| The functions of each standing committee are: To review the demands for grants of the concerned ministries/departments before discussion and voting in the Lok Sabha, without suggesting cut motions. To examine bills related to the respective ministries/departments. To consider annual reports of the ministries/departments. To evaluate the basic national long-term policy documents presented to the Houses. |
- Nearly three months into the 18th Lok Sabha, the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committees have not been constituted due to disagreements between the Union government and the Opposition over control of these panels.
- There are 24 such committees, with 16 chaired by Lok Sabha MPs and eight by Rajya Sabha members.
- The primary objective of standing committees is to ensure greater accountability of the Executive, particularly financial accountability, to the Parliament.
- The 24 standing committees cover all ministries and departments of the Central Government.
- Each committee is comprised of 31 members—21 from the Lok Sabha and 10 from the Rajya Sabha—who are nominated by the Speaker and the Chairman, respectively.
- Ministers cannot be members of these committees, and any member appointed as a minister ceases to be a committee member.
- The term of each committee is one year from its constitution.
- Recommendations of these committees are advisory and hence not binding on the Parliament.
Dig Deeper: Read about the Financial Committees of the Indian Parliament.
