Which one of the following statements regarding the Departmental Committee of the Parliament of India on the empowerment of women is correct?

1. Basics of Parliamentary Committees (basic)

In a vibrant democracy like India, the Parliament is often called the 'Microcosm of the Nation.' However, with hundreds of members and a massive legislative workload, the Parliament lacks the time and technical expertise to scrutinize every bill, budget, or policy in detail on the floor of the House. To solve this, the Parliament delegates its work to smaller, specialized groups known as Parliamentary Committees. Think of these as the 'engine room' of the legislature where the real, detailed work happens behind the scenes.

To be officially recognized as a 'Parliamentary Committee,' a body must satisfy four specific criteria: 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 its secretariat provided by the Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha. Broadly, these committees are classified into two types based on their duration and nature of work Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.), Chapter 24, p.270:

Feature	Standing Committees	Ad Hoc Committees
Nature	Permanent and continuous.	Temporary and task-specific.
Constitution	Constituted every year or periodically.	Constituted as the need arises.
Existence	They exist perpetually regardless of the task.	They cease to exist once the assigned task is completed.

Ad Hoc Committees are further divided into two categories: Inquiry Committees (formed to investigate specific issues like conduct of members) and Advisory Committees (formed to consider and report on specific bills) Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.), Chapter 24, p.271. By using these committees, the Parliament ensures Executive accountability, as these small groups can summon officials and examine records much more effectively than a full house of 500+ members.

Sources: Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.), Chapter 24: Parliamentary Committees, p.270; Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.), Chapter 24: Parliamentary Committees, p.271

2. General Composition and Selection Rules (basic)

To understand how Parliamentary Committees function, we must first look at what qualifies a group of MPs as a 'Parliamentary Committee' and how they are brought together. According to Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth, Chapter 24, p. 270, a committee must meet four specific criteria: it must be appointed/elected by the House or nominated by the Presiding Officer, work under their direction, present its report to the House, and be supported by a Secretariat from the Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha. This distinguishes them from 'Consultative Committees,' which are informal and do not have the same constitutional or procedural weight.
The selection of members typically follows two paths: Nomination by the Speaker (Lok Sabha) or Chairman (Rajya Sabha), or Election by the members of the House. For elected committees, such as the Public Accounts Committee, the method used is Proportional Representation by means of the Single Transferable Vote (STV). This ensures that every political party, even smaller ones, gets a seat at the table in proportion to their strength in Parliament Introduction to the Constitution of India, D. D. Basu, Chapter 18, p. 244. Joint committees usually maintain a 2:1 ratio between the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. For instance, the Committee on Empowerment of Women consists of 30 members—20 from the Lok Sabha and 10 from the Rajya Sabha Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth, Chapter 24, p. 278.
A fundamental rule across these committees is the exclusion of Ministers. Since the primary role of these committees is to ensure Legislative oversight over the Executive, a Minister (who is a part of the Executive) cannot be a member. If an existing committee member is appointed as a Minister, they must immediately vacate their seat in the committee Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth, Chapter 24, p. 272. Most committees have a tenure of one year, ensuring that fresh perspectives are brought in annually while maintaining continuous scrutiny of government activities.

Feature	Standard Rule
Selection Method	Election (Proportional Representation) or Nomination
Ministerial Eligibility	Strictly Not Eligible
Term of Office	Usually 1 Year
Joint Committee Ratio	Typically 2 (LS) : 1 (RS)

Sources: Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.), Chapter 24: Parliamentary Committees, p.270, 272, 278; Introduction to the Constitution of India, D. D. Basu (26th ed.), Chapter 18: The Union Legislature, p.244

3. The Principle of Executive Oversight (intermediate)

At the heart of a Parliamentary Democracy lies the principle of Executive Responsibility. Unlike a Presidential system where the executive and legislature are strictly separate, in India, the executive (the Council of Ministers) is a subset of the legislature. As noted in Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.), Parliamentary System, p.133, ministers have double membership—they are part of both the executive and the legislature. This overlap creates a unique challenge: How can the Parliament effectively monitor a government that is technically part of itself? This is where the principle of Executive Oversight comes in.

Executive oversight is the process by which the legislature ensures that the government remains accountable, transparent, and efficient in its operations. This control happens in two distinct stages: budgetary control (scrutinizing demands for grants before they are passed) and post-budgetary control (examining how the money was actually spent through financial committees) Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.), Parliament, p.257. Because the full Parliament is too large and lacks the time for detailed technical investigations, it delegates this oversight to Parliamentary Committees. These committees act as the 'watchdogs' of the taxpayer’s money and the defenders of public interest.

