Parliamentary Committees

11. In India, which of the following review the independent regulators in

In India, which of the following review the independent regulators in sectors like telecommunications, insurance, electricity, etc.?
1. Ad Hoc Committees set up by the Parliament
2. Parliamentary Department Related Standing Committees
3. Finance Commission
4. Financial Sector Legislative Reforms Commission
5. NITI Aayog
Select the correct answer using the code given below.

1 and 2
1, 3 and 4
3, 4 and 5
2 and 5
This question was previously asked in
UPSC IAS – 2019
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In India, independent regulatory bodies in sectors like telecommunications (TRAI), insurance (IRDAI), electricity (CERC/SERCs), etc., are subject to review and oversight by the Parliament.
1. Ad Hoc Committees set up by the Parliament: Parliament can constitute specific ad hoc committees to examine particular issues related to a sector or the functioning of a regulator.
2. Parliamentary Department Related Standing Committees: These committees are permanent committees of Parliament that oversee the functioning of various ministries and departments. Regulators often fall under the purview of specific ministries (e.g., TRAI under Ministry of Communications, IRDAI under Ministry of Finance, CERC/SERCs under Ministry of Power). These Standing Committees review the policy implications, performance, and finances of these regulators as part of their oversight function.
3. Finance Commission: Primarily deals with the distribution of financial resources between the Union and states and other fiscal matters. It does not review the performance of sector-specific independent regulators.
4. Financial Sector Legislative Reforms Commission (FSLRC): This was a specific commission that reviewed the legislative framework of the financial sector and proposed reforms. It was not a body for regular review of individual regulators.
5. NITI Aayog: A government think tank focused on policy and planning. It does not have a mandate for parliamentary oversight or review of independent regulators’ operational aspects.
Therefore, the independent regulators are reviewed by Parliamentary Committees, both standing and sometimes ad hoc.
Independent regulators are primarily reviewed by Parliamentary Committees in India, including Department Related Standing Committees and specific ad hoc committees.
Parliamentary oversight is a crucial mechanism for ensuring accountability of regulatory bodies. While these regulators are independent in their decision-making within their mandated domain, their actions, policies, and performance are subject to scrutiny by the legislative branch of the government.

12. With reference to the Parliament of India, which of the following Parl

With reference to the Parliament of India, which of the following Parliamentary Committees scrutinizes and reports to the House whether the powers to make regulations, rules, sub-rules, by-laws, etc. conferred by the Constitution or delegated by the Parliament are being properly exercised by the Executive within the scope of such delegation?

Committee on Government Assurances
Committee on Subordinate Legislation
Rules Committee
Business Advisory Committee
This question was previously asked in
UPSC IAS – 2018
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The correct answer is B) Committee on Subordinate Legislation.
– The question asks about the Parliamentary Committee that scrutinizes rules, regulations, sub-rules, by-laws, etc., made by the Executive under the powers delegated by the Constitution or Parliament.
– The Committee on Subordinate Legislation is specifically constituted in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha for this purpose. It examines whether these delegated legislative powers are being properly exercised within the scope of the delegation.
– The Committee on Government Assurances scrutinizes the assurances, promises, and undertakings given by Ministers in the House.
– The Rules Committee considers matters of procedure and conduct of business in the House and recommends necessary amendments to the Rules.
– The Business Advisory Committee allocates time for the discussion of legislative and other government business.
The Committee on Subordinate Legislation consists of 15 members in Lok Sabha and 15 members in Rajya Sabha. It plays a crucial role in ensuring parliamentary control over the executive’s power to make rules under delegated legislation, preventing potential abuse of power and ensuring that the rules align with the parent law.

13. Which one of the following is the largest Committee of the Parliament?

Which one of the following is the largest Committee of the Parliament?

