Parliamentary Committees Archives

1. Which one of the following is not correct with regard to the Railway C

Which one of the following is not correct with regard to the Railway Convention Committee ?

It is a Committee constituted by the Minister of Railways.

it is an ad hoc Committee of Parliament to review the rate of dividend which is payable by the Railways to the general revenues.

It suggests the level of appropriation to various Railway funds.

Minister of Finance is a nominated member of the Railway Convention Committee.

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This question was previously asked in

UPSC SO-Steno – 2017

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Option A is incorrect. The Railway Convention Committee is a Committee of Parliament, constituted by the Speaker of Lok Sabha in consultation with the Chairman of Rajya Sabha, not by the Minister of Railways.

The Railway Convention Committee is a standing/ad hoc committee of the Indian Parliament formed periodically. Its primary function is to review the rate of dividend payable by the Railways to the General Revenues and other related financial matters.

The Committee examines the working of the Railway Finances and makes recommendations on various aspects, including the level of appropriation to Railway Depreciation Reserve Fund and Railway Development Fund. It consists of members from both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. Option B correctly describes its nature as an ad hoc committee to review the dividend rate. Option C correctly states that it suggests appropriations to funds. Option D is also incorrect as the Minister of Finance is not a nominated member; it’s composed solely of Members of Parliament.

2. The Public Accounts Committee consists of not more than

The Public Accounts Committee consists of not more than

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22 Members, 15 Members elected by Lok Sabha and not more than 7 Members elected by Rajya Sabha.

23 Members, 16 Members elected by Lok Sabha and not more than 7 Members elected by Rajya Sabha.

22 Members, 7 Members elected by Lok Sabha and not more than 15 Members elected by Rajya Sabha.

23 Members, 7 Members elected by Lok Sabha and not more than 16 Members elected by Rajya Sabha.

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This question was previously asked in

UPSC Combined Section Officer – 2021-22

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The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) consists of 22 members. Out of these 22 members, 15 members are elected by the Lok Sabha from amongst its members, and 7 members are elected by the Rajya Sabha from amongst its members. The election is held every year by means of the single transferable vote, ensuring representation from various parties. The Chairman of the PAC is appointed by the Speaker of Lok Sabha and is traditionally from the opposition party.

The Public Accounts Committee comprises a maximum of 22 members: 15 from Lok Sabha and 7 from Rajya Sabha.

The primary function of the PAC is to examine the annual audit reports of government ministries and departments submitted by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG). It scrutinizes public expenditure to ensure it is authorized and properly accounted for.

3. Who among the following determines the functions of the committees in

Who among the following determines the functions of the committees in the Lok Sabha ?

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Speaker of Lok Sabha

President of India

Council of Ministers

Rules Committee of Lok Sabha

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This question was previously asked in

UPSC Combined Section Officer – 2021-22

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The functions, composition, and procedure of parliamentary committees in the Lok Sabha are primarily determined by the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha. The Rules Committee of Lok Sabha is responsible for considering matters of procedure and conduct of business in the House and recommending any amendments to the rules it considers necessary. Therefore, the Rules Committee plays a crucial role in determining the framework within which other committees function. While the Speaker appoints the chairmen and members of most committees (except for a few elected ones), the fundamental rules and scope of functions are laid down in the rules framed or recommended by the Rules Committee.

The Rules Committee of Lok Sabha is instrumental in framing and amending the rules governing the procedure and conduct of business, which includes defining the functions of various parliamentary committees.

The Speaker of Lok Sabha is the ex-officio Chairman of the Rules Committee. Other committees like the Business Advisory Committee also help in deciding the business before the House, but the core rules governing committees stem from the Rules Committee’s recommendations and the adopted Rules of Procedure.

4. The committee responsible for scrutinizing the Annual Budget of the Go

The committee responsible for scrutinizing the Annual Budget of the Government is known as the

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Committee on Public Accounts

Committee on Estimates

Committee on Subordinate Legislation

Committee on Rules

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UPSC Combined Section Officer – 2019-20

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The Committee on Estimates is responsible for examining the estimates included in the Annual Financial Statement (Budget) presented to the Parliament. Its main function is to suggest economies in public expenditure and propose alternative policies to bring about efficiency and economy in administration.

