PARLIAMENTARY ESTIMATE COMMITTEE

• Parliamentary committees serve as essential mechanisms to address the structural and technical challenges faced by large legislative bodies. Independent India adopted the committee system from the British Parliament and adapted it to suit the functioning of its own expansive legislature by introducing innovative methods to handle complex and voluminous tasks.
• The roots of India’s committee system can be traced back to the colonial period, with the establishment of the first parliamentary committee—the Public Accounts Committee (PAC)—in 1921, following the Government of India Act of 1919, also known as the Montford Reforms.
• Although the Constitution does not explicitly outline details regarding the structure, duration, or functioning of these committees, their legitimacy stems from Article 105, which outlines the privileges of Members of Parliament, and Article 118, which empowers Parliament to regulate its procedures and business through rules.
• The Rules of Procedure of the Lok Sabha provide the framework for setting up these committees. They may be appointed or elected by the House or nominated by the Speaker or Chairman, and they function under their guidance. Reports are submitted either to the House or directly to the Speaker/Chairman.
• Parliamentary committees enable legislators to dedicate focused time and attention to specific issues, allowing for detailed analysis. These bodies often consult experts and engage relevant stakeholders, encouraging a participatory approach that helps members from different political affiliations to find common ground on otherwise contentious matters

• The Estimates Committee is a Financial Standing Committee comprising a maximum of thirty members, who are elected annually by the Lok Sabha through a system of proportional representation using the single transferable vote method.

• Ministers are not eligible to be elected to this committee. In case a sitting member of the committee is appointed as a minister, their membership automatically ends from the date of their appointment.

• The committee’s tenure is limited to one year. As per Rule 312 of the Lok Sabha, the committee is permitted to examine budget estimates periodically throughout the financial year and submit reports to the House as the review progresses. It is not mandatory for the committee to assess the complete set of estimates in a single financial year.

• Recommend potential cost savings, organizational improvements, administrative reforms, or enhancements in efficiency that align with the objectives behind the estimates;
• Propose alternative policy measures aimed at improving administrative efficiency and reducing expenditure;
• Assess whether the allocated funds are being utilized effectively, within the boundaries of the policies reflected in the estimates; and
• Recommend the appropriate format in which the estimates should be submitted to Parliament.
• The Committee’s jurisdiction does not extend to Public Sector Undertakings that fall under the purview of the Committee on Public Undertakings, as defined by the Lok Sabha Rules of Procedure or directives issued by the Speaker

6. Different types of parliamentary committee

• In general, Parliamentary Committees are categorized into four types: Financial Committees, Departmentally Related Standing Committees (DRSCs), Other Standing Committees, and Ad hoc Committees.

• The Financial Committees comprise the Estimates Committee, the Public Accounts Committee, and the Committee on Public Undertakings. These were established in the year 1950.

• The concept of Departmentally Related Standing Committees was introduced in 1993 under the speakership of Shivraj Patil. Initially, 17 such committees were formed to review budget allocations and key policy initiatives, thereby enhancing legislative oversight and enabling deeper involvement of members in law-making. The number was later increased to 24. Each committee consists of 31 members—21 from the Lok Sabha and 10 from the Rajya Sabha.

• Ad hoc Committees are temporary in nature, created to fulfill a specific objective. Once their assigned task is complete and a report is submitted to the House, these committees are dissolved. Notable examples include Select and Joint Committees on Bills, as well as others like the Railway Convention Committee and the Committee on Food Management and Security within the Parliament House Complex.

• Parliament also has the authority to form a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC), comprising members from both Houses, to conduct detailed investigations into specific issues or legislation. Similarly, either House may establish a Select Committee with members solely from that chamber. Typically, such committees are chaired by members of the ruling party and are disbanded upon the submission of their final reports