Q. With reference to the Parliamentary Standing Committees, consider the following statements:
1. It aims to provide detailed scrutiny of bills, budgets and government actions.
2. Members are appointed to Standing Committees based on seniority in Parliament.
3. They allow for more collaborative and less politically charged discussions compared to the full Parliament sessions.
4. They are permanent and constituted every year or periodically.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
Explanation –
Statements 1, 3 and 4 are correct. Parliamentary Standing Committees are tasked with the detailed examination of legislative proposals, budgets, and government actions to ensure effective governance and accountability. Standing Committees provide a platform for more collaborative and less politically charged discussions compared to the full Parliament sessions. They operate in a more informal setting, which allows members to engage in detailed and constructive deliberations beyond party lines. Standing Committees are permanent committees that are reconstituted every year or periodically. They continue to function on an ongoing basis, unlike ad hoc committees, which are temporary and dissolve after completing their specific tasks. There are 24 such Standing committees, with 16 under the Lok Sabha (lower house) and 8 under the Rajya Sabha (upper house).
Statement 2 is incorrect. Members of Standing Committees are not appointed based on seniority. Instead, they are appointed or elected by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha or the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, or through consultation between them, and their selection may consider various factors, including party representation and expertise.
Source: The Hindu
