The Committee of Parliament on Official Language comprises the members

1. Classification of Parliamentary Committees (basic)

Welcome to your first step in mastering Parliamentary Committees! To understand how the Indian Parliament functions, we must first look at its 'mini-legislatures.' Since Parliament is a large body with limited time and a massive workload, it delegates detailed work to committees. However, not every group of MPs is a Parliamentary Committee. To qualify for this title, a committee must satisfy four specific 'acid tests': it must be appointed/elected by the House or nominated by the Presiding Officer; it must work under their direction; it must present its report to the House or the Speaker/Chairman; and it must have a secretariat provided by the Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha Laxmikanth, M. Indian Polity, Parliamentary Committees, p.270. This is why 'Consultative Committees' (which are attached to various ministries) are not technically parliamentary committees—they don't meet these strict criteria.

Broadly speaking, these committees are classified into two functional categories based on their permanence and purpose:

Type	Nature	Description
Standing Committees	Permanent	These are constituted every year or periodically and work on a continuous basis. They are the 'permanent' machinery of Parliament.
Ad Hoc Committees	Temporary	These are created for a specific task and cease to exist once they complete the task and submit a report.

Laxmikanth, M. Indian Polity, Parliamentary Committees, p.270

Ad Hoc committees are further divided into Inquiry Committees (formed to investigate specific issues like conduct of members or protocol violations) and Advisory Committees (usually formed to examine and report on specific Bills). While most committees are created through House motions, some are statutory, meaning they are mandated by a specific law. For instance, the Committee of Parliament on Official Language was established under the Official Languages Act, 1963, to review the progress of Hindi for official use, illustrating how some committees have their roots in specific legislation while still operating within the parliamentary framework Laxmikanth, M. Indian Polity, Official Language, p.543.

Sources: Laxmikanth, M. Indian Polity, Parliamentary Committees, p.270; Laxmikanth, M. Indian Polity, Parliamentary Committees, p.271; Laxmikanth, M. Indian Polity, Official Language, p.543

2. Constitutional Provisions for Official Language (Part XVII) (basic)

To understand why we have a specific parliamentary committee for language, we must first look at Part XVII of the Constitution (Articles 343 to 351). The framers faced a delicate challenge: how to transition from English, the colonial administrative language, to an Indian language while respecting regional diversity. Under Article 343, Hindi in the Devanagari script was declared the official language of the Union, but English was permitted to continue for all official purposes for a period of 15 years from the commencement of the Constitution D. D. Basu, Introduction to the Constitution of India, LANGUAGES, p.466.

As this 15-year period approached its end, the Official Languages Act of 1963 was passed to allow the continued use of English alongside Hindi. A crucial feature of this legal framework was the creation of a mechanism to monitor the progress of Hindi. While Article 344 originally provided for a commission and a committee, the current Committee of Parliament on Official Language was specifically established under Section 4 of the 1963 Act. Although the Act was passed in 1963, this committee was actually constituted later, in 1976, to review how Hindi was being used for the Union's official purposes M. Laxmikanth, Indian Polity, Official Language, p.543.

The composition of this committee is a favorite topic for examiners because it follows the standard 2:1 ratio seen in many joint committees. It consists of 30 members: 20 from the Lok Sabha and 10 from the Rajya Sabha. These members are not nominated; they are elected by their respective Houses through the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote (STV). This ensures that different political parties and regional viewpoints are represented in the discussions regarding the nation's linguistic policy M. Laxmikanth, Indian Polity, Official Language, p.543.

Sources: Introduction to the Constitution of India, LANGUAGES, p.466; Indian Polity, Official Language, p.543

3. Composition Ratios in Major Parliamentary Committees (intermediate)

To understand the composition of Parliamentary Committees, we must first look at the bicameral nature of our Parliament. Since the Lok Sabha represents the people directly and is significantly larger than the Rajya Sabha, this numerical strength is reflected in the committee structures. Most joint committees follow a standard 2:1 ratio, ensuring that both Houses are represented while acknowledging the Lok Sabha's larger mandate M. Laxmikanth, Parliamentary Committees, p.270.

