STANDING AND AD-HOC COMMITTEE - POLITY

News: Standing Committee on Economic Statistics renamed

 

What's in the news?

       The government said the Standing Committee on Economic Statistics has been renamed as Standing Committee on Statistics.

 

Parliament Committee:

       The Parliament Committee is an essential part of the Indian government.

       They support the legislature as it fulfils its duties.

       They share the legislative mandate and are responsible for control, vigilance, and supervision.

       A Parliamentary Committee is a panel of MPs that is appointed or elected by the House or nominated by the Speaker/Chairman.

       The committee works under the direction of the Speaker/chairman and it presents its report to the House or to the Speaker/chairman.

       Parliamentary Committees have their origins in the British Parliament.

       Article 105 deals with the privileges of MPs.

       Article 118 gives Parliament authority to make rules to regulate its procedure and conduct of business.

 

Types of Committees

       India’s Parliament has multiple types of committees. They can be differentiated on the basis of their work, their membership and the length of their tenure.

       However, broadly there are two types of Parliamentary Committees such as

       Standing Committees

       Ad Hoc Committees.

 

Standing Committees:

       The Standing committees are permanent committees that are constituted by the Parliament every year or periodically to deal with specific areas of public policy or administration.

       These committees are constituted at the beginning of each session of Parliament and continue until the end of the session.

       Standing Committees can be classified into the following six categories:

       Financial Committees

       Departmental Standing Committees

       Committees to Enquire

       Committees to Scrutinise and Control

       Committees Relating to the Day-to-Day Business of the House

       House-Keeping Committees or Service Committees.

 

Ad-hoc Committees:

       Ad hoc committees are temporary committees constituted for a specific purpose and for a limited period of time.

       These committees are usually constituted to consider and report on a specific bill or to inquire into a particular matter of public importance.

       These committees are dissolved once they have completed their work.

       Ad hoc committees can be divided into two categories:

       Inquiry committees

       Advisory committees

 

Significance of Parliamentary Committee:

       Provides legislative expertise.

       Acting as a Mini-Parliament.

       Instrument for detailed scrutiny.

       Provides a check on the government.