The Committee on Public Accounts
The Committee on Estimates
The Committee on Public Undertakings
The Committee on Petitions
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UPSC IAS – 2014
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Among the listed committees of the Indian Parliament, the Committee on Estimates is the largest.
The Committee on Estimates consists of 30 members, all of whom are from the Lok Sabha (House of the People). The Committee on Public Accounts and the Committee on Public Undertakings each consist of 22 members (15 from Lok Sabha and 7 from Rajya Sabha). The Committee on Petitions has a varying number of members, typically smaller than the others listed.
The Estimates Committee scrutinizes the estimates included in the budget presented to Parliament and suggests economies in public expenditure. It is considered one of the three financial committees of Parliament, along with the Public Accounts Committee and the Committee on Public Undertakings.

14. Consider the following statements: The Parliamentary Committee on Pu

Consider the following statements:

  • The Parliamentary Committee on Public Accounts
  • 1. consists of not more than 25 Members of the Lok Sabha
  • 2. scrutinizes appropriation and finance accounts of the Government
  • 3. examines the report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1 only
2 and 3 only
3 only
1, 2 and 3
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UPSC IAS – 2013
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Statements 2 and 3 are correct. The Parliamentary Committee on Public Accounts examines the appropriation and finance accounts of the Government and scrutinizes the reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG). Statement 1 is incorrect as the committee consists of 22 members, not 25.
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) is the oldest financial committee of the Indian Parliament. Its primary function is to examine the accounts showing the appropriation of sums granted by Parliament for expenditure and the annual finance accounts of the Union government, particularly focusing on the reports of the CAG.
The PAC consists of 22 members – 15 elected by the Lok Sabha from amongst its members and 7 elected by the Rajya Sabha from amongst its members by means of the single transferable vote. The term of office is one year. The Chairman of the committee is appointed by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha and is traditionally from the opposition party.

15. Which of the following statements about the Committee on Public Undert

Which of the following statements about the Committee on Public Undertakings is/are correct?

  • 1. There are more members from the Rajya Sabha than the Lok Sabha in the Committee.
  • 2. The Chairperson of the Committee is appointed by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

1 only
2 only
Both 1 and 2
Neither 1 nor 2
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2022
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Statement 1 is incorrect because the Committee on Public Undertakings consists of 22 members, out of which 15 are from the Lok Sabha and 7 are from the Rajya Sabha. Therefore, there are more members from the Lok Sabha than the Rajya Sabha. Statement 2 is correct as the Chairperson of the Committee is appointed by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha from amongst the members of the Committee who are from the Lok Sabha.
The Committee on Public Undertakings examines the reports and accounts of Public Undertakings specified in the Fourth Schedule to the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha. It also examines the reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General on Public Undertakings.
The Committee is constituted every year. A Minister is not eligible to be elected as a member of the Committee. The term of office of the members is one year.

16. Which one of the following statements about Public Accounts Committee

Which one of the following statements about Public Accounts Committee is correct?

The Committee consists of not more than 15 members from the Lok Sabha and 10 members from the Rajya Sabha.
The Finance Minister is an ex officio member of the Committee.
A member of the Committee is given a term for one year.
The term of the office of the members of the Committee from the Rajya Sabha is extended even when they retire from the Rajya Sabha.
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UPSC CAPF – 2021
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The correct statement is that a member of the Public Accounts Committee is given a term for one year.
– The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) consists of 22 members, 15 from Lok Sabha and 7 from Rajya Sabha. Statement A is incorrect as it mentions 10 members from Rajya Sabha.
– The term of office for members of the PAC is one year. Members are elected annually from amongst the members of each House according to the principle of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote. Statement C is correct.
– A Minister is not eligible to be elected as a member of the Committee. Therefore, the Finance Minister cannot be an ex officio member. Statement B is incorrect.
– Members from the Rajya Sabha cease to be members of the Committee if they retire from the Rajya Sabha during their term in the Committee. Statement D is incorrect.
The Chairman of the Committee is appointed by the Speaker of Lok Sabha. Since 1967, by convention, the Chairman is invariably from the opposition party. The Committee examines the annual audit reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) relating to the accounts of the Union Government.

17. Which one of the following statements regarding Public Accounts Commit

Which one of the following statements regarding Public Accounts Committee is correct ?

