Are the committees considered to be useful for Parliamentary work? Discuss, in this context, the role of the Estimate Committee


Are the committees considered to be useful for Parliamentary work? Discuss, in this context, the role of the Estimate Committee

Parliament is the central institution of democracy in India. It makes laws, debates on public issues, and controls the government through questions, discussions, and motions. But Parliament is also a very busy place. Hundreds of members sit together, and many subjects come up for debate. It is not always possible for Parliament, in its large sessions, to go into every detail of administration, expenditure, and policy. For this reason, committees of Parliament play a very important role.

Committees are smaller groups of Members of Parliament (MPs) chosen from both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. They work on specific subjects and report back to Parliament. They act as “mini-Parliaments,” where MPs can examine issues more carefully, study reports and documents, call experts and officials, and then give their recommendations. In this way, committees make the work of Parliament more effective, detailed, and practical.

One of the most important parliamentary committees is the Estimates Committee, which plays a key role in ensuring financial discipline, proper use of resources, and efficiency in government expenditure. In this article, we will first see the general usefulness of committees in parliamentary work, and then discuss in detail the role of the Estimates Committee.

Importance of Parliamentary Committees

1. Detailed Examination

Parliament meets for only a few weeks in a year. During this time, it has to pass laws, approve the budget, and debate national and international issues. This leaves little time to go into the details of every subject. Committees provide a solution. Since they are smaller bodies, they can take up one issue at a time and examine it in detail.

2. Specialisation

Different committees are assigned different subjects. For example, there are committees on finance, defence, external affairs, public undertakings, and so on. MPs sitting in these committees get time to specialise in that area. They can invite experts and learn about technical subjects, which may not be possible in large open debates in the House.

3. Less Political, More Practical

In Parliament, debates often become political, as parties try to attack or defend the government. In committees, the atmosphere is usually less political and more cooperative. Since the discussions are not normally televised, MPs focus more on facts and solutions rather than speeches for the public. This makes committee work more constructive.

4. Ensuring Accountability

One of the main duties of Parliament is to keep the government accountable. Committees help in this by examining government policies, spending, and performance. They can call government officials to answer questions. This ensures that public money is spent properly and government departments work efficiently.

5. Continuous Work

Parliament functions in sessions, but committees work throughout the year. Even when Parliament is not meeting, committees are working, studying issues, and preparing reports. This continuous process strengthens parliamentary control.

Types of Parliamentary Committees in India

Broadly, committees are of two types:

1.Standing Committees – These are permanent committees that are reconstituted every year. Examples: Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Estimates Committee, Committee on Public Undertakings.

2.Ad-hoc Committees – These are temporary committees formed for a specific purpose and dissolved after completing their task.

Among these, the financial committees are the most important because they keep an eye on how the government raises and spends money. The three main financial committees are:

  • The Public Accounts Committee (PAC)
  • The Estimates Committee
  • The Committee on Public Undertakings (COPU)

The Estimates Committee: Composition and Role

Composition

  • The Estimates Committee is the largest committee of Parliament.
  • It has 30 members, all from the Lok Sabha (the lower house).
  • Members are elected every year from amongst the Lok Sabha members according to the principle of proportional representation, so that all parties are represented in proportion to their strength.
  • The Chairperson is always from the ruling party. Members from the Rajya Sabha are not included in this committee.

Main Functions

The Estimates Committee mainly deals with the expenditure of the government. Its important functions are:

1.Examine Estimates

o   The government presents its annual budget, which includes estimates of how much money will be spent on different departments and programs.

o   The committee examines these estimates carefully to see whether the proposed spending is justified, economical, and efficient.

2.Suggest Economy in Expenditure

o   The committee looks for areas where public money can be saved. It suggests ways to reduce wasteful spending and to make administration more efficient.

3.Suggest Alternative Policies

o   Sometimes, the committee finds that the objectives of a program can be achieved in a better way. It may suggest alternative policies to improve efficiency or reduce costs.

4.Examine Ongoing Schemes

o   It does not only look at new proposals but also reviews how money was spent on ongoing schemes. It checks whether the funds were used for the purpose approved by Parliament.

5.Bring Administrative Reforms

o   By studying government departments in detail, the committee often suggests reforms in administration and organization to improve functioning.

Limitations of the Estimates Committee

Although it plays a very useful role, the Estimates Committee also has certain limitations:

1.No Rajya Sabha Members
– Since only Lok Sabha members are included, the expertise of Rajya Sabha MPs is left out.

2.Advisory Nature
– The committee can only make recommendations. It cannot enforce them. The government is not bound to accept its suggestions.

3.Does Not Look at Policy in Depth
– The committee mainly focuses on expenditure and efficiency. It does not examine the broader questions of policy.

4.Confidential Work
– Most of the work of the committee happens behind closed doors, so the public may not always know how government money is being scrutinized.

Importance of the Estimates Committee in Strengthening Parliament

Despite these limitations, the Estimates Committee has been very useful in strengthening parliamentary work:

  • It ensures that public money is spent wisely and not wasted.
  • It keeps the government departments on their toes, as they know their spending will be examined closely.
  • It helps in improving efficiency of administration by suggesting reforms.
  • It reduces the burden on Parliament by doing detailed work that the entire House cannot manage.
  • It acts as a continuous check throughout the year, even when Parliament is not in session.

Examples of Work Done by the Estimates Committee

Over the years, the Estimates Committee has made many useful recommendations. For example:

  • It has suggested ways to modernise the railways and reduce losses.
  • It has examined defence expenditure and recommended ways to improve efficiency.
  • It has looked into subsidies, suggesting better targeting to ensure benefits reach the poor.
  • It has reviewed development programs to check leakages and corruption.

While the government does not always accept all recommendations, many of them have been adopted and have improved administration.

Committees are often called the “backbone of parliamentary work.” Without them, Parliament would not be able to examine issues in detail or hold the government accountable effectively. They provide the necessary support for Parliament to function as a watchdog of democracy.

Among these committees, the Estimates Committee has a unique role because it looks into how public money is planned to be spent and how it is actually used. By examining expenditure, suggesting economies, and recommending improvements, it helps ensure that taxpayers’ money is used properly and effectively.

In this way, the Estimates Committee not only strengthens financial control of Parliament but also contributes to better governance and administration. Its role shows how parliamentary committees make the work of Parliament more practical, detailed, and effective, keeping the spirit of democracy alive.