A critical rule to ensure the integrity of this oversight is the exclusion of Ministers from these committees. For instance, a Minister is not eligible to be nominated as a member of any Department-Related Standing Committee (DRSC) or Financial Committee Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.), Parliamentary Committees, p.274. The logic is simple but profound: the person being overseen cannot be the one doing the overseeing. If a Minister were allowed to sit on these committees, it would create a massive conflict of interest, effectively allowing the executive to 'grade its own homework' and undermining the very purpose of legislative scrutiny.

Sources: Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.), Parliamentary System, p.133; Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.), Parliament, p.257; Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.), Parliamentary Committees, p.274

4. Financial Committees: PAC and Estimates (intermediate)

In the vast mechanism of the Indian Parliament, the control over the "power of the purse" is perhaps its most significant duty. However, because the full House is too large and lacks the specialized time to scrutinize every rupee spent, it delegates this task to Financial Committees. Think of these committees as the specialized audit and efficiency wings of our democracy.

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) is the oldest and most prestigious. Established in 1921, it currently consists of 22 members (15 from Lok Sabha and 7 from Rajya Sabha). Its primary role is to act as a "post-mortem" examiner. It takes the reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) and investigates whether the money granted by Parliament was spent legally and wisely Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth, Parliamentary Committees, p.272. By convention, since 1967, its Chairman is always appointed from the Opposition to ensure impartial scrutiny of the government's spending.

On the other hand, the Estimates Committee is often called the 'Continuous Economy Committee'. Unlike the PAC, it is the largest committee with 30 members, and notably, all of them are from the Lok Sabha only. Why? Because the Lok Sabha has the final say over the budget (money bills), so the Rajya Sabha is excluded from this specific committee Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth, Parliamentary Committees, p.273. Its job is to look at the budget estimates and suggest "economies," improvements in organization, or administrative reforms to ensure the government is getting the best value for money.

Feature	Public Accounts Committee (PAC)	Estimates Committee
Strength	22 (15 LS + 7 RS)	30 (All Lok Sabha)
Nature of Work	Examines past expenditure (Post-mortem)	Suggests efficiency in current estimates
Key Partner	CAG (Friend, Philosopher, Guide)	Works independently of CAG reports

A common rule for both is that a Minister cannot be elected to these committees. This ensures that the executive does not sit in judgment of its own financial conduct. Members are elected for a term of one year using the principle of proportional representation by means of a single transferable vote, ensuring all political parties get fair representation Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth, Parliamentary Committees, p.270.

Sources: Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth, Parliamentary Committees, p.270; Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth, Parliamentary Committees, p.272; Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth, Parliamentary Committees, p.273

5. Department-Related Standing Committees (DRSCs) (intermediate)

In the vast landscape of the Indian Parliament, the Department-Related Standing Committees (DRSCs) serve as the specialized 'mini-parliaments' that do the heavy lifting of legislative oversight. While the full House often lacks the time for technical scrutiny, these committees ensure that every ministry is held accountable. Originally, 17 such committees were established in 1993, but to broaden the scope of oversight, their number was increased to 24 in 2004 Laxmikanth, M. Indian Polity. 7th ed., Chapter 24, p. 274. Today, these 24 committees cover the entire spectrum of the Central Government’s ministries and departments.

The composition of these committees is designed to ensure a balanced representation of both Houses. Each DRSC consists of 31 members: 21 are nominated from the Lok Sabha by the Speaker, and 10 are nominated from the Rajya Sabha by the Chairman Laxmikanth, M. Indian Polity. 7th ed., Chapter 24, p. 274. A critical rule to remember—which applies to most parliamentary oversight committees—is that a Minister cannot be a member of these committees. If a member is appointed as a Minister after joining a committee, they must vacate their seat. This ensures that the executive (the government) does not influence the body meant to scrutinize it.

The core functions of DRSCs are pivotal to the functioning of our democracy, particularly during the Budget session. After the general discussion on the budget, the Houses adjourn for a few weeks. During this 'recess,' the DRSCs examine the Demands for Grants of the respective ministries and prepare detailed reports Vivek Singh, Indian Economy. 7th ed., Government Budgeting, p. 148. Beyond the budget, they also:

• Examine Bills referred to them by the Speaker or Chairman.
• Consider Annual Reports of the ministries.
• Review long-term policy documents presented to the House.

Of the 24 committees, 8 work under the Rajya Sabha and 16 work under the Lok Sabha Laxmikanth, M. Indian Polity. 7th ed., Chapter 24, p. 275. Their term of office is strictly one year, meaning they are reconstituted annually to maintain fresh perspective and continuity in oversight.

Sources: Laxmikanth, M. Indian Polity. 7th ed., Chapter 24: Parliamentary Committees, p.274-275; Vivek Singh, Indian Economy. 7th ed., Government Budgeting, p.148

6. Committees for Vulnerable Sections (exam-level)

In our parliamentary system, specialized oversight is essential to ensure that the executive is effectively serving the most vulnerable parts of society. To achieve this, Parliament has established specific Standing Committees dedicated to the welfare of Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), and Women. These committees act as the "watchdogs" of social justice, ensuring that constitutional and statutory safeguards are not just words on paper but are implemented on the ground Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.), Chapter 24, p.270.

