All work cannot be done in Parliament. To reduce overload and to get experts view, parliamentary committee are established

Broadly two types

Ad-hoc Committee (for specific issues)(temporary)

Select Committee (only one house) Ex: Land Acquisition Bill
Joint Committee (members of two houses) Ex: 2G Spectrum scam

OR

Advisory committee
Enquiry committee

Standing Committee (permanent structure)
Other Committee

Parliamentary watchdogs over executive Ex: Committee on subordinate legislation

Conditions to be called as Parliamentary Committees

Appointed/Elected by House or Nominated by Speaker
Work under the direction of Speaker of LS/Chairman of RS
Submit report to Parliament or to Speaker/Chairman
Has a secretariat provided by LS/RS

Note: Consultative committees, Parliamentary forum, Cabinet Committees are not Parliamentary Committees

A parliamentary committee can be appointed/elected/nominated, can be appointed by either speaker/chairman

Ex: Members of Estimates committee are elected by proportional representation

Parliamentary committees only does recommendations while cabinet committees can take decisions

			Standing Committee - Finance Committee
Public Accounts Committee	Joint. Chairman from LS/RS Under LS	Elected one year. Proportional representation 22 (15 from LS and 7 from RS)	To examine (Economic, prudence, wisdom etc.) the appropriation accounts and the finance accounts of the Union government and any other account laid before the Lok Sabha.[CAG audit reports on appropriation, finance, public sector undertakings]. empowered to call witnesses to give evidence and produce documents required by the committees	Minister cannot be a member Chairman nominated by Speaker from amongst the members of PAC
Estimates Committee	Lok Sabha Under LS	Elected 1 year Proportional representation 30 members	Examines the budget estimates after they are voted by parliament to examine whether the money is well laid out within the limits of the policy implied in the estimates. However cannot question the policy to report what economies, improvements in organisation, efficiency or administrative reform, consistent with the policy underlying the estimates may be effected Only selects few ministries or departments per year Continuous economic committee	Minister cannot be a member Chairman nominated by Speaker and invariably from ruling party
Committee on Public Undertaking	Joint. Chairman from LS Under LS	Elected 1 year Proportional representation 22 (15 from LS and 7 from RS)	Examine reports, accounts, CAG reports on public undertaking, autonomy, efficiency, business principles Cannot examine major policy of Govt in the perspective of business, commerce Cannot examine day to day administration	Minister cannot be a member Chairman nominated from LS members of PAC by Speaker traditionally from opposition
			Standing Committees- Departmental Standing Committee	Established since 1993
Total=24 8 under RS 16 under LS	Joint	Nominated 1 year term 31(21 from LS and 10 from RS)	To have accountability of Parliament over Executive To consider demand for grants of the concerned ministries before they are voted by Parliament. Should not suggest cut motion Should not consider day to day administration of ministries and not consider matters by other parliamentary committees	Minister cannot be a member Chairman of Committee appointed by Speaker if it works under LS & by Chairman of RS if it works under RS

In British Parliament , every Bill goes through the committee stage in each House. That may take more time to pass a Bill but will ensure that there is adequate deliberation by parliamentarians before they pass a Bill.
Speaker of LS is the chairman of Business Advisory Committee of LS, General Purpose Committee of LS, Rules Committee of LS

NOTE: Not part of Privileges committee

Committee on Private Members Bills and Resolutions

Only Loksabha committee and no Rajyasabha committee
Deputy Speaker is its chairman
In Rajyasabha, Business Advisory committee performs the functions of private members bills and resolutions

Committee on Absence of Members

Only Loksabha committee and no Rajyasabha committee
Examines the cases of absence of more than 60 days without permission
Rajyasabha house deals such cases itself

General Purposes Committee

One for LS and one for RS
Considers and advices on matters concerning affairs of the house which do not fall within the jurisdiction of any other parliamentary committee
Composition

Presiding officer as its ex-office chairman
Deputy speaker for LS and Deputy Chairman for RS
Panel of Chairpersons for LS and Panel of vice chairpersons for RS
Chairpersons of LS Departmental Standing committees for LS and Chairpersons of RS Departmental Standing Committees for RS
Leaders of parties and groups in each corresponding house
Other member as nominated by Presiding officer

Committee on Govt Assurances - one for LS & one for RS- examines the assurances, promises, undertakings given my ministers from time to time in the house
Committee on Subordinate Legislation - one for LS & one for RS- whether subordinate legislation is delegated by parliament is correctly enforced or not
Rules Committee - one for LS & one for RS - Presiding officer ex-officio chairman for their respective committees -procedures and conduct of business in the house
Ethics committee - one for LS & one for RS-Code of conduct among members of house; examine cases of misconduct and recommends appropriate action
Committee of Privileges -one for LS & one for RS- Quasi Judicial -Examines cases of breach of privileges of house and its members and recommends action
House committee - one for LS & one for RS- deals with residential accommodation of members and other amenities like food, medical aid, etc
Committee on Petitions - one for LS & one for RS - Examines petitions on bills and on matters of general public importance
Committee on papers laid on the table - one for LS & one for RS- papers laid conform to provisions of constitution/act/rule
Committee on Office of Profit - Joint-
Committee on Salaries and allowances of members - Joint
Library Committee - Joint
Committee on Welfare of SC, STs - Joint - consider reports of NCSC, NCST; all matters related to welfare of them
Committee on empowerment of Women - Joint -
A minister can be member of a parliament committee except to Finance Committees (3), Departmental Standing Committees (24) , Committees on empowerment of women, welfare of SC/ST, Govt assurances, petitions, subordinate legislation

Consultative Committees

Consultative Committees are not parliamentary committees as they are not fulfilling the conditions to be called as Parliamentary Committees
Constituted, guidelines, functions procedures by Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs
They are attached to various ministries/departments of Union Govt for discussions and consultations b/w ministries and members of parliament
Generally constituted after the new Loksabha is constituted
Consists of LS and RS members
Membership is voluntary
Meetings can be arranged at any time when the parliament is in session or recess
Informal Consultative Committee- meetings arranged only when the parliament is in session. Ex: Informal Consultative Committee for Railway Zones

Parliamentary Forums

They are not parliamentary committee
They are platforms b/w Members of Parliament and the ministries, experts, officials of ministries, expert bodies, NGOs, international bodies/experts to have a focused and meaningful discussion for result oriented approach
They should not interfere/encroach on the jurisdiction of the Departmental Standing Committees
Composition

Speaker of LS is chairman of all Parliamentary forums except the Parliamentary Forum on Population and Public Health(Chairman is the President of India and LS Speaker is Co-Chairman)
Ex-officio vice presidents - Deputy Speaker of LS, Deputy Chairman of RS, Respective Ministries, Chairman(s) of Departmental Standing Committees
Members nominated by Speaker from LS (Max 21) and nominated by Chairman from RS(Max 10)
Duration is co-terminus with the member term

Meetings are held whenever necessary during the Parliamentary sessions
Forums present now

Parliamentary forum on Children
Parliamentary forum on Population and Public Health
Parliamentary forum on Water Conservation and Management
Parliamentary forum on Global Warming and Climate Change
Parliamentary forum on Disaster Management