Consider the following statements on Parliamentary Committees 1. Members of the Rajya Sabha are not associated with the Committees on Public Accounts and Public Undertakings. 2. Members of the Committee on Estimates are drawn from both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

1. Parliamentary Control over the Executive (basic)

In a democracy, the power to govern must always be balanced by the duty to explain. India follows the Parliamentary System of government, often called the Westminster model. Unlike the Presidential system (like in the USA) where the Executive and Legislature are strictly independent, the Indian system is built on the principle of fusion of powers and Executive accountability. This means the Executive (the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers) is not a separate entity hovering above the law; rather, it is a part of the Parliament and must answer to it for every policy and action Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth, Parliamentary System, p.131.

The bedrock of this control is the principle of Collective Responsibility, enshrined in Article 75 of the Constitution. It states that the Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha (the House of the People). If the House loses confidence in the government, the entire ministry must resign, including those ministers who belong to the Rajya Sabha Introduction to the Constitution of India, D. D. Basu, The Union Executive, p.227. This ensures that the government remains in power only as long as it enjoys the support of the people's elected representatives.

Feature	Parliamentary System (India)	Presidential System (USA)
Relationship	Executive is a part of the Legislature.	Executive is independent of the Legislature.
Accountability	Executive is responsible to the Legislature.	Executive is not responsible to the Legislature.

Parliamentary control is exercised through various tools like Question Hour, debates on the budget, and various motions. However, because the Parliament is a large body with limited time, it cannot scrutinize every minute detail of the administration. This is where Parliamentary Committees come in—they act as the "eyes and ears" of the Parliament, performing detailed checks on government spending and policy implementation. Without this constant vigilance, the Executive could easily turn into an authoritarian body Exploring Society: India and Beyond, NCERT Class VIII, The Parliamentary System, p.152.

Sources: Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth, Parliamentary System, p.131; Introduction to the Constitution of India, D. D. Basu, The Union Executive, p.227; Exploring Society: India and Beyond, NCERT Class VIII, The Parliamentary System: Legislature and Executive, p.152

2. Classification of Parliamentary Committees (basic)

To understand how the Indian Parliament functions, we must first look at its 'mini-legislatures' — the committees. However, not every group of Members of Parliament (MPs) qualifies as a Parliamentary Committee. To earn this title, a committee must satisfy four specific conditions: it must be appointed/elected by the House or nominated by the Presiding Officer (Speaker/Chairman); it must work under their direction; it must present its report to the House or the Presiding Officer; and it must have a secretariat provided by the Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth, Chapter 24, p.270. This is why Consultative Committees, while consisting of MPs, are technically not parliamentary committees as they do not meet these formal criteria. Broadly, these committees are classified into two functional categories based on their nature and duration:

Feature	Standing Committees	Ad Hoc Committees
Nature	Permanent and regular.	Temporary and task-specific.
Tenure	Constituted every year or periodically; work on a continuous basis.	Cease to exist once the assigned task is completed and the report is submitted.
Examples	Financial Committees, Departmentally Related Standing Committees (DRSCs).	Inquiry Committees (e.g., on a specific scam) or Advisory Committees (e.g., on a specific Bill).

Since 1983, the system of Departmentally Related Standing Committees (DRSCs) has become the backbone of parliamentary oversight, with over twenty such committees supervising the budgets and bills of various ministries Indian Constitution at Work, NCERT Class XI, Chapter 5, p.118. On the other hand, Ad Hoc Committees are divided into two sub-types: Inquiry Committees (constituted to investigate specific subjects like the conduct of a member) and Advisory Committees (appointed to consider and report on particular Bills) Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth, Chapter 24, p.271.

