Anand Classes presents well-structured Types of Parliamentary Committees Polity Notes for NDA, including detailed theory, important FAQs, and exam-focused MCQs. These notes explain the classification of committees into Standing Committees and Ad-hoc Committees, their functions, and their role in parliamentary accountability. Designed in a simple and exam-oriented format, these notes will help aspirants strengthen their NDA GAT preparation. Click the print button to download study material and notes.
Parliamentary Committees – NDA Notes
Parliamentary Committees are small groups of Members of Parliament (MPs) formed to perform specific functions of Parliament in detail. They are essential because Parliament cannot devote enough time to every matter in full House sittings.
- Definition: A Parliamentary Committee is a committee appointed or elected by the House or nominated by the Speaker/Chairman.
- Nature: These committees work under the direction of the Speaker (Lok Sabha) or Chairman (Rajya Sabha) and present their reports to the House.
- Purpose: They help in scrutinising bills, examining budgets, investigating issues, and holding the government accountable.
Types of Parliamentary Committees
Parliamentary Committees are broadly divided into two categories:
1. Standing Committees
- These are permanent committees of Parliament.
- They are reconstituted from time to time.
- Examples:
- Public Accounts Committee (PAC): Examines CAG reports on government expenditure.
- Estimates Committee: Examines budget estimates and suggests improvements.
- Committee on Public Undertakings (COPU): Evaluates the performance of public enterprises.
- Department-related Standing Committees (DRSCs): Examine bills, budgets, and policies of ministries.
2. Ad Hoc Committees
- These are temporary committees formed for a specific purpose.
- They cease to exist after submitting their report.
- Examples:
- Select Committees on specific Bills.
- Joint Parliamentary Committees (JPCs) on major national issues (e.g., 2G scam, stock market scam).
Importance of Parliamentary Committees
- Detailed Work: Committees can examine matters in depth, which is not possible in full Parliament sittings.
- Expert Opinion: MPs develop expertise in specialized areas like finance, defense, and external affairs.
- Checks & Balances: They ensure executive accountability by examining government spending and policies.
- Time-Saving: They handle technical and lengthy discussions, saving Parliament’s time.
NDA FAQs on Parliamentary Committees for SSB Preparation
❓Why are Parliamentary Committees necessary?
Parliamentary Committees are essential because the Parliament alone cannot study every issue in detail. Committees ensure effective scrutiny, expert examination, and accountability of the government.
👉 This is an important concept for UPSC NDA polity notes preparation, often included in UPSC NDA study material pdf and Anand Classes UPSC NDA notes download.
❓What is the difference between Standing and Ad Hoc Committees?
- Standing Committees: Permanent in nature, regularly reconstituted (e.g., PAC, Estimates Committee).
- Ad Hoc Committees: Temporary, formed for a specific purpose and dissolved after submitting the report (e.g., JPCs).
👉 This distinction is very important in NDA polity exam practice and covered in UPSC NDA notes download.
❓Which are the three main Financial Standing Committees of Parliament?
- Public Accounts Committee (PAC)
- Estimates Committee
- Committee on Public Undertakings (COPU)
👉 These three are repeatedly asked in UPSC NDA polity MCQs, so revision from UPSC NDA study material pdf is recommended.
❓What is a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC)?
A JPC is an Ad Hoc Committee formed by Parliament to investigate specific national issues, often involving financial scandals or public concerns. Examples: 2G Scam JPC, Harshad Mehta Scam JPC.
👉 A high-weightage factual topic in UPSC NDA polity preparation, included in Anand Classes NDA notes download.
❓Who appoints Parliamentary Committees?
- Committees are either elected by members of the House or nominated by the Speaker (Lok Sabha) or Chairman (Rajya Sabha).
👉 This procedural detail is a scoring area in NDA polity exam questions, found in UPSC NDA study material pdf.
MCQs for NDA Exam Practice – Parliamentary Committees
Q1. Which of the following is a Standing Committee of Parliament?
A) Joint Parliamentary Committee on 2G Scam
B) Estimates Committee
C) Select Committee on a Bill
D) Committee on a Specific Inquiry
Answer: B) Estimates Committee
Explanation: Standing Committees are permanent in nature and are reconstituted periodically. The Estimates Committee is one of the three major financial Standing Committees. The others are the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) and the Committee on Public Undertakings (COPU).
👉 This fact is often asked in UPSC NDA polity notes preparation, covered in UPSC NDA study material pdf.
Q2. Which Parliamentary Committee examines the reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India?
A) Public Accounts Committee
B) Estimates Committee
C) Committee on Public Undertakings
D) Department-related Standing Committee
Answer: A) Public Accounts Committee
Explanation: The PAC scrutinizes the government’s expenditure to ensure that it is spent according to Parliament’s approval and examines the reports of the CAG.
👉 A very high-probability question in UPSC NDA polity preparation, included in Anand Classes NDA notes download.
Q3. Which of the following is an Ad Hoc Committee of Parliament?
A) Estimates Committee
B) Public Accounts Committee
C) Select Committee on a Bill
D) Committee on Public Undertakings
Answer: C) Select Committee on a Bill
Explanation: Ad Hoc Committees are temporary and cease to exist after completing their task. A Select Committee on a Bill is formed to examine a specific piece of legislation and is dissolved after submitting its report.
👉 This distinction between Standing and Ad Hoc Committees is often tested in UPSC NDA polity MCQs.
Q4. Who appoints the members of Parliamentary Committees?
A) President of India
B) Prime Minister of India
C) Speaker of Lok Sabha / Chairman of Rajya Sabha
D) Chief Justice of India
Answer: C) Speaker of Lok Sabha / Chairman of Rajya Sabha
Explanation: Parliamentary Committees are either elected by members of the House or nominated by the presiding officer (Speaker in Lok Sabha, Chairman in Rajya Sabha).
👉 Important procedural question for NDA polity exam, covered in UPSC NDA study material pdf.
Q5. Which of the following statements is correct regarding the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC)?
A) It is a permanent committee.
B) It is an Ad Hoc Committee.
C) It deals with financial estimates.
D) It is headed by the President.
Answer: B) It is an Ad Hoc Committee.
Explanation: A JPC is an Ad Hoc Committee, formed to investigate specific issues of national importance (e.g., stock market scam, 2G spectrum scam). It ceases to exist after submitting its report.
👉 Direct factual question frequently asked in UPSC NDA polity exam preparation.
Q6. Which is the largest Parliamentary Committee in terms of membership?
A) Public Accounts Committee
B) Estimates Committee
C) Committee on Public Undertakings
D) Department-related Standing Committee
Answer: B) Estimates Committee
Explanation: The Estimates Committee has 30 members, all from Lok Sabha. It examines budget estimates and suggests improvements. This makes it the largest Parliamentary Committee.
👉 Commonly repeated in UPSC NDA polity notes preparation, found in UPSC NDA study material pdf.
Q7. The main function of the Committee on Public Undertakings (COPU) is:
A) To examine taxation proposals.
B) To evaluate the functioning of public enterprises.
C) To scrutinize demands for grants.
D) To check violation of fundamental rights.
Answer: B) To evaluate the functioning of public enterprises.
Explanation: The COPU assesses the performance and efficiency of public sector undertakings and ensures that investments in these enterprises serve the nation’s interest.
👉 This functional detail is a scoring area in NDA polity exam questions, covered in Anand Classes NDA notes download.
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