The three Financial Committees are the most prestigious. The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) and the Committee on Public Undertakings (COPU) both consist of 22 members: 15 from the Lok Sabha and 7 from the Rajya Sabha D. D. Basu, Introduction to the Constitution of India, The Union Legislature, p.260. However, the Estimates Committee is a unique exception. Because the Lok Sabha has exclusive power over the 'Power of the Purse' (money bills and budget votes), all 30 members of the Estimates Committee are drawn exclusively from the Lok Sabha; the Rajya Sabha has no representation here at all M. Laxmikanth, Parliamentary Committees, p.273.

Moving to modern structures, the Departmentally Related Standing Committees (DRSCs) were restructured in 2004 to handle the heavy lifting of legislative scrutiny. Each of these 24 committees consists of 31 members: 21 from the Lok Sabha and 10 from the Rajya Sabha M. Laxmikanth, Parliamentary Committees, p.274. Similarly, statutory bodies like the Committee of Parliament on Official Language (established under the 1963 Act) follow a strict 2:1 ratio with 30 members (20 from LS and 10 from RS) M. Laxmikanth, Official Language, p.543.

Committee	Total Members	Lok Sabha	Rajya Sabha
Public Accounts (PAC)	22	15	7
Estimates Committee	30	30	0
Public Undertakings (COPU)	22	15	7
Standing Committees (DRSCs)	31	21	10
Official Language	30	20	10

Sources: Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth, Parliamentary Committees, p.270, 273, 274; Introduction to the Constitution of India, D. D. Basu, The Union Legislature, p.260; Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth, Official Language, p.543

4. The Eighth Schedule and Classical Languages (intermediate)

India is a land of incredible linguistic diversity, housing over 1,300 distinct mother tongues. To manage this diversity, the Constitution provides a structured framework through the Eighth Schedule. While there are 121 major languages in India, only 22 are currently recognized as Scheduled Languages Democratic Politics-II. Political Science-Class X . NCERT, Federalism, p.22. These 22 languages are the major vehicles of Indian culture and administration, used by roughly 91% of the total population Introduction to the Constitution of India, D. D. Basu, LANGUAGES, p.465. Interestingly, Hindi has the highest percentage of speakers, while groups like Sanskrit, Bodo, and Manipuri are among the smallest INDIA PEOPLE AND ECONOMY, TEXTBOOK IN GEOGRAPHY FOR CLASS XII, Population: Distribution, Density, Growth and Composition, p.9.

Beyond the Eighth Schedule, the government created a prestigious category in 2004: Classical Languages. This status is not about the number of speakers, but about the historical depth and originality of the language. For a language to be classified as 'Classical', it must meet specific criteria laid down by the Ministry of Culture Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth, Official Language, p.544:

• High Antiquity: Its early texts or recorded history must span 1,500 to 2,000 years.
• Valuable Heritage: A body of ancient literature considered a treasure by generations.
• Originality: The literary tradition must be original and not borrowed from another speech community.

Since this is a course on Parliamentary Committees, we must highlight the Committee of Parliament on Official Language. Established under Section 4 of the Official Languages Act, 1963, this statutory committee was first constituted in 1976 Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth, Official Language, p.543. Its primary mandate is to review the progress made in the use of Hindi for official purposes of the Union and submit a report to the President. It is a joint committee consisting of 30 members—20 from the Lok Sabha and 10 from the Rajya Sabha—elected through proportional representation by means of a single transferable vote.

Feature	Scheduled Languages (8th Schedule)	Classical Languages
Count	22 Languages	Selected based on antiquity (e.g., Tamil, Sanskrit, etc.)
Purpose	Official use, representation, and inclusion.	Recognition of ancient heritage and original tradition.
Link to Committee	The Committee of Parliament on Official Language reviews the official status and progress of language use (specifically Hindi) in the Union.

