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Introduction

  • The Departmentally Related Standing Committees (DRSCs) are key parliamentary committees that include Members of Parliament (MPs) from both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.
  • These committees are aligned with various ministries and departments, functioning throughout the year to deliberate on a range of issues, including bills, budgets, and policy matters.

 

Body

  • Composition and Functioning
    • Currently, there are 24 DRSCs in India: 8 under the Rajya Sabha and 16 under the Lok Sabha.
    • These committees ensure that Parliament effectively addresses the growing complexity of governance.
  • Key Roles and Contributions
    • Scrutinizing Bills
      • Parliament’s limited session days (average of 67 days per year over the last decade) constrain in-depth discussions.
      • DRSCs, which meet year-round, ensure thorough examination of bills, filling the gap left by limited floor time.
    • Providing Technical Expertise
      • Parliamentary discussions often involve complex matters requiring specialized knowledge.
      • DRSCs facilitate interactions with domain experts and government officials, enhancing the understanding and deliberation of intricate issues.
    • Building Consensus
      • Televised sessions encourage MPs to adhere to party lines, while DRSCs’ closed-door meetings allow for free and frank discussions.
      • This setting helps build cross-party consensus on various issues.
    • Ensuring Financial Accountability
      • Only a small portion of the budget is debated on the floor of the House.
      • DRSCs thoroughly examine detailed expenditure estimates (Demand for Grants), allocation trends, ministry spending, utilization levels, and policy priorities.
    • Examining Policy Issues
      • DRSCs study policy issues within their respective ministries and make recommendations to the government.
      • The government must report on the status of these recommendations, leading to Action Taken Reports, which track the government’s responses and actions.

 

Conclusion

  • DRSCs have significantly enhanced Parliament’s efficacy in discharging its roles.
  • To further strengthen the committee system, periodic reviews of their functioning should be conducted.
  • Additionally, Parliament should engage in detailed discussions on the recommendations made by these committees to ensure continuous improvement in governance and accountability.

 

Examples in the Indian Context

  • GST Bill Scrutiny: The DRSCs played a pivotal role in examining and refining the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Bill before it was passed, ensuring that various stakeholders’ concerns were addressed.
  • Defense Expenditure Review: The DRSC on Defense periodically reviews defense expenditure, providing detailed reports that help in optimizing resource allocation and ensuring transparency in defense spending.
  • Health Sector Policy Recommendations: The DRSC on Health and Family Welfare has made significant recommendations on improving healthcare infrastructure, influencing policies such as the National Health Policy.
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