– The Estimates Committee scrutinizes the ‘estimates’ (expenditure proposals) of the government.
– It functions throughout the year and does not examine the budget as a whole but scrutinizes selected ministries/departments.
– It consists of 30 members, all from the Lok Sabha.

Other financial committees include the Committee on Public Accounts (examines accounts after expenditure) and the Committee on Public Undertakings (examines affairs of public sector undertakings). These committees play a crucial role in parliamentary control over government finances.

5. What is the quorum for a meeting of the Committee on Petitions of the

What is the quorum for a meeting of the Committee on Petitions of the Rajya Sabha?

Three

Five

Seven

Ten

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This question was previously asked in

UPSC CISF-AC-EXE – 2024

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The quorum for a meeting of the Committee on Petitions of the Rajya Sabha is five members.

Parliamentary committees have specific rules regarding their composition and functioning, including quorum requirements to ensure sufficient member participation for valid proceedings.

As per Rule 201 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Council of States (Rajya Sabha), the quorum required to constitute a meeting of the Committee on Petitions is five members.

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6. With respect to the Public Accounts Committee of the Parliament of Ind

With respect to the Public Accounts Committee of the Parliament of India, which of the following statements is/are correct ?

1. The committee came into existence in the year 1921
2. It was not a Parliamentary Committee under the control of the Speaker at the time of its inception

Select the correct answer using the code given below :

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1 only

2 only

Both 1 and 2

Neither 1 nor 2

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Answer is Wrong!

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CISF-AC-EXE – 2023

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Let’s evaluate the statements regarding the Public Accounts Committee (PAC):
Statement 1: “The committee came into existence in the year 1921.” This statement is correct. The PAC was constituted for the first time in 1921 under the provisions of the Government of India Act, 1919, following the Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms.
Statement 2: “It was not a Parliamentary Committee under the control of the Speaker at the time of its inception.” At its inception in 1921, it was a committee of the Central Legislative Assembly. The President (Speaker) of the Central Legislative Assembly exercised control over the functioning of its committees. The term “Parliamentary Committee” strictly refers to committees of the Parliament of India formed after the Constitution came into effect. So, while it was not a ‘Parliamentary’ Committee in the post-independence sense, it was a committee of the legislature and was under the control of the presiding officer (Speaker/President). The statement says it was *not* both. Since it *was* under the control of the Speaker (President of the Assembly), the second part of the implied joint condition (“not under the control of the Speaker”) is false. The statement as a whole, implying absence of both qualities, is incorrect. Therefore, Statement 2 is incorrect.

Based on the analysis, only Statement 1 is correct.

– The Public Accounts Committee is one of the oldest financial committees in the Indian legislative system, predating independence.
– Committees of the legislature function under the overall guidance and control of the presiding officer (Speaker in the Lok Sabha, Chairman in the Rajya Sabha).

The PAC consists of members from both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha (Lok Sabha having a larger share). The Chairman of the Committee is appointed by the Speaker and is traditionally from the opposition party (since 1967). The committee scrutinizes the appropriation accounts and the audit reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG).

7. Who appoints the Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee of the P

Who appoints the Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee of the Parliament ?

Speaker, Lok Sabha

Chairman, Rajya Sabha

President of India

Leader of the majority party in the Lok Sabha

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Answer is Wrong!

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CISF-AC-EXE – 2022

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The correct answer is A. The Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the Parliament is appointed by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha.

The Speaker of the Lok Sabha has the authority to appoint chairpersons of various parliamentary committees, including the PAC.

By convention since 1967, the Chairperson of the PAC is a member of the opposition party in the Lok Sabha. This ensures scrutiny of government accounts by the opposition. The committee consists of members from both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, but the Chairperson is appointed by the Speaker of Lok Sabha.

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8. What is the term of office of the members of the Public Accounts Commi

What is the term of office of the members of the Public Accounts Committee of the Parliament?

