Which of the following Committees does NOT consist of Members from the Upper House of the Parliament? 1. Public Accounts Committee 2. Estimates Committee 3. Committee on Public Undertakings Select the answer using the code given below:
- (a)1 and 2
- (b)1 and 3
- (c)2 only
- (d)3 only
Correct — C, 2 only. The Estimates Committee consists of 30 members, all drawn from the Lok Sabha, with no representation from the Rajya Sabha (Upper House). By contrast the Public Accounts Committee and the Committee on Public Undertakings each have 22 members that include 7 from the Rajya Sabha. So the only committee without Upper House members is the Estimates Committee (2).
- (a)1 and 2 — The Public Accounts Committee (1) does include Rajya Sabha members — 7 of its 22 — so it cannot be part of the 'no Upper House' answer.
- (b)1 and 3 — Both the Public Accounts Committee (1) and the Committee on Public Undertakings (3) include Rajya Sabha members, so neither belongs in the answer.
- (d)3 only — The Committee on Public Undertakings (3) has 22 members including 7 from the Rajya Sabha. The committee with no Rajya Sabha members is the Estimates Committee (2).
Parliament's three financial committees are the Public Accounts Committee, the Estimates Committee and the Committee on Public Undertakings. Their members are elected annually by proportional representation using the single transferable vote, and no minister can be a member. They differ in size and in whether the Rajya Sabha is represented.
The distinguishing fact is the Estimates Committee: it is the largest of the three (30 members) and is made up entirely of Lok Sabha members. The Public Accounts Committee and the Committee on Public Undertakings each have 22 members drawn from both Houses (15 Lok Sabha + 7 Rajya Sabha). So the committee lacking Upper House members is the Estimates Committee.
- Estimates Committee — 30 members, ALL from the Lok Sabha; it is the largest parliamentary committee.
- Public Accounts Committee — 22 members: 15 (Lok Sabha) + 7 (Rajya Sabha).
- Committee on Public Undertakings — 22 members: 15 (Lok Sabha) + 7 (Rajya Sabha).
- Members hold office for one year, and a minister cannot be elected to these financial committees.
Only the Estimates Committee has no Rajya Sabha (Upper House) members — option C, '2 only'.
- Assuming all three financial committees draw members from both Houses.
- Forgetting that the Estimates Committee is the largest (30 members) and is Lok-Sabha-only.
Asked as 'which committee has no Rajya Sabha members' or on the exact composition of the financial committees.
Consider the following statements: 1. While members of the Rajya Sabha are associated with Committees on Public Accounts and Public Undertakings, Members of Committee on Estimates are drawn entirely from Lok Sabha. 2. The Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs works under the overall direction of the Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs. 3. The Minister of Parliamentary Affairs nominates members of Parliament on Committees, Councils, Boards and Commissions set up by the Government of India in the various ministries. Which of these statements are correct?
- (a) 1 and 2
- (b) 2 and 3
- (c) 1 and 3
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer(d) 1, 2 and 3
The identical fact — UPSC 2003 confirmed (statement 1) that the Public Accounts and Public Undertakings committees include Rajya Sabha members, while the Estimates Committee is drawn entirely from the Lok Sabha, which is exactly why the answer here is 'Estimates Committee (2) only'.
- practice — not a real PYQ
Which parliamentary committee has its members drawn only from the Lok Sabha?
- (a)Public Accounts Committee
- (b)Estimates Committee
- (c)Committee on Public Undertakings
- (d)Business Advisory Committee
Answer(b) Estimates Committee — all 30 of its members are from the Lok Sabha.
- practice — not a real PYQ
How many members does the Estimates Committee have?
- (a)15
- (b)22
- (c)30
- (d)45
Answer(c) 30 — the Estimates Committee is the largest parliamentary committee.