Consider the following statements: The Parliamentary Committee on Public Accounts: 1. Consists of not more than 25 Members of the Lok Sabha 2. Scrutinizes the 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?
Explanation
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) is a standing parliamentary committee that acts as a watchdog over government spending.
Statement 1 is incorrect: The Committee consists of 22 members, not 25. These members are drawn from both Houses of Parliament—15 from the Lok Sabha and 7 from the Rajya Sabha. They are elected every year from amongst the members according to the principle of proportional representation by means of a single transferable vote.
Statement 2 is correct: The main function of the PAC is to examine the Appropriation Accounts (which compare the actual expenditure with the grants sanctioned by Parliament) and the Finance Accounts of the Government of India to ensure that public money is spent legally and for the intended purpose.
Statement 3 is correct: The Committee examines the audit reports submitted by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India. The CAG assists the Committee during its deliberations, often described as the 'guide, philosopher, and friend' of the PAC.