It consists of fifteen members from Lok Sabha and seven members from Rajya Sabha
It consists of twenty members from Lok Sabha and ten members from Rajya Sabha
The term of members of Public Accounts Committee is five years
Finance Minister is the Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee
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UPSC CAPF – 2020
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Statement A is correct: The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) consists of 22 members, out of which fifteen members are elected by the Lok Sabha from amongst its members, and seven members are elected by the Rajya Sabha from amongst its members, based on the principle of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote.
The Public Accounts Committee is a parliamentary committee that scrutinizes the annual audit reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India, primarily focusing on government expenditure.
The term of office of the members of the PAC is one year (not five years). By convention, the Chairperson of the PAC is appointed by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha from amongst its members, and usually, it is a member from the opposition party. The Finance Minister is not the Chairperson and cannot be a member of the committee.

18. Which one of the following Committees of the Parliament has no Members

Which one of the following Committees of the Parliament has no Members from the Rajya Sabha?

Public Accounts Committee
Committee on Public Undertakings
Estimates Committee
Departmentally Related Standing Committee (DRSC) on Finance
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2018
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The correct answer is C) Estimates Committee.
Parliamentary Committees are broadly categorized into Standing Committees and Ad Hoc Committees. Among the financial committees:
– The Estimates Committee examines the estimates included in the budget and suggests economies. It consists of 30 members, all of whom are from the Lok Sabha.
– The Public Accounts Committee examines the annual audit reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India. It consists of 22 members, 15 from the Lok Sabha and 7 from the Rajya Sabha.
– The Committee on Public Undertakings examines the reports and accounts of public undertakings. It also consists of 22 members, 15 from the Lok Sabha and 7 from the Rajya Sabha.
Departmentally Related Standing Committees (DRSCs) are composed of members from both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.
The Estimates Committee is unique among the major financial committees in having representation solely from the Lok Sabha. Its primary function is to scrutinize government expenditure estimates.

19. The issue whether a commitment made by a Minister on the floor of the

The issue whether a commitment made by a Minister on the floor of the House has been fulfilled or not is decided by the :

Concerned Departmentally Related Committee
Business Advisory Committee
Committee on Public Assurances
Political Affairs Committee of the Union Cabinet
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UPSC CAPF – 2014
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The Committee on Public Assurances (or Committee on Government Assurances) is a parliamentary committee constituted in both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. Its specific function is to scrutinize the assurances, promises, undertakings, etc., given by Ministers in the Houses from time to time and to report on the extent to which such assurances have been implemented. They examine whether the government has fulfilled the commitments made on the floor of the House within a reasonable time frame.
– Function of the Committee on Public Assurances: Monitor the implementation of assurances/promises made by Ministers in Parliament.
– Composition: Members from the respective House (Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha).
– Reporting: Reports to the House on the status of implementation.
Departmentally Related Standing Committees examine Bills, budgets, and policies related to specific ministries. The Business Advisory Committee allocates time for discussion of government business. The Political Affairs Committee is an informal high-level body within the Union Cabinet that deals with major policy issues. None of these are specifically tasked with following up on ministerial assurances made on the floor of the House; this is the dedicated role of the Committee on Public Assurances.

20. Which of the following Committees does NOT consist of Members from the

Which of the following Committees does NOT consist of Members from the Upper House of the Parliament ?

  • 1. Public Accounts Committee
  • 2. Estimates Committee
  • 3. Committee on Public Undertakings

Select the answer using the code given below :

1 and 2
1 and 3
2 only
3 only
This question was previously asked in
UPSC NDA-2 – 2024
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The correct answer is 2 only.
The Estimates Committee consists exclusively of members from the Lok Sabha. It has 30 members, all of whom are elected by the Lok Sabha from amongst its members every year by proportional representation. The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) and the Committee on Public Undertakings (COPU) both consist of members from both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha (15 from Lok Sabha and 7 from Rajya Sabha for each).
These three committees are financial committees of the Parliament. The Estimates Committee scrutinizes the estimates included in the budget and suggests economies in public expenditure. The PAC examines the annual audit reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), while COPU examines the reports of the CAG on public undertakings and also the working of public sector undertakings.
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