The Committee on Empowerment of Women, constituted in 1997, is a prime example of such a body. It is a Joint Committee consisting of 30 members—20 from the Lok Sabha and 10 from the Rajya Sabha Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.), Chapter 24, p.278. Its mandate is broad and vital: it examines the measures taken by the Union Government to secure status, dignity, and equality for women in all fields. A critical part of its job is to consider the reports of the National Commission for Women (NCW), which is a statutory body established under the NCW Act of 1990 to advise the government on policy matters affecting women Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.), Chapter 24, p.480.

Similarly, the Committee on the Welfare of SCs and STs also consists of 30 members (20 LS and 10 RS). It monitors the implementation of reservation policies in services and posts and reviews the reports of the National Commission for SCs and the National Commission for STs. Across both these committees, two functional rules are strictly followed to maintain their integrity:

• No Minister as Member: A Minister is not eligible for election or nomination to these committees. If a member is appointed as a Minister, they must vacate their seat on the committee. This ensures the legislature can independently audit the executive without conflict of interest.
• Term of Office: The term of the members does not exceed one year, necessitating regular rotations and fresh perspectives Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.), Chapter 24, p.272.

Feature	Committee on Empowerment of Women	Committee on Welfare of SCs & STs
Strength	30 (20 LS + 10 RS)	30 (20 LS + 10 RS)
Key Document	NCW Reports	NCSC & NCST Reports
Ministerial Entry	Strictly Prohibited	Strictly Prohibited

Sources: Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.), Chapter 24: Parliamentary Committees, p.270, 272, 278; Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.), National Commission for Women, p.480

7. Deep Dive: Committee on Empowerment of Women (exam-level)

The Committee on Empowerment of Women was established in 1997 to provide a dedicated parliamentary forum for monitoring the status of women in India. Before its creation, issues related to gender equality were often dealt with sporadically; this committee ensures a systematic legislative oversight of the Executive's actions regarding women's welfare and rights M. Laxmikanth, Parliamentary Committees, p. 278.

In terms of structure, this is a Joint Parliamentary Committee. It consists of 30 members, with a composition of 20 from the Lok Sabha and 10 from the Rajya Sabha. To maintain the independence of the committee and ensure it can effectively scrutinize the government, a Minister is not eligible to be a member. If an existing member is appointed as a Minister, they must vacate their seat on the committee immediately M. Laxmikanth, Parliamentary Committees, p. 274.

The committee's mandate is broad and vital. Its primary functions include:

• Considering the reports submitted by the National Commission for Women (NCW).
• Examining the measures taken by the Union Government to secure status, dignity, and equality for women in all fields.
• Reviewing the working of various welfare programs aimed at women's upliftment.

This oversight ensures that the statutory protections and constitutional promises made to women do not remain mere paper tigers M. Laxmikanth, National Commission for Women, p. 480.

Sources: M. Laxmikanth, Indian Polity (7th ed.), Chapter 24: Parliamentary Committees, p.278; M. Laxmikanth, Indian Polity (7th ed.), Chapter 24: Parliamentary Committees, p.274; M. Laxmikanth, Indian Polity (7th ed.), Chapter 50: National Commission for Women, p.480

8. Solving the Original PYQ (exam-level)

Now that you have mastered the foundational structure of Parliamentary Committees, this question serves as a perfect application of those "building blocks." To solve this, you must synthesize three core principles: the composition of joint committees, the separation of powers (legislative oversight), and the functional mandate of specific bodies. As you learned in Indian Polity by M. Laxmikanth, committees are the eyes and ears of Parliament; understanding why they exist helps you deduce their characteristics even if you forget specific numbers.

Let’s walk through the reasoning to eliminate the distractors. Option (A) is a classic UPSC trap; while some committees are house-specific, the Committee on Empowerment of Women is a Joint Committee consisting of 30 members (20 from Lok Sabha and 10 from Rajya Sabha) to ensure representation from the entire Parliament. Option (B) fails on the principle of accountability—a Minister cannot be a member because the committee’s job is to scrutinize the executive's work; you cannot audit yourself! Furthermore, as noted in the general rules for standing committees, the term of office is typically one year, making Option (C) factually incorrect.

This leaves us with (D) It reports on the working of welfare programmes for the women as the correct answer. This aligns with the committee's primary mandate to examine measures taken by the Union Government to secure status, dignity, and equality for women. By focusing on the functional purpose of the committee—which is to oversee the execution of gender-related policies—you can confidently identify (D) as the only statement that correctly describes its constitutional and administrative role.