Sources: Democratic Politics-II. Political Science-Class X . NCERT, Federalism, p.22; Introduction to the Constitution of India, D. D. Basu, LANGUAGES, p.465; INDIA PEOPLE AND ECONOMY, TEXTBOOK IN GEOGRAPHY FOR CLASS XII, Population: Distribution, Density, Growth and Composition, p.9; Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth, Official Language, p.543-544

5. Special Officer for Linguistic Minorities (intermediate)

At the dawn of our republic, the Constitution did not originally provide for a dedicated authority to protect linguistic minorities. However, as India moved toward reorganizing its states based on language in the 1950s, a crucial question arose: How do we protect a person who speaks a minority language in a state dominated by another tongue? To address this, the States Reorganisation Commission (1953-55) recommended a constitutional watchdog. Consequently, the 7th Constitutional Amendment Act of 1956 inserted Article 350-B into Part XVII of the Constitution Laxmikanth, Indian Polity, Special Officer for Linguistic Minorities, p.42. The Special Officer for Linguistic Minorities is appointed directly by the President of India. Their primary duty is to investigate all matters relating to the safeguards provided for linguistic minorities and report these findings. Interestingly, the Constitution is silent on the specific qualifications, tenure, and salary of this officer; these administrative details are left to the discretion of the President Laxmikanth, Indian Polity, Special Officer for Linguistic Minorities, p.42. In terms of administrative hierarchy, the officer (popularly known as the Commissioner for Linguistic Minorities) functions under the Ministry of Minority Affairs. They submit periodic reports to the President, which are then placed before both Houses of Parliament and sent to the governments of the states concerned. This process ensures that the grievances of linguistic minorities—such as the right to primary education in their mother tongue—are brought to the highest levels of governance.

Sources: Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.), Special Officer for Linguistic Minorities, p.42

6. Language of the Judiciary and Legislation (exam-level)

In the complex machinery of Indian governance, the language used in law-making and justice-delivery is governed by a delicate balance between the constitutional vision of promoting Hindi and the practical necessity of maintaining legal precision through English. Under Article 348 of the Constitution, a clear default rule is established: until Parliament provides otherwise by law, all proceedings in the Supreme Court and every High Court, as well as the authoritative texts of all Bills, Acts, and Ordinances at both Central and State levels, must be in English Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth, Official Language, p.541. This ensures uniformity and clarity across the nation's judicial landscape. To monitor the transition and usage of Hindi for official purposes, the Official Languages Act of 1963 introduced a specific statutory mechanism. Under Section 4 of this Act, the Committee of Parliament on Official Language was mandated to be constituted ten years after the Act's promulgation to review the progress of Hindi. Although the Act dates to 1963, this specific committee was formally set up in 1976 Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth, Official Language, p.543. Its primary duty is to review how Hindi is being utilized for official Union purposes and submit a report to the President, who then places it before both Houses of Parliament. The composition of this committee follows the standard parliamentary logic of joint representation. It consists of 30 members in total, maintaining a 2:1 ratio between the two houses. These members are not nominated; rather, they are elected through the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote, ensuring that the committee reflects the diverse political composition of the Parliament Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth, Official Language, p.543.

Feature	Details of the Committee
Total Members	30 Members
House Breakdown	20 from Lok Sabha; 10 from Rajya Sabha
Election Method	Proportional Representation (Single Transferable Vote)
Legal Status	Statutory Body (Official Languages Act, 1963)

Sources: Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth, Official Language, p.541-543

7. The Official Languages Act, 1963 (exam-level)

The Official Languages Act of 1963 is a landmark piece of legislation that effectively bridged the gap between the Constitution's original vision and the practical administrative realities of a linguistically diverse India. Under Article 343, the Constitution stipulated that English would cease to be an official language 15 years after the commencement of the Constitution (i.e., by 1965). However, to prevent administrative chaos and address the concerns of non-Hindi speaking states, Parliament enacted this law to allow the continued use of English for all official purposes of the Union and for transaction of business in Parliament, even after the 15-year period Introduction to the Constitution of India, D. D. Basu, LANGUAGES, p.471.

