Polity notes · Chapter 15 of 19

Committees & State Legislature

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Parliamentary Committees in India

AspectStanding CommitteesAd Hoc Committees
ExistencePermanent, continuousTemporary
Constitutional BasisArticle 105, Article 118Article 105, Article 118
Roles & FunctionsScrutinize bills, budgets, parliamentary oversightScrutinize bills, budgets, parliamentary oversight
AppointmentAppointed/elected by House, nominated by Speaker/ChairmanAppointed/elected by House, nominated by Speaker/Chairman
ReportPresents report to House/SpeakerPresents report to House/Speaker
SecretariatProvided by concerned HouseProvided by concerned House
MembershipDrawn from LS/RSDrawn from LS/RS
TermUsually 1 yearBased on mandate
ExamplesDRSCs, Financial CommitteesJPCs for specific purposes or duration
Recommendati onNot bindingNot binding
Party WhipMeetings held in closed doors, not bound by party whipMeetings held in closed doors, not bound by party whip
Financial CommitteesPurposeMembers (LS + RS)MethodTermChairmanMiscellaneous
Public Accounts CommitteeExamine CAG reports on: appropriation accounts, finance accounts, public undertakings22 (15 + 7)Proportional Representation (PR)1 yearFrom Opposition (convention), Appointed by SpeakerSince 1921 under GoI Act 1919
Estimates CommitteeExamine budget and suggest economies in expenditure30 (30 + 0)Proportional Representation (PR)1 yearFrom Ruling Party, Appointed by SpeakerSince 1950, aka 'continuous economy committee'
Committee on Public UndertakingsExamine reports on PSUs (by CAG and others)22 (15 + 7)Proportional Representation (PR)1 yearFrom Lok Sabha, Appointed by SpeakerSince 1964

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Parliamentary Committees in India
  • Parliament has limited time and expertise, so it is assisted by a number of committees by the rules of the two houses.
  • Mentioned in Constitution → Article 105
  • Membership and tenure → determined by the rules of two houses
Types of Committees
  • Existence — Permanent, continuous — Temporary
  • Constitutional Basis — Article 105, Article 118 — Article 105, Article 118
  • Roles & Functions — Scrutinize bills, budgets, parliamentary oversight — Scrutinize bills, budgets, parliamentary oversight
  • Appointment — Appointed/elected by House, nominated by Speaker/Chairman — Appointed/elected by House, nominated by Speaker/Chairman
  • Report — Presents report to House/Speaker — Presents report to House/Speaker
  • Secretariat — Provided by concerned House — Provided by concerned House
  • Membership — Drawn from LS/RS — Drawn from LS/RS
  • Term — Usually 1 year — Based on mandate
  • Examples — DRSCs, Financial Committees — JPCs for specific purposes or duration
  • Recommendati on — Not binding — Not binding
  • Party Whip — Meetings held in closed doors, not bound by party whip — Meetings held in closed doors, not bound by party whip
Department-Related Standing Committees (DRSCs)
  • 1. Members: 31 (21 from LS and 10 from RS).
  • 2. Selection: Nominated by the Speaker/Chairman.
  • 3. Term: 1 year.
  • 4. Total Number: 24, covering all ministries/departments of the Central Government.
  • 5. Work: Consider bills (not all), demands for grants, long-term policy issues.
Financial Committees in Parliament
  • Public Accounts Committee — Examine CAG reports on: appropriation accounts, finance accounts, public undertakings — 22 (15 + 7) — Proportional Representation (PR) — 1 year — From Opposition (convention), Appointed by Speaker — Since 1921 under GoI Act 1919
  • Estimates Committee — Examine budget and suggest economies in expenditure — 30 (30 + 0) — Proportional Representation (PR) — 1 year — From Ruling Party, Appointed by Speaker — Since 1950, aka 'continuous economy committee'
  • Committee on Public Undertakings — Examine reports on PSUs (by CAG and others) — 22 (15 + 7) — Proportional Representation (PR) — 1 year — From Lok Sabha, Appointed by Speaker — Since 1964

Committees to Inquire

Committees to InquirePurposeLS CommitteeRS Committee
Committee on PetitionsTo examine petitions on bills and matters related to Union subjects15 members10 members
Committee of PrivilegesTo examine breach of privilege of the House and its members15 members10 members
Ethics CommitteeTo enforce code of conduct of MPsSince 2000Since 1997

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Committees to Inquire
  • Committee on Petitions — To examine petitions on bills and matters related to Union subjects — 15 members — 10 members
  • Committee of Privileges — To examine breach of privilege of the House and its members — 15 members — 10 members
  • Ethics Committee — To enforce code of conduct of MPs — Since 2000 — Since 1997
Miscellaneous Committees in Parliament
  • 1. Committee on Government Assurances:
  • – Purpose: Examines the status of promises made by ministers on the floor of the House.
  • – Lok Sabha Committee: 15 members.
  • – Rajya Sabha Committee: 10 members.
  • 2. Committee on Subordinate Legislation:
  • – Purpose: Examines whether the powers to make subordinate legislation are being properly exercised by the Executive.
  • – Lok Sabha Committee: 15 members.
  • – Rajya Sabha Committee: 15 members.
  • 3. Rules Committee:
  • – Purpose: Considers procedure and rules of the House.
  • – Lok Sabha Committee: 15 members, including the Speaker as ex-officio chairman.
  • – Rajya Sabha Committee: 16 members, including the Chairman as ex-officio chairman.
  • 4. Business Advisory Committee:
  • – Purpose: Allocates time for the business of the House.
  • – Lok Sabha Committee: 15 members, including the Speaker as ex-officio chairman.
  • – Rajya Sabha Committee: 11 members, including the Chairman as ex-officio chairman.

