Parliamentary committees are asked in a narrow set of forms — which committee is the largest, which has no Rajya Sabha members, who chairs the Public Accounts Committee, how many departmental committees there are. The numbers and conventions are stable, which makes this a reliable polity topic. This post covers the financial committees, the departmentally related standing committees, the other key committees, and 15 previous year questions.
Key Points (Quick Revision)
- Estimates Committee — 30 members, all from Lok Sabha; the largest committee
- Public Accounts Committee — 22 members (15 Lok Sabha, 7 Rajya Sabha); examines CAG reports
- By convention since 1967, the PAC chairman comes from the opposition
- Departmentally Related Standing Committees began in 1993; there are 24
- A minister cannot be a member of the financial committees
1. Standing and ad hoc committees
Committees exist because Parliament cannot examine every matter on the floor. They draw their authority from Article 105 on privileges and Article 118 on rules of procedure, rather than from a dedicated article.
| Type | Nature | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Standing committees | Permanent, reconstituted periodically | Public Accounts, Estimates, Public Undertakings, the departmental committees |
| Ad hoc committees | Temporary, created for a specific purpose and dissolved after reporting | Joint Parliamentary Committees, select committees on particular Bills |
The distinction is asked directly, and Joint Parliamentary Committees are the standard example of an ad hoc committee — formed to examine a particular Bill or matter and dissolved once they report.
2. The three financial committees
| Committee | Members | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Public Accounts Committee | 22 — 15 Lok Sabha, 7 Rajya Sabha | Examines the CAG's audit reports on government accounts |
| Estimates Committee | 30 — all Lok Sabha | Examines estimates and suggests economies in expenditure |
| Committee on Public Undertakings | 22 — 15 Lok Sabha, 7 Rajya Sabha | Examines reports and accounts of public sector undertakings |
The Estimates Committee is the largest, and it has no Rajya Sabha members at all — the two facts most often asked about it. The Public Accounts Committee and the Committee on Public Undertakings share the same 22-member structure, which is why papers set them against each other.
The PAC chairman has by convention been drawn from the opposition since 1967, and that convention is asked more than the committee's functions. Keep the CAG link attached too: the CAG is described as a friend, philosopher and guide of the PAC.
No minister may be a member of any of the three financial committees, since their purpose is to scrutinise the executive.
3. Departmentally Related Standing Committees
These are the committees that examine the work of individual ministries, and they changed how Parliament scrutinises the budget.
| Fact | Answer |
|---|---|
| Introduced in | 1993 |
| Number now | 24 |
| Members in each | 31 — 21 from Lok Sabha and 10 from Rajya Sabha |
| Split between Houses | 16 function under Lok Sabha, 8 under Rajya Sabha |
| Ministers | Cannot be members |
The committees examine the demands for grants of the ministries under them, study Bills referred to them, and review annual reports and long-term policy. Their introduction is associated with making departmental scrutiny detailed and continuous rather than limited to floor debate.
The 31-member structure with a 21 and 10 split is the fact asked most often, together with the year 1993. Their number grew from the original set to 24 later, so a question about the current count expects 24.
4. Other committees worth knowing
| Committee | Key fact |
|---|---|
| Business Advisory Committee | Allots time for business; chaired by the Speaker in Lok Sabha |
| Rules Committee | Considers procedure; chaired by the Speaker in Lok Sabha |
| Committee of Privileges | Examines breach of privilege of the House or its members |
| Ethics Committee | Set up in Rajya Sabha in 1997 and in Lok Sabha in 2000 |
| Committee on Petitions | Considers petitions on Bills and matters of public importance |
| Committee on Government Assurances | Checks whether ministerial assurances on the floor are fulfilled |
| Committee on Subordinate Legislation | Examines rules and regulations made by the executive under delegated powers |
| Joint Parliamentary Committee | Ad hoc, drawn from both Houses, for a specific matter or Bill |
The Speaker chairs the Business Advisory Committee and the Rules Committee in Lok Sabha, and that is the chairmanship question papers use. The Ethics Committee came to Rajya Sabha first, in 1997, which is the other reliably asked date.
5. Previous year questions
- Which is the largest parliamentary committee? — Estimates Committee
- How many members does the Estimates Committee have? — 30, all from Lok Sabha
- Which financial committee has no Rajya Sabha members? — Estimates Committee
- How many members does the Public Accounts Committee have? — 22, 15 Lok Sabha and 7 Rajya Sabha
- The Public Accounts Committee examines whose reports? — The CAG's
- By convention, the PAC chairman comes from which side? — The opposition, since 1967
- How many members are in the Committee on Public Undertakings? — 22
- In which year were Departmentally Related Standing Committees introduced? — 1993
- How many Departmentally Related Standing Committees are there? — 24
- How many members are in each departmental committee? — 31, 21 Lok Sabha and 10 Rajya Sabha
- Who chairs the Business Advisory Committee of Lok Sabha? — The Speaker
- The Ethics Committee was first set up in which House? — Rajya Sabha, in 1997
- A Joint Parliamentary Committee is which type of committee? — Ad hoc
- Can a minister be a member of the Public Accounts Committee? — No
- Parliamentary committees draw authority from which articles? — Articles 105 and 118
6. How to revise this topic
Revise by number, because that is the form almost every question takes. 30 for Estimates, 22 for PAC and Public Undertakings, 31 for each departmental committee. Attach to each number whether Rajya Sabha is represented — only Estimates has none.
Then fix the conventions and dates separately: PAC chairman from the opposition since 1967, departmental committees since 1993, Ethics Committee in Rajya Sabha in 1997, and the Speaker chairing the Business Advisory and Rules Committees. Those answer most of what is asked beyond the numbers.
7. Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the largest parliamentary committee?
The Estimates Committee, with 30 members, all drawn from Lok Sabha. It is also the only financial committee with no Rajya Sabha representation.
Who chairs the Public Accounts Committee?
A member appointed by the Speaker. By convention since 1967 the chairman has been drawn from the opposition, reflecting the committee's role in scrutinising government spending.
What is the difference between the PAC and the Estimates Committee?
The PAC examines accounts after money is spent, working from the CAG's reports, and has 22 members from both Houses. The Estimates Committee examines estimates and suggests economies, and has 30 members from Lok Sabha only.
How many Departmentally Related Standing Committees are there?
Twenty-four, introduced in 1993. Each has 31 members, 21 from Lok Sabha and 10 from Rajya Sabha, with 16 functioning under Lok Sabha and 8 under Rajya Sabha.
What is a Joint Parliamentary Committee?
An ad hoc committee drawn from both Houses to examine a specific Bill or matter. It is dissolved once it submits its report, unlike the standing committees.
For more Polity topics in simple language, see our Parliament of India and CAG of India posts, or browse the Polity section. Preparing for a specific exam? Start with the UPSC Civil Services guide or join the 100 Hour GS Course.