committee

• The Select Committee is made up of a small number of parliamentary members appointed to deal with particular aspects originating in the [[Westminster System of parliamentary]] democracy.
• Under Rule 125 of the [[Rajya Sabha]] Rules and Procedures, any member may move a bill which is referred to a select committee and, when the motion is admitted, the bill shall be referred to such a committee.

Committees of the Parliament

• Broadly, parliamentary Committees are of two kinds - Standing Committee and Ad Hoc Committees.
• The former are permanent (constituted every year or periodically) and work on a continuous basis, while the latter are temporary and cease to exist on completion of the task assigned to them.

Standing Committees

standing Committees can be classified into the following six categories:

1. Financial Committees
   • Public Accounts Committee
   • Estimates Committee
   • Committee on Public Undertakings
2. Departmental Standing Committees (24)
3. Committees to Inquire
   • Committee on Petitions
   • Committee of Privileges
   • Ethics Committee
4. Committees to Scrutinise and Control
   • Committee on Government Assurances
   • Committee on Subordinate Legislation
   • Committee on Papers Laid on the Table
   • Committee on Welfare of SC’s and ST’s
   • Committee on Empowerment of Women
   • Joint Committee on Offices of Profit
5. Committees Relating to the Day-toDay Business of the House
   • Business Advisory Committee
   • Committee on Private Members’ Bills and Resolutions
   • Rules Committee
   • Committee on Absence of Members from Sittings of the House
6. House-Keeping Committees or Service Committees (i.e. Committee concerned with the Provision of Facilities and Service to Members):
   • General Purposes Committee
   • House Committee
   • Library Committee
   • Joint Committee on Salaries and Allowances of Members.

Ad Hoc Committee

Ad Hoc Committees can be divided into two categories, that is,

• Inquiry Committees
• Advisory Committees.

Committee on Estimates:

• The major responsibility of the Committee is to suggest the examiner, estimator and recommendation on matters related to economic related policy issues and alternative policies, administrative reform, undertaking the tours and visits within and outside the state to study various schemes under execution in regard to the estimates under examination.

Committee on Public Accounts:

• The important functions of the Committee are to scrutinise the Appropriation Accounts of the State and the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India (Civil).
• Also looks into the Revenue receipts and the disbursement of money shown in the accounts applicable to the services or purposes to which they had been applied and charged.

Committee on Public Undertakings:

• This Committee is to examine the Audit reports and accounts of Public Undertaking from time to time.
• The Committee also examines the autonomy and efficiency of the Public Undertakings.
• This Committee is also taking note on the affairs of the Public Undertakings are being managed in accordance with sound business principles and prudent commercial practices.
• The Committee also examines the Reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India on the Public Undertakings.
• The Committee examines the working of the Undertakings under its purview, hears officials or takes evidence connected with such undertakings and makes recommendations to the House.