Extension of Tenure of Standing Committees may be extended

Extension of Tenure of Standing Committees may be extended

Part of: GS Prelims and GS-II – Parliament

In news

• The Rajya Sabha Secretariat is considering changing the rules governing the Departmentally-Related Standing Committees’ (DRSC) tenure to make it to two years from the present one year.
• Objective: The panels should have enough time to work on the subjects selected by them. A significant amount of the tenure of the committees was lost due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Many of the panels have not been able to complete reports on the subjects they were working on. 

Options that are being considered

• To extend the term of the panels for a year.
• To form new committees with a fixed tenure of two years.

Important value additions

Parliamentary Committees

• The Constitution of India makes a mention of these committees at different places, but without making any specific provisions regarding their composition, tenure, functions, etc.
• Two kinds of parliamentary committees — Standing Committees and Ad Hoc Committees.
• Standing Committees: Permanent (constituted every year or periodically) and work on a continuous basis.  Term: one year from the date of its constitution.
• Ad Hoc Committees: Temporary and cease to exist on completion of the task assigned.
• Role: (1) Through Committees, Parliament exercises its control and influence over administration and keeps vigilance over the executive; (2) They aid and assist the Legislature in discharging its duties; (3) They also provide the expertise on a matter which is referred to them.