Which one of the following statements regarding Public Accounts Committee is correct?
- (a)It consists of fifteen members from Lok Sabha and seven members from Rajya Sabha
- (b)It consists of twenty members from Lok Sabha and ten members from Rajya Sabha
- (c)The term of members of Public Accounts Committee is five years
- (d)Finance Minister is the Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee
Correct — A, It consists of fifteen members from Lok Sabha and seven members from Rajya Sabha. The Public Accounts Committee has twenty-two members in all: fifteen elected by the Lok Sabha from among its own members and not more than seven by the Rajya Sabha. Election is annual, by the principle of proportional representation through the single transferable vote, so the composition of the Committee mirrors the strength of the parties in each House. The term is one year, not five. The Chairperson is appointed by the Speaker from among the Committee's Lok Sabha members, and by a convention followed since 1967 the Speaker names a member of the Opposition. No Minister may be a member, which disposes of the option that makes the Finance Minister its Chairperson.
- (b)It consists of twenty members from Lok Sabha and ten members from Rajya Sabha — Thirty members belongs to no financial committee. The Estimates Committee has thirty, but all of them from the Lok Sabha and none from the Rajya Sabha; the Committee on Public Undertakings has twenty-two on the same fifteen-and-seven pattern as the PAC.
- (c)The term of members of Public Accounts Committee is five years — The term is one year. Members are elected annually, which is what keeps the Committee's composition current with the strength of the parties in the House.
- (d)Finance Minister is the Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee — No Minister can even be a member. The Committee's work is to examine the Comptroller and Auditor General's reports on how the executive spent money, so placing a Minister in the chair would put the examined in charge of the examination.
The Public Accounts Committee is the oldest of the parliamentary financial committees, set up in 1921 under the Government of India Act, 1919 and working in its present form since 1950. Its core function is to take the Comptroller and Auditor General's audit reports after they are laid before Parliament and satisfy itself that the money voted was spent for the purpose voted, within the amount voted and under the authority governing it. The CAG assists the Committee, which is why the two are always examined together.
Three financial committees have to be held apart, and the numbers do it. Public Accounts has twenty-two, fifteen from the Lok Sabha and seven from the Rajya Sabha. Public Undertakings also has twenty-two on the same split. Estimates has thirty, all from the Lok Sabha and none from the Rajya Sabha, which is why it is the standard answer to any question about a committee without Rajya Sabha members. All three elect members annually by proportional representation with the single transferable vote, and in all three the Speaker appoints the Chairperson.
- The Public Accounts Committee has twenty-two members: fifteen elected by the Lok Sabha and not more than seven by the Rajya Sabha.
- Members are elected annually by proportional representation through the single transferable vote; the term is one year.
- The Chairperson is appointed by the Speaker, and since 1967 by convention from the Opposition.
- No Minister may be a member of the Committee.
- The Estimates Committee has thirty members, all from the Lok Sabha; the Committee on Public Undertakings has twenty-two.
Fifteen is the Lok Sabha figure for the PAC. Papers that shift it to the Rajya Sabha are testing the same number in reverse.
- Swapping the fifteen and the seven between the two Houses.
- Giving PAC members a five-year term; the term is one year and the election annual.
- Assuming the Chairperson is elected by the Committee; the Speaker appoints.
Asked as a single-correct-statement item covering composition, term and chairmanship at once — so one recalled number and one recalled convention settle three options.
In India, other than ensuring that public funds are used efficiently and for intended purpose, what is the importance of the office of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG)? 1. CAG exercises exchequer control on behalf of the Parliament when the President of India declares national emergency/financial emergency. 2. CAG reports on the execution of projects or programmes by the ministries are discussed by the Public Accounts Committee. 3. Information from CAG reports can be used by investigating agencies to press charges against those who have violated the law while managing public finances. 4. While dealing with the audit and accounting of government companies, CAG has certain judicial powers for prosecuting those who violate the law. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- (a) 1, 3 and 4 only
- (b) 2 only
- (c) 2 and 3 only
- (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
Answer(c) 2 and 3 only
Establishes the Committee's core function from the auditor's side — the CAG's reports on how ministries executed projects are what the PAC exists to examine.
Which one of the following statements about the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the Parliament is not correct?
- (a) It examines the Finance Accounts of the Government of India.
- (b) Fifteen members of the Committee are elected by the Lok Sabha from amongst its members.
- (c) The Chairperson of the Committee is elected by its members.
- (d) In case a member of any other Committee constituted by the Government is elected to the PAC, the Speaker of the Lok Sabha decides whether he should continue to be a member of the former Committee.
Answer(c) The Chairperson of the Committee is elected by its members.
The same committee turned into a NOT-correct item. It confirms the fifteen-from-the-Lok-Sabha figure used here and adds the point on which candidates most often slip — the Speaker appoints the Chairperson.
Which one of the following committees does not have members from the Rajya Sabha?
- (a) The Public Accounts Committee
- (b) The Committee on Public Undertakings
- (c) The Estimates Committee
- (d) The Committee on the Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes
Answer(c) The Estimates Committee
The complement of this item. Knowing that the PAC does take seven Rajya Sabha members is what makes the Estimates Committee the odd one out there.
- practice — not a real PYQ
Which parliamentary financial committee has no members from the Rajya Sabha?
- (a)Public Accounts Committee
- (b)Estimates Committee
- (c)Committee on Public Undertakings
- (d)Business Advisory Committee
Answer(b) Estimates Committee — thirty members, all elected by the Lok Sabha.
- practice — not a real PYQ
By what convention, followed since 1967, is the Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee chosen?
- (a)The senior-most member of the ruling party is appointed
- (b)The Committee elects one of its own members
- (c)The Speaker appoints a member of the Opposition
- (d)The Finance Minister nominates a member
Answer(c) The Speaker appoints a member of the Opposition — the appointment is the Speaker's in every case.