Mains Practice Questions

Introduction

Parliamentary committees referred to as the "watchdogs of democracy," play a pivotal role in the Indian legislative process. They serve as crucial intermediaries between the government and the legislature, ensuring transparency, accountability, and effective governance.

• However, a mere 25% of introduced bills underwent committee referral during the 16^th Lok Sabha, a stark contrast to the 71% and 60% referral rates in the 15^th and 14^th Lok Sabha, respectively.

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Importance of Parliamentary Committees:

• Detailed Scrutiny of Bills: Parliamentary Committees allow for in-depth examination of proposed legislation outside the time constraints of parliament sessions.
  • Example: The Lokpal and Lokayuktas Bill, 2011 underwent extensive scrutiny by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice.
• Expertise and Specialization: Committees comprise members with specific knowledge in relevant fields, enabling more informed decision-making.
  • Example: The Standing Committee on Finance, often led by experienced economists or former finance ministers, provides expert analysis on complex financial matters.
    • In 2016, this committee played a crucial role in examining the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code before its enactment.
• Bipartisan Cooperation: Committees foster a more collaborative environment away from the adversarial atmosphere of the main chambers.
  • Example: The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs, comprising members from various parties, has often reached consensus on sensitive issues like internal security and federalism.
• Government Accountability: Committees summon government officials and ministers for questioning, enhancing executive accountability.
  • Example: In 2020, the Standing Committee on Information Technology summoned Facebook executives to discuss data privacy concerns and content moderation policies.
• Public participation: Committees often invite expert testimony and public input, broadening the base of consultation.
  • Example: The Joint Parliamentary Committee on the Personal Data Protection Bill, 2019 invited comments from the public and heard testimonies from tech companies, civil society organizations, and legal experts.

Challenges Related to Parliamentary Committees:

• Limited powers: Parliamentary committees in India have advisory roles and their recommendations are not binding on the government.
  • This can limit their effectiveness in influencing policy and legislation..
• Low Attendance and Participation: A 2019 report stated that attendance of MPs in Committee meetings was about 50%, which is lower than the 84% attendance seen during the Parliament sittings, reducing the quality of deliberations and scrutiny.
• Lack of Subject Matter Expertise and Followup: Members may not always have specialized knowledge in the areas they are overseeing, potentially affecting the depth of scrutiny.
  • Also, there's often a lack of robust mechanisms to follow up on committee recommendations and ensure their implementation.
• Political partisanship: Sometimes, political affiliations can influence committee proceedings, potentially compromising objective analysis.
  • In 2023, the walkout of opposition members from the Joint Committee examining the Personal Data Protection Bill over disagreements on the committee's functioning.
• Delays in Forming Committees: Nearly 3 months since the Lok Sabha Election 2024, the standing committees have not yet been constituted.

Measures to Enhance the Effectiveness of Parliamentary Committees:

• Mandatory Consideration of Committee Reports: Make it compulsory for parliament to discuss and vote on major recommendations of committee reports.
  • Example: In the UK, many committee reports are debated on the floor of the House of Commons, ensuring their findings receive proper attention.
• Increase Public Engagement: Broadcast committee proceedings and create user-friendly platforms for public input.
• Strengthen Research Support: Provide committees with dedicated research staff and resources to conduct independent analysis.
• Ensure Proportional Representation: Revise committee appointment processes to better reflect the composition of parliament and include opposition members in leadership roles.
• Grant more Investigative Powers: Empower committees with additional tools to access information and compel testimony.
• Increase the Number of Subject-specific Committees: Create more specialized committees to cover emerging policy areas.
  • Example: India could consider establishing dedicated committees on areas like climate change, artificial intelligence, or cybersecurity to address contemporary challenges.

Conclusion

Parliamentary committees are indispensable to the Indian legislative process. By implementing measures to enhance their effectiveness, such as mandatory consideration of committee reports India can foster a more informed, accountable, and participatory democracy