Sources: Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth, Chapter 24: Parliamentary Committees, p.270; Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth, Chapter 24: Parliamentary Committees, p.271; Indian Constitution at Work, NCERT Class XI, Chapter 5: Legislature, p.118

3. Election Process and Membership Rules (intermediate)

To understand how Parliamentary Committees function, we must first look at how they are constituted. In a parliamentary democracy like India, the executive is accountable to the legislature. Therefore, the membership rules of these committees are designed to ensure that the legislature can effectively scrutinize the government's work without conflict of interest. One of the most fundamental rules across almost all specialized committees (like the Financial and Departmental Standing Committees) is that a Minister cannot be elected or nominated as a member. This ensures that the 'scrutinizer' is not the same person as the 'scrutinized'. If a member is appointed as a minister after joining a committee, they must vacate their seat immediately Laxmikanth, M. Indian Polity, Parliamentary Committees, p.274.

How are these members chosen? It depends on the committee type. For the powerful Financial Committees (Public Accounts, Estimates, and Public Undertakings), members are elected by the House using the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote (STV). This system is crucial because it ensures that even smaller opposition parties get a seat at the table in proportion to their strength in the House, preventing the ruling party from monopolizing these oversight bodies Laxmikanth, M. Indian Polity, Parliament, p.225. In contrast, for Departmentally Related Standing Committees (DRSCs), members are usually nominated by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha or the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha from among their respective members Laxmikanth, M. Indian Polity, Parliamentary Committees, p.274.

One of the most frequent points of confusion for students is the inter-house composition. While most committees draw members from both Houses, the Estimates Committee is a unique exception as its 30 members come exclusively from the Lok Sabha. The Rajya Sabha has no representation here because the Lok Sabha has the 'power of the purse' regarding financial estimates. For most other committees, like the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) or the Committee on Public Undertakings (COPU), the ratio is typically 2:1 between the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha (e.g., 15 from LS and 7 from RS).

Committee Category	Selection Method	Ministerial Eligibility
Financial Committees	Elected (Proportional Representation/STV)	Strictly Ineligible
DRSCs	Nominated by Speaker/Chairman	Strictly Ineligible
Consultative Committees	Constituted by Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs	Eligible (Minister acts as Chairman)

Sources: Laxmikanth, M. Indian Polity, Parliamentary Committees, p.274; Laxmikanth, M. Indian Polity, Parliament, p.225; Laxmikanth, M. Indian Polity, Parliamentary Committees, p.279

4. Departmentally Related Standing Committees (DRSCs) (intermediate)

Imagine the Indian Parliament as a massive organization. With over 50 ministries and thousands of crores in spending, it is impossible for the entire House to scrutinize every detail during a session. This is why we have Departmentally Related Standing Committees (DRSCs). Often called 'mini-Parliaments,' these committees act as specialized watchdogs. While the system began evolving in 1983, it was formally expanded in 1993 with 17 committees, later increased to 24 committees in 2004 to cover every single ministry and department of the Central Government Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth (7th ed.), Chapter 24, p. 274.

The primary philosophy behind DRSCs is Executive Accountability. They ensure that the Council of Ministers is answerable to the Parliament, specifically regarding financial spending and policy implementation. Each committee consists of 31 members: 21 from the Lok Sabha (nominated by the Speaker) and 10 from the Rajya Sabha (nominated by the Chairman). A critical rule for maintaining the independence of these committees is that a Minister cannot be a member. If a member is appointed as a Minister, they must immediately vacate their seat in the committee Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth (7th ed.), Chapter 24, p. 274.

The 24 committees are divided by administrative jurisdiction between the two Houses as shown below:

Feature	Committees under Lok Sabha	Committees under Rajya Sabha
Number of Committees	16	8
Membership per Committee	31 (21 LS + 10 RS)	31 (21 LS + 10 RS)

The functions of these committees are vital for quality governance. They examine Demands for Grants (the budget requests of ministries), scrutinize Bills referred to them, and review the Annual Reports of departments Indian Constitution at Work, NCERT Class XI, p. 118. Because these meetings happen behind closed doors and away from party whips, the discussions are usually technical and non-partisan, focusing on the merit of the policy rather than political posturing Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth (7th ed.), Chapter 24, p. 276.

