Previous Year Question
Which one of the following is the largest Committee of the Parliament?
The Committee on Public Accounts
The Committee on Estimates
The Committee on Public Undertakings
The Committee on Petitions
Correct Answer: B
Detailed Solution
The Estimates Committee is the largest parliamentary committee. It consists of 30 members of the Lok Sabha. The Rajya Sabha has no representation in this Committee.
Composition and election
Its 30 members are elected annually by the Lok Sabha from among its members.
They are elected through proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote. This provides representation to political parties broadly in proportion to their strength in the House.
The term of the Committee is one year.
Its Chairperson is appointed by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha from among the members of the Committee.
A Minister cannot become its member. If a member is appointed as a Minister, that person ceases to be a member of the Committee.
The first Estimates Committee in India was constituted in 1950.
Principal functions
The Estimates Committee examines the estimates included in the Budget and reports to the Lok Sabha. Its principal functions are:
Suggesting measures for securing economy and reducing unnecessary expenditure.
Recommending organisational and administrative reforms to improve efficiency.
Examining whether money is being properly utilised within the limits of the policy underlying the estimates.
Suggesting the form in which estimates should be presented to Parliament.
Suggesting alternative policies for bringing efficiency and economy to administration.
Conducting a detailed examination of the estimates of selected Ministries and Departments.
The Committee ordinarily does not challenge the basic policy approved by Parliament. Its principal focus is on improving administrative efficiency and financial economy within that policy.
Comparison with other committees
Estimates Committee: 30 members—all from the Lok Sabha.
Public Accounts Committee: 22 members—15 from the Lok Sabha and 7 from the Rajya Sabha.
Committee on Public Undertakings: 22 members—15 from the Lok Sabha and 7 from the Rajya Sabha.
Lok Sabha Committee on Petitions: 15 members.
The Estimates Committee generally examines budgetary estimates before or during the process of expenditure, whereas the Public Accounts Committee conducts post-expenditure examination based on Appropriation Accounts and reports of the CAG.