One year

Three years

Five years

Six years

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This question was previously asked in

UPSC CBI DSP LDCE – 2023

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The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) is a parliamentary committee that examines the annual audit reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India, which are laid before the Parliament. The committee consists of 22 members: 15 elected by Lok Sabha and 7 elected by Rajya Sabha. The members are elected annually from amongst their respective members according to the principle of proportional representation by means of single transferable vote. The term of office of the members of the Public Accounts Committee is one year.

The term of office for the members of the Public Accounts Committee is one year.

The chairman of the Public Accounts Committee is appointed by the Speaker of Lok Sabha. By tradition, the chairman of the committee is from the opposition party.

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9. Which one of the following statements about the Estimates Committee of

Which one of the following statements about the Estimates Committee of the Parliament is not correct?

The term of office of the Committee is five years.

The Committee suggests alternative policies.

The Committee examines Money Bill.

The Committee suggests the form in which estimates shall be presented to the Parliament.

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Answer is Wrong!

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CBI DSP LDCE – 2023

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Let’s examine each statement about the Estimates Committee:
A) The term of office of the Committee is five years. This is incorrect. The term of office of the members of the Estimates Committee, like other financial committees such as the Public Accounts Committee and Committee on Public Undertakings, is one year.
B) The Committee suggests alternative policies. This is correct. The Committee suggests alternative policies in the interest of economy and efficiency.
C) The Committee examines Money Bill. This is incorrect. The Estimates Committee examines the estimates presented to Parliament as part of the budget. It scrutinises the economy in incurring expenditure *within the policy approved by Parliament*. It does not examine the Money Bill itself, which is a legislative instrument.
D) The Committee suggests the form in which estimates shall be presented to the Parliament. This is correct. One of its functions is to suggest the form in which the estimates are to be presented to Parliament.
The question asks for the statement that is *not* correct. Both A and C are incorrect. However, standard UPSC practice usually intends one single incorrect statement as the answer. The term length (A) being 5 years instead of 1 year is a clear and fundamental factual error about the committee’s structure. Statement C is also incorrect regarding the committee’s function/scope. Given the options and common knowledge about parliamentary committees, the term length error (A) is a highly probable intended answer for an “incorrect statement” question.

The term of office for the Estimates Committee members is one year, not five years. The committee examines expenditure estimates, not the Money Bill.

The Estimates Committee consists of 30 members, all from Lok Sabha, elected annually. It is the largest parliamentary committee. It scrutinizes the budget estimates *before* they are voted upon but its recommendations are generally advisory and not binding on the Parliament or the government.

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10. Which of the following statements about the Ethics Committee in the Lo

Which of the following statements about the Ethics Committee in the Lok Sabha are correct?

1. Initially it was an ad-hoc Committee.
2. Only a Member of the Lok Sabha can make a complaint relating to unethical conduct of a member of the Lok Sabha.
3. This Committee cannot take up any matter which is sub-judice.

Select the answer using the code given below :

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1 and 2 only

2 and 3 only

1 and 3 only

1, 2 and 3

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Answer is Wrong!

This question was previously asked in

UPSC IAS – 2024

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Statement 1 is correct. The Ethics Committee in the Lok Sabha was initially constituted as an ad-hoc committee in 2000 before becoming a Standing Committee later that year. Statement 3 is correct. The Ethics Committee generally does not take up matters that are sub-judice or under consideration by another parliamentary committee (like the Committee of Privileges). Statement 2 is incorrect. Complaints regarding unethical conduct of a Lok Sabha member can be made by any person, not exclusively by another Member of Parliament.

– The Ethics Committee examines complaints of unethical conduct by Members of Lok Sabha.
– It follows a procedure for receiving and examining complaints, including hearing the member against whom the complaint is made.
– The committee makes recommendations to the House, which can include admonition, reprimand, suspension, or expulsion of the member.

The Ethics Committee was first established in the Rajya Sabha as an ad-hoc body in 1997 and became a permanent standing committee in 1998. The Lok Sabha followed suit in 2000. These committees aim to uphold the standards of ethics and conduct among parliamentarians.