Why in News?

Recently, the Lok Sabha Speaker and Rajya Sabha Chairman reconstituted various Department-Related Parliamentary Standing Committees (DRSCs) for 2026-27. This is an annual exercise that keeps Parliament's committee system functional.

Key Facts About DRSCs

  • About: DRSCs are parliamentary committees that enable detailed scrutiny of functioning, finances, legislation and policies of Union Ministries/Departments. They strengthen executive accountability to Parliament.
  • Establishment: Present DRSC system established in 1993.
  • Expansion: Expanded from 17 to 24 DRSCs in 2004, covering all Union Ministries/Departments.
  • Composition: Each DRSC has 31 members - 21 Lok Sabha + 10 Rajya Sabha.
  • Party representation: Broadly proportional to party strength in the two Houses.
  • Ministers excluded: A Minister cannot be nominated. If a member becomes a Minister after nomination, membership ceases.
  • Chairperson: For committees under Part I of Fifth Schedule, appointed by Rajya Sabha Chairman; for Part II, appointed by Lok Sabha Speaker from among committee members.
  • Tenure: Not exceeding one year; committees reconstituted annually.
  • Quorum: About one-third of total membership; for a 31-member DRSC, quorum is 10.
  • Sittings: Held in private; not open to media.
  • Reports: Generally based on broad consensus; dissent notes may be submitted and presented to the House along with the report.
  • Expert inputs: Committees may call for papers, records, witnesses, and seek expert/public opinion.

Major Functions

  • Examine Demands for Grants of concerned Ministries.
  • Examine Bills referred to them.
  • Examine Annual Reports of Ministries/Departments.
  • Examine National Basic Long-Term Policy Documents referred by Presiding Officers.

Limits and Nature of Recommendations

  • They do not examine day-to-day administration of Ministries.
  • They generally avoid matters already under consideration by other Parliamentary Committees.
  • Their reports are advisory and have persuasive value; they are considered advice, not binding decisions.

Parliamentary Committees: Context

  • A Parliamentary Committee is constituted/nominated by the Speaker/Chairman or the Houses to perform delegated functions.
  • They work under the direction of the presiding officer and submit reports to the House or Speaker/Chairman.
  • The committee system is inspired by the British Parliament.
  • Constitutional basis: mainly Article 105 (parliamentary powers and privileges) and Article 118 (regulation of parliamentary business).

Significance for UPSC

  • DRSCs are a key example of parliamentary oversight and executive accountability.
  • They help in detailed legislative scrutiny, especially for finance and policy.
  • Issues: recommendations are not binding, annual reconstitution can affect continuity, and attendance/effectiveness varies.
  • For Mains: link with Parliamentary committees, accountability, governance, and legislative efficiency. For Prelims: facts on composition, tenure, quorum, chairperson, and functions.

Previous Year Question Link

  • Prelims 2018: Committee on Subordinate Legislation.
  • Prelims 2013: Public Accounts Committee.
  • Prelims 2014: Largest Committee of Parliament - Estimates.
  • Mains 2021: Evaluate working of Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committees.