Crucially for our study of parliamentary bodies, Section 4 of this Act provided for the creation of a specific statutory committee: the Committee of Parliament on Official Language. Unlike many other committees that are formed every year, this one had a specific trigger. The Act mandated that the committee be constituted ten years after the 'appointed day' (January 26, 1965) to review the progress made in the use of Hindi for official purposes. Consequently, this committee was formally set up in 1976 Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth, Chapter 73, p. 543.

The composition and election process of this committee follow a very structured democratic logic:

• Total Membership: It consists of 30 members.
• House Ratio: 20 members are from the Lok Sabha and 10 from the Rajya Sabha, maintaining the classic 2:1 ratio seen in joint committees.
• Method of Election: Members are elected by their respective Houses through the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote (STV). This ensures that various political parties and viewpoints in Parliament are represented in the committee's deliberations Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth, Chapter 73, p. 543.

The primary duty of this committee is to review the progress of Hindi in Union affairs and submit a report containing recommendations to the President. The President then ensures the report is laid before each House of Parliament and sent to all State Governments Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth, Chapter 73, p. 543.

Sources: Introduction to the Constitution of India, D. D. Basu, LANGUAGES, p.471; Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth, Chapter 73: Official Language, p.543

8. The Committee of Parliament on Official Language (exam-level)

To understand the Committee of Parliament on Official Language, we must first look at the unique linguistic challenge India faced at independence. The Constitution makers envisioned a transition from English to Hindi for the Union's official work. While Article 344 provided for the appointment of a Commission and a subsequent Committee of Parliament after five and ten years of the Constitution's commencement, the process evolved through the Official Languages Act of 1963 Indian Polity, World Constitutions, p.705.

This committee is a statutory body specifically established under Section 4 of the Official Languages Act, 1963. Although the Act was passed earlier, it stipulated that the committee would be constituted ten years after the "appointed day" (January 26, 1965). Consequently, the committee we recognize today was formally set up in 1976 to review the progress of Hindi for the official purposes of the Union Indian Polity, Official Language, p.543. It is important to distinguish this from the earlier 1957 committee chaired by G.B. Pant, which examined the first Official Language Commission's report Indian Polity, Official Language, p.540.

The composition of this committee follows a strict 2:1 ratio between the two houses, totaling 30 members. There are 20 members from the Lok Sabha and 10 members from the Rajya Sabha. These members are elected by their respective houses through the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote (PR-STV) Introduction to the Constitution of India, LANGUAGES, p.467. Their primary duty is to examine the progress made in the use of Hindi for official Union purposes and submit a report containing recommendations to the President, who then lays it before each House of Parliament and sends it to State governments.

Sources: Indian Polity, Official Language, p.540, 543; Indian Polity, World Constitutions, p.705; Introduction to the Constitution of India, LANGUAGES, p.467, 471

9. Solving the Original PYQ (exam-level)

Now that you have mastered the statutory framework of the Official Languages Act, 1963, this question asks you to apply that knowledge to the specific machinery of parliamentary oversight. The Committee of Parliament on Official Language was established under Section 4 of that Act specifically to review the progress of Hindi for official purposes. When you see a question about the composition of joint committees, always look for the proportional weight of the two houses. As detailed in Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth, this committee follows a standard 2:1 ratio, reflecting the larger size and representative mandate of the lower house.

To arrive at the correct answer, recall the "Rule of 30." While many financial committees (like the Public Accounts Committee) consist of 22 members, this specific statutory committee is larger, comprising 30 members in total. Because the Lok Sabha is the more numerous chamber, it contributes double the members compared to the Rajya Sabha. Thus, the logic dictates a split of 20 from Lok Sabha and 10 from Rajya Sabha. This makes Option (A) the correct choice. Always remember that in joint committees, the Lok Sabha almost never has fewer members than the Rajya Sabha.

UPSC often uses "Mirror Traps" and "Symmetry Traps" to test your precision. Option (B) is a classic mirror trap, reversing the numbers to catch students who remember the digits but forget the hierarchy of the Houses. Options (C) and (D) are symmetry traps; they suggest equal representation (10:10 or 20:20), which is rare in Indian parliamentary practice for oversight committees. By identifying that the total must be 30 and the ratio must favor the Lok Sabha, you can confidently eliminate the distractors.