Explain the structure of the Parliamentary Committee system. How far have the financial committees helped in the institutionalisation of Indian Parliament?

Introduction

Parliamentary committees are the “mini-legislatures” where the detailed scrutiny impossible on the floor of the House actually happens. They draw authority from Article 105 (privileges), Article 118 (procedural rules) and the Rules of Procedure of each House.

Structure of the committee system

• Standing committees (permanent, reconstituted annually): the three financial committees; 24 Department-Related Standing Committees (functioning since 1993) that examine demands for grants, bills and policy; and housekeeping committees such as Business Advisory, Privileges, Petitions, Government Assurances and Subordinate Legislation.
• Ad hoc committees: select and joint committees on specific bills, and Joint Parliamentary Committees of inquiry, dissolved once their task ends.

Financial committees and institutionalisation

• Public Accounts Committee (origins in 1921; 22 members; opposition chairperson by convention since 1967) examines CAG audit reports — its examination of the 2G spectrum and coal-block audits demonstrated hard accountability for public money.
• Estimates Committee (1950; 30 Lok Sabha members) — the “continuous economy committee” — suggests economies, efficiencies and alternative policies in budget estimates.
• Committee on Public Undertakings (1964) audits the performance of PSUs beyond the reach of Question Hour.
• Together they institutionalise Parliament by working year-round beyond short sessions; functioning without party whips and producing largely consensual reports; compelling Action Taken Replies from ministries; and building financial expertise that individual legislators lack — genuine “vigilance over the purse”.

Limitations

• Recommendations are advisory; PAC scrutiny is post-facto and excludes policy questions; research staffing is thin; and bills increasingly bypass committees — referrals fell from 71% in the 15th Lok Sabha to roughly 16% in the 17th (PRS).

Conclusion

Financial committees remain Parliament's most credible instrument of executive accountability. Mandatory committee scrutiny of major bills and expenditure, with stronger research support, would complete the institutionalisation they began.