DEPARTMENTAL STANDING COMMITTEES‌

On the recommendation of the Rules Committee of the Lok Sabha, 17 Departmentally-Related Standing Committees (DRSCs) were set up in the Parliament in 1993.6 In 2004, seven more such committees were setup, thus increasing their number from 17 to 24.

The main objective of the standing committees is to secure more accountability of the Executive (i.e., the Council of Ministers) to the Parliament, particularly financial accountability. They also assist the Parliament in debating the budget more effectively.7

The 24 standing committees cover under their jurisdiction all the ministries / departments of the Central Government.

Each standing committee consists of 31 members (21 from Lok Sabha and 10 from Rajya Sabha). The members of the Lok Sabha are nominated by the Speaker from amongst its own members, just as the members of the Rajya Sabha are nominated by the Chairman from amongst its members.8

A minister is not eligible to be nominated as a member of any of the standing committees. In case a member, after his nomination to any of the standing committees, is appointed a minister, he then ceases to be a member of the committee.

The term of office of each standing committee is one year from the date of its constitution.

Out of the 24 standing committees, 8 work under the Rajya Sabha and 16 under the Lok Sabha.9

The 24 standing committees and the ministries / departments placed under their jurisdiction are shown below in Table 23.1.

The functions of each of the standing committees are:

1. To consider the demands for grants of the concerned ministries / departments before they are discussed and voted in the Lok Sabha. Its report should not suggest anything of the nature of cut motions

2. To examine bills pertaining to the concerned ministries / departments

3. To consider annual reports of ministries / departments

4. To consider national basic long-term policy documents presented to the Houses

The following limitations are imposed on the functioning of these standing committees:

(i) They should not consider the matters of day-to-day administration of the concerned ministries / departments.

Table 23.1 Departmental Standing Committees and their Jurisdiction (2019)

7. Committee on Health & Family Welfare

8. Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice

(2) Road Transport & Highways

(3) Shipping

(4) Culture

(5) Tourism

(1) Health and Family Welfare

(2) Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and

Homoeopathy (AYUSH)

(1) Law and Justice

(2) Personnel, Public

Grievances and Pensions