Sources: Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth (7th ed.), Chapter 24: Parliamentary Committees, p.274; Indian Constitution at Work, Political Science Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.), Chapter 5: Legislature, p.118; Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth (7th ed.), Chapter 24: Parliamentary Committees, p.276

5. The Speaker's Role in Committee Management (intermediate)

In the functional architecture of the Indian Parliament, the Speaker of the Lok Sabha acts as the ultimate supervisor and coordinator of the committee system. For a body to be formally recognized as a Parliamentary Committee, it must fulfill four essential criteria, three of which directly involve the presiding officer. Specifically, the committee must be appointed/elected by the House or nominated by the Speaker, it must work under the Speaker’s direction, and it must present its findings directly to the House or the Speaker Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.), Chapter 24: Parliamentary Committees, p.270. Without this administrative and procedural link to the Speaker, a group of MPs (like a Consultative Committee) remains an informal body rather than a formal Parliamentary Committee.

The Speaker’s management role is both administrative and participatory. Administratively, the Speaker appoints the chairmen of all parliamentary committees of the Lok Sabha and supervises their functioning. If the Deputy Speaker is a member of a committee, they are usually appointed its chairman. Participatively, the Speaker serves as the ex-officio Chairman of three crucial committees that govern the internal mechanics of the House: the Business Advisory Committee, the Rules Committee, and the General Purposes Committee Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.), Chapter 24: Parliamentary Committees, p.279.

Beyond individual committees, the Speaker ensures that these bodies have the necessary technical support through the Lok Sabha Secretariat. This ensures that the committees—often called "Mini-Parliaments"—have the expert staff required to scrutinize complex legislations or financial documents. This relationship ensures that the committees remain accountable to the House through its presiding officer.

Role Type	Description	Examples
Ex-Officio Chairman	The Speaker automatically heads these by virtue of their office.	Rules Committee, Business Advisory Committee.
Appointing Authority	The Speaker selects the person who will lead the committee.	Public Accounts Committee, Estimates Committee.
Directional Authority	Committees must follow the procedural instructions of the Speaker.	All Parliamentary Committees.

Sources: Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.), Chapter 24: Parliamentary Committees, p.270; Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.), Chapter 24: Parliamentary Committees, p.279

6. Public Accounts (PAC) and Public Undertakings (COPU) Committees (exam-level)

In our journey through parliamentary oversight, we now encounter the two heavyweight Financial Committees that act as the eyes and ears of Parliament regarding how public money is spent. While the Estimates Committee focuses on the 'before' (budgetary efficiency), the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) and the Committee on Public Undertakings (COPU) are essentially the 'post-mortem' experts. They ensure that every rupee spent was authorized by law and used for its intended purpose.

The Public Accounts Committee is the oldest financial committee in India, established in 1921 under the Government of India Act of 1919 Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth (7th ed.), Chapter 24, p. 270. Its primary role is to examine the audit reports of the Comptroller and Auditor-General (CAG). Since 1954, it has functioned as a joint committee of both Houses. It consists of 22 members: 15 from the Lok Sabha and 7 from the Rajya Sabha. While it was once headed by a member of the ruling party, a strong convention has existed since 1967 where the Chairman is selected from the Opposition to ensure impartial scrutiny Introduction to the Constitution of India, D. D. Basu (26th ed.), The Union Legislature, p. 260.

The Committee on Public Undertakings (COPU) was a later addition, created in 1964 on the recommendation of the Krishna Menon Committee Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth (7th ed.), Chapter 24, p. 273. Its job is to monitor the performance of Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) like LIC, Air India (historically), and others. Like the PAC, it also has 22 members (15 from Lok Sabha and 7 from Rajya Sabha). A critical rule for both committees is that no Minister can be elected as a member; if a member becomes a Minister, they must vacate their seat on the committee immediately.

