Question

Consider the following statements:

The Parliamentary Committee on Public Accounts

1. consists of not more than 25 members of the Lok Sabha.

2. scrutinizes appropriation and finance accounts of the Government.

3. examines the report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 and 3 only
3. 3 only
4. 1, 2 and 3

Answer 1

Correct Answer - Option 2 : 2 and 3 only

The correct answer is 2 and 3 only.

• The Public Accounts Committee consists of not more than 22 members comprising 15 members elected by Lok Sabha every year from amongst its members.
  • Hence statement 1 is not correct.
• The Public Account Committee carries out the examination of the Appropriation Accounts relating to the Railways, Defence Services, P&T Department and other Civil Ministries of the Government of India and Reports of the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India thereon as also the Reports of the Comptroller and Auditor-General on Revenue Receipts mainly form the basis of the deliberation of the Committee.
  • ​Hence statements 2 and 3 are correct.
• The Comptroller and Auditor General is the “friend, philosopher and guide” of the Committee.
• He attends the sittings of the Committee and assists it in its deliberations.
• Hence option 2 is correct.

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• Types of Parliamentary Committees:
  • India’s Parliament has multiple types of committees.
    • They can be differentiated on the basis of their work, their membership and the length of their tenure.
  • However, broadly there are two types of Parliamentary Committees– Standing Committees and Ad Hoc Committees.
  • The Standing Committees are permanent (constituted every year or periodically) and work on a continuous basis.
  • Standing Committees can be classified into the following six categories:
    • Financial Committees
    • Departmental Standing Committees
    • Committees to Enquire
    • Committees to Scrutinise and Control
    • Committees Relating to the Day-to-Day Business of the House
    • House-Keeping Committees or Service Committees
  • While the Ad Hoc Committees are temporary and cease to exist on completion of the task assigned to them.
  • They are further subdivided into Inquiry Committees and Advisory Committees.