Q. Consider the following statements regarding the Public Accounts Committee (PAC):
1.It is composed of 15 members from Lok Sabha and 7 from Rajya Sabha.
2.It reviews the performance of regulatory bodies established by Acts of Parliament.
3.Ministers can be members of PAC.
How many of the statements given above are correct?
Explanations –
Statements 1 and 2 are correct. The Public Accounts Committee is a parliamentary committee that consists of 22 members. Specifically, 15 members are elected from the Lok Sabha, which is the lower house of India’s Parliament, and 7 members are elected from the Rajya Sabha, the upper house. The PAC is tasked with examining the accounts and financial statements of the government, which includes reviewing the performance of regulatory bodies established by Acts of Parliament. This involves scrutinizing how these bodies utilize public funds and whether they adhere to the financial regulations and objectives set by the government.
Statement 3 is incorrect. Ministers are not allowed to be members of the PAC. This rule is in place to maintain the committee’s independence and impartiality, ensuring that it can effectively scrutinize government expenditure without conflicts of interest arising from having members who are part of the executive branch.
Source: The Hindu