Feature	Public Accounts Committee (PAC)	Committee on Public Undertakings (COPU)
Total Members	22 (15 LS + 7 RS)	22 (15 LS + 7 RS)
Chairman	Appointed by Speaker (By convention, from Opposition)	Appointed by Speaker (Exclusively from Lok Sabha members)
Primary Focus	CAG Audit Reports & Appropriation Accounts	PSU Accounts & Efficiency Reports

Sources: Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth (7th ed.), Chapter 24: Parliamentary Committees, p.270-273; Introduction to the Constitution of India, D. D. Basu (26th ed.), The Union Legislature, p.260

7. The Estimates Committee: Composition and Rationale (exam-level)

The Estimates Committee is often described as the 'Continuous Economy Committee' of the Indian Parliament. To understand its significance, we must look at its purpose: it acts as a watchdog over the government's spending plans before they are fully executed. While its origins trace back to the British era in 1921, the committee as we know it today was established in 1950 on the recommendation of John Mathai, India's then Finance Minister Indian Polity, Parliamentary Committees, p.273.

The most striking feature of the Estimates Committee—and a favorite point for UPSC examiners—is its composition. Unlike the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) or the Committee on Public Undertakings (COPU), which are joint committees, the Estimates Committee consists exclusively of members from the Lok Sabha. This reflects the constitutional principle that the Lower House holds the 'power of the purse,' as it is the Lok Sabha that votes on the demands for grants. At its inception, it had 25 members, but this was increased to 30 members in 1956 Laxmikanth, M. Indian Polity, Parliamentary Committees, p.273.

The rationale behind this committee is to ensure efficiency and economy in administration. Its primary mandate is to examine the estimates included in the budget and suggest improvements in organization or administrative reforms that are consistent with the policy underlying the estimates. By suggesting alternative policies to bring about efficiency, it ensures the taxpayer gets the best 'value for money' Indian Polity, Parliamentary Committees, p.273.

Feature	Estimates Committee	PAC / COPU
Total Strength	30 Members	22 Members
House Representation	Lok Sabha only	Both Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha
Ministerial Membership	A Minister cannot be elected	A Minister cannot be elected

Sources: Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.), Parliamentary Committees, p.273; Laxmikanth, M. Indian Polity. 7th ed., McGraw Hill., Parliamentary Committees, p.273

8. Solving the Original PYQ (exam-level)

Now that you have mastered the individual functions of the three Financial Committees, this question tests your ability to integrate those details into a comparative framework. The core building blocks required here are the specific membership compositions of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), the Committee on Public Undertakings (COPU), and the Estimates Committee. As we discussed in our conceptual sessions, while these committees share the goal of executive oversight, their representation of the Houses varies significantly based on their historical origins and the Lok Sabha's primary role in financial matters.

To solve this, let us walk through the reasoning: Statement 1 suggests Rajya Sabha members have no role in the PAC or COPU, but your foundational knowledge should trigger the number 22 (15 from Lok Sabha and 7 from Rajya Sabha). Since both these committees are joint in nature, the statement is false. Next, evaluate Statement 2 regarding the Estimates Committee. This is where most students stumble, but remember the "Budget link"—because the Lok Sabha has the final say on the Budget, the 30-member Estimates Committee is exclusively drawn from the Lower House. This makes Statement 2 false as well. Consequently, the correct answer is (D) Neither 1 nor 2.

UPSC frequently uses the "Composition Swap" trap, as seen here. They take the unique attribute of the Estimates Committee (being Lok Sabha only) and apply it to the PAC, or vice versa. As highlighted in Indian Polity by M. Laxmikanth, the absence of Rajya Sabha members in the Estimates Committee is a constitutional nuance you must always look for. When you see absolute phrases like "not associated" or "drawn from both," stop and verify if the examiner is testing these specific exceptions to the rule of joint representation.