State Legislature

Check yourself

State Legislature · Articles 168-212: Part VI of the Constitution
  • 1. Articles 168-212: Part VI of the Constitution
  • – This part deals with the state legislatures.
  • 2. Unicameral and Bicameral Legislatures
  • – Unicameral: States with a single legislative house.
  • – Bicameral: States with two legislative houses. For example, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
  • – Number of States with Bicameral Legislature: 6 states.
  • 3. Legislative Assembly (Vidhan Sabha)
  • – Strength: Minimum 60, Maximum 500 members.
  • – Directly Elected.
  • – Example: Bihar has 243 members.
  • – Reservation of Seats: Reserved for SCs/STs based on population (Article 332).
  • – Example: Bihar has 38 seats for SCs and 2 seats for STs.
State Legislature · Legislative Council (Vidhan Parishad)
  • 4. Legislative Council (Vidhan Parishad)
  • – Permanent Body: Members have staggered terms.
  • – Strength: Minimum 40, Maximum one-third of Legislative Assembly seats.
  • – Example: Bihar has 75 seats in the Legislative Council. → 63 elected + 12 nominated
  • – Composition:
  • – Indirectly Elected.
  • – Election Method:
  • – 1. One third elected by MLAs.
  • – 2. One third elected by local bodies.
  • – 3. One twelfth elected by teachers (3 years standing).
  • – 4. One twelfth elected by graduates (3 years standing, residence in state).
  • – 5. Remaining members (one sixth) are nominated by the Governor for their expertise in fields like art, literature, science, cooperative movement, and social service.
State Legislature · Passing Bills in the State Legislature
  • 5. Passing Bills in the State Legislature
  • – Legislative Assembly: Passes bills, which then go to the Legislative Council.
  • – Legislative Council: Can pass, reject, or amend bills. If amended, the bill goes back to the Assembly.
  • – Governor: Final approval.
  • – Additional Feature: The Governor can reserve the bill for the consideration of the President.

Types of Majorities in Parliamentary voting

Type of MajorityDescriptionExample of Use
Simple MajorityMore than 50% of the members present and voting.→ Passing ordinary bills, Financial bills
→ No-confidence motions
Absolute MajorityMore than 50% of the total membership of the House.→ Required for forming a government (majority of the full strength of the House)
Effective MajorityMore than 50% of the effective strength of the House (excluding vacant seats).→ Removal of Vice President, Deputy Chairman, Speaker, Deputy Speaker
Special MajorityTwo-thirds of the members present and voting→ A. 249 → Rajya Sabha resolution
Special MajorityTwo-thirds of the members present and voting + 50% of total membership→ Used for constitutional amendment bills.
→ To remove SC/HC judges
→ National Emergency
Special Majority (Article 61)Two-thirds of the total membership of the House.→ Impeachment of the President

Check yourself

Types of Majorities in Parliamentary voting
  • Simple Majority — More than 50% of the members present and voting. — → Passing ordinary bills, Financial bills
    → No-confidence motions
  • Absolute Majority — More than 50% of the total membership of the House. — → Required for forming a government (majority of the full strength of the House)
  • Effective Majority — More than 50% of the effective strength of the House (excluding vacant seats). — → Removal of Vice President, Deputy Chairman, Speaker, Deputy Speaker
  • Special Majority — Two-thirds of the members present and voting — → A. 249 → Rajya Sabha resolution
  • Special Majority — Two-thirds of the members present and voting + 50% of total membership — → Used for constitutional amendment bills.
    → To remove SC/HC judges
    → National Emergency
  • Special Majority (Article 61) — Two-thirds of the total membership of the House. — → Impeachment of the President
All 19 chapters of Polity notes
  1. Making of the Constitution1 sections
  2. Preamble3 sections
  3. Union & its Territory2 sections
  4. Citizenship2 sections
  5. Fundamental Rights8 sections
  6. Fundamental Duties3 sections
  7. Directive Principles8 sections
  8. Amendment & Basic Structure4 sections
  9. Parliamentary System1 sections
  10. Federal System3 sections
  11. Judiciary5 sections
  12. Parliament & the President2 sections
  13. Houses, Council of Ministers & PM5 sections
  14. Parliamentary Business6 sections
  15. Committees & State Legislature4 sections
  16. Centre–State Relations1 sections
  17. Inter-State Relations1 sections
  18. Emergency Provisions1 sections
  19. Constitutional & Statutory Bodies2 sections