Previous Year Question
With reference to Public Accounts Committee, which of the following statements is/are correct?
Public Accounts Committee submits its report to the Lok Sabha.
Public Accounts Committee consists of 15 members from Rajya Sabha.
Select the correct answer from the code given below:
Both 1 and 2
Neither 1 nor 2
Only 2
Only 1
Correct Answer: D
Detailed Solution
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) is a Financial Committee of Parliament. Its principal function is to examine the use of funds authorised by Parliament and the accounts relating to government expenditure.
Statement 1 is correct.
The Public Accounts Committee prepares reports based on its examination, which are presented to the Lok Sabha. Copies of its reports are also laid on the Table of the Rajya Sabha.
The Committee primarily examines the Appropriation Accounts, Finance Accounts of the Government of India and relevant reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG).
Its objective is to examine whether funds authorised by Parliament have been used for their intended purposes and in accordance with applicable financial rules.
Statement 2 is incorrect.
The Public Accounts Committee consists of not more than 22 members. Of these, 15 members are elected from the Lok Sabha and not more than 7 members from the Rajya Sabha.
Therefore, the statement that the Committee has 15 members from the Rajya Sabha is incorrect. The 15 members come from the Lok Sabha, not the Rajya Sabha.
The members are elected every year according to the principle of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote. Their term of office does not exceed one year.
The Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee is appointed by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha from among the Committee members elected from the Lok Sabha. A Minister cannot be a member of this Committee.