UPSC CSE Prelims
Parliamentary Committees Previous Year Questions (PYQs)

Detailed Explanation:

Statement 1 — Incorrect. The Chairperson is appointed by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha — NOT the Chairman of Rajya Sabha.

Statement 2 — Incorrect. The composition is reversed:

• 20 members → elected by Lok Sabha
• 10 members → elected by Rajya Sabha

Statement 3 — Incorrect. No Minister is eligible to be a member — there is absolutely no exception, not even for the Union Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment. If a member is appointed Minister after election, they immediately cease to be a member.

Statement 4 — Incorrect. The term does not exceed one year — NOT two years. It is reconstituted annually, like other major standing committees (PAC, Estimates Committee).

All Four Statements are Wrong — Quick Reference:

Detailed Explanation:

Correct Answer: ✅ Option 3 — Statements 1 and 3 only

The Ethics Committee of the Lok Sabha examines complaints related to unethical conduct by Members of Parliament and recommends appropriate action. It was initially formed as an ad-hoc body and later became a permanent committee.

✅ Statement 1 is Correct: The Lok Sabha Ethics Committee was first constituted as an ad-hoc committee in 2000 and became a permanent committee in 2015.

❌ Statement 2 is Incorrect: Complaints can originate from any person. If the complainant is not an MP, the complaint must be forwarded by a Lok Sabha Member.

✅ Statement 3 is Correct: The Committee does not examine sub-judice matters, i.e., matters currently under consideration by a court of law.

Short Notes: Ethics Committee of Lok Sabha

• Constituted initially as an ad-hoc committee in 2000.

• Became a permanent committee in 2015.

• Examines cases involving unethical conduct of Members of Parliament.

• Frames and enforces standards of parliamentary ethics and conduct.

• Can recommend disciplinary action against members.

• Complaints may be initiated by citizens but require forwarding by an MP.

• Cannot take up sub-judice matters.

• Helps maintain the dignity and credibility of Parliament.

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 1 — 1 and 2

In India, independent regulators in sectors like telecommunications, insurance, and electricity are primarily reviewed by Parliamentary mechanisms. Ad Hoc Committees (including Joint Parliamentary Committees) are set up for specific investigations or reviews of regulatory bodies, while Department Related Standing Committees (DRSCs) regularly examine the annual reports, budgets, and performance of regulators under their respective ministries, ensuring executive accountability.

✅ Statement 1 – Correct: Ad Hoc Committees, including Joint Parliamentary Committees (JPCs), are established by Parliament to review specific regulatory bodies or investigate irregularities in their functioning.
✅ Statement 2 – Correct: Parliamentary Department Related Standing Committees (DRSCs) systematically review the performance, annual reports, and budgetary allocations of independent regulators falling under their respective ministries.
❌ Statement 3 – Incorrect: The Finance Commission (Article 280) primarily deals with distribution of financial resources between the Union and States, not with reviewing sectoral regulators.
❌ Statement 4 – Incorrect: The Financial Sector Legislative Reforms Commission (FSLRC) was a temporary body created to recommend legal reforms in the financial sector; it does not conduct ongoing reviews of regulators.
❌ Statement 5 – Incorrect: NITI Aayog is a policy think tank providing strategic advice but lacks statutory authority to formally review or oversee independent regulators.

📝 Short Notes: Parliamentary Oversight of Regulators

• Ad Hoc Committees: Temporary parliamentary committees established for specific purposes, such as investigating irregularities or examining the functioning of particular institutions or regulators (e.g., JPCs).
• Department Related Standing Committees (DRSCs): 24 permanent committees (16 for Lok Sabha, 8 for Rajya Sabha) that examine bills, budgets, and annual reports of ministries and their attached regulators.
• Parliamentary Accountability: Independent regulators, despite autonomy, remain accountable to Parliament through committee scrutiny, questions, and debates.
• Examples of Regulators: TRAI (Telecom), IRDAI (Insurance), SEBI (Securities), CERC (Electricity), etc.
• Finance Commission: Constitutional body (Article 280) focused on fiscal federalism—distribution of taxes and grants between Centre and States.
• NITI Aayog: Policy commission replacing Planning Commission; provides strategic inputs but has no regulatory oversight mandate.

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 2 — Committee on Subordinate Legislation

The Committee on Subordinate Legislation (CSL) is specifically mandated to scrutinize and report to Parliament whether the powers to make regulations, rules, sub-rules, by-laws, etc., conferred by the Constitution or delegated by Parliament are being properly exercised by the Executive within the scope of such delegation. This committee ensures that the executive does not exceed its delegated authority and that all subordinate legislation conforms to the parent Act and constitutional provisions.

Why other options are incorrect:
❌ Option 1 – Committee on Government Assurances: This committee tracks the implementation of assurances, promises, and undertakings given by Ministers in Parliament, not subordinate legislation.
❌ Option 3 – Rules Committee: This committee is concerned with framing and amending rules for regulating the procedure and conduct of business in the House itself.
❌ Option 4 – Business Advisory Committee: This committee allocates time for discussion of government and other business in the House and does not scrutinize delegated legislation.

📝 Short Notes: Parliamentary Committees

Detailed Explanation:

Committee on Estimates is the largest parliamentary committee with 30 members, all elected annually from the Lok Sabha only.

Committee on Public Accounts and Committee on Public Undertakings have 22 members each (15 from Lok Sabha + 7 from Rajya Sabha), while Committee on Petitions has 15 members in Lok Sabha.

Detailed Explanation:

❌ Statement 1 – Incorrect: The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) consists of 22 members (15 from Lok Sabha, 7 from Rajya Sabha), not 25. Members are elected annually by proportional representation using the single transferable vote.

✅ Statement 2 – Correct: PAC scrutinizes the Appropriation Accounts and Finance Accounts of the Government to ensure public funds are spent legally and for intended purposes.

✅ Statement 3 – Correct: PAC examines the audit reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), who acts as the 'guide, philosopher, and friend' during PAC deliberations.