Indian Union. The Fourth
Schedule of the Constitution deals with the allocation of seats in the Rajya Sabha to the
states and union territories. It is called the permanent House of the Parliament as it
is never fully dissolved.

14 https://www.instagram.com/psir_by_piyush.chaubey/ https://piyushchaubey.com
 nextias.com
PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEES

7. Consider the following statements.

1. The Constitution provides for the reservation of seats for scheduled castes and scheduled
tribes in the Lok Sabha on the basis of population.
2. The 104 Amendment of the Indian Constitution extends the deadline for the abolition
of the reservation of seats by 20 years in the Lok Sabha
3. A member of scheduled castes and scheduled tribes is debarred from contesting a
non-reserved seat.
Which of the above given statements is/ are not correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 1 and 3 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Correct Option: (c)

Explanation:
 Statement 1 is correct: Though the Constitution has abandoned the system of
communal representation, it provides for the reservation of seats for scheduled
castes and scheduled tribes in the Lok Sabha on the basis of population ratios.
Originally, this reservation was to operate for ten years (ie, up to 1960), but it has
been extended continuously since then by 10 years each time. Now, under the 95th
Amendment Act of 2009, this reservation is to last until 2020.
 Statement 2 is not correct: 104th amendment of the Indian Constitution extended
the deadline for the cessation of seats for SCs and STs in the Lok Sabha and states
assemblies from Seventy years to Eighty. Thus it extends the deadline for the
abolition of the reservation of seats by 10 years in the Lok Sabha. It removed
the reserved seats for the Anglo-Indian community in the Lok Sabha and state
assemblies.
 Statement 3 is not correct: Though seats are reserved for scheduled castes and
scheduled tribes, they are elected by all the voters in a constituency, without any
separate electorate. A member of scheduled castes and scheduled tribes is also not
debarred from contesting a general (non-reserved) seat.

8. Consider the following statements.

1. The Parliament under the Union Territories (Direct Election to the House of the People)
Act, 1965, chose members of Lok Sabha for the Union territories by direct election.
2. The 104th Constitutional Amendment Act has removed the reserved seats for the
Anglo-Indian community in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies.
Which of the above given statements is/are not correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

https://www.instagram.com/psir_by_piyush.chaubey/ https://piyushchaubey.com 15
 nextias.com
PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEES

Correct Option: (d)

Explanation:
 Statement 1 is correct: The Constitution has empowered the Parliament to prescribe
the manner of choosing the representatives of the union territories in the Lok Sabha.
Accordingly, the Parliament has enacted the Union Territories (Direct Election to
the House of the People) Act, 1965, by which the members of Lok Sabha from the
Union territories are also chosen by direct election.
 Statement 2 is correct: The president can nominate two members from the Anglo-
Indian community if the community is not adequately represented in the Lok Sabha.
Originally, this provision was to operate till 1960 but has been extended till 2020 by the
95th Amendment Act, of 2009. However, the 104th Constitutional Amendment Act
was enforced on 25 January 2020 and amended Article 334 to extend the reservation
of seats for SCs and STs in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies from Seventy years to
Eighty years. It removed the reserved seats for the Anglo-Indian community in the
Lok Sabha and state assemblies.

9. Consider the following statements with reference to the system of proportional

representation.
1. The Constitution has adopted the system of proportional representation in the case of
the election of its members both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.
2. The system of proportional representation aims at securing due representation to
minorities.
3. The system of proportional representation does not give any scope for organising by-
elections.
Which of the above given statements is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Correct Option: (b)

Explanation:
 Statement 1 is not correct: Though the Constitution has adopted the system of
proportional representation in the case of Rajya Sabha, it has not preferred the same
system in the case of Lok Sabha. Instead, it has adopted the system of territorial
representation (First-past-the-post system) for the election of members to the Lok
Sabha.
 Statement 2 is correct: The system of proportional representation aims at removing
the defects of territorial representation. Under this system, all sections of the people
get representation in proportion to their number. Even the smallest section of the
population gets its due share of representation in the legislature.

16 https://www.instagram.com/psir_by_piyush.chaubey/ https://piyushchaubey.com
 nextias.com
PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEES

 Statement 3 is correct: Additionally, the system of proportional representation has

the following demerits:
 It is highly expensive.
 It does not give any scope for organising by-elections.
 It eliminates intimate contact between voters and representatives.
 It promotes minority thinking and group interests.
 It increases the significance of the party system and decreases that of the voter.

10. Which of the following statements is not true with regard to the Parliament?
(a) The Constitution has fixed the term of office of members of the Rajya Sabha and
provided that the term of office of a member shall be six years.
(b) The term of the Lok Sabha can be extended during the period of national emergency
be a law of Parliament for one year at a time for any length of time
(c) The Constitution lays down some qualifications for a person to be chosen a member
of the Parliament.
(d) A person cannot be a member of both Houses of Parliament at the same time.

Correct Option: (a)

Explanation:
 Option a is not correct: The Constitution has not fixed the term of office of members
of the Rajya Sabha and left it to the Parliament. Accordingly, the Parliament in the
Representation of the People Act (1951) provided that the term of office of a
member of the Rajya Sabha shall be six years.
 Option a is correct: Further, the term of the Lok Sabha can be extended during a
period of national emergency by a law of Parliament for one year at a time for
any length of time. However, this extension cannot continue beyond a period of six
months after the emergency has ceased to operate.
 Option a is correct: The Constitution lays down the following qualifications for a
person to be chosen a member of the Parliament:
 He must be a citizen of India.
 He must make and subscribe to an oath or affirmation before the person authorised
by the election commission for this purpose. In his oath or affirmation, he swears
 To bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of India
 To uphold the sovereignty and integrity of India
 He must be not less than 30 years of age in the case of the Rajya Sabha and not
less than 25 years of age in the case of the Lok Sabha.
 He must possess other qualifications prescribed by Parliament.
 Option d is correct: The Constitution of India does not allow for double membership.
A person cannot be a member of both Houses of Parliament at the same time.

https://www.instagram.com/psir_by_piyush.chaubey/ https://piyushchaubey.com 17
 nextias.com
PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEES

Scan The Given QR Code

To Solve More MCQ’s

FOLLOW US ON

https://piyushchaubey.com
t.me/piyush_choubey
contact.piyushchaubey@gmail.com
https://www.instagram.com/psir_by_piyush.chaubey/
https://www.facebook.com/irpiyush
https://www.youtube.com/@DrPiyushKumarChaubey

18 https://www.instagram.com/psir_by_piyush.chaubey/ https://piyushchaubey.com