Question 85 from UPSC CSE 2014 - Polity

Question

Which one of the following is the largest Committee of the Parliament?

IASCODEX · Accepted Answer

Correct Option: B. The Committee on Estimates

Strategy: Prioritize the membership size of parliamentary committees over their prominence. The critical clue is that the Committee on Estimates has the largest number of members, more than the well-known Public Accounts Committee. This focus on composition is vital for answering direct factual questions about committee strength.

Key Info: The Indian Parliament has several key standing committees, with the financial committees being among the most significant.

**Committee on Estimates**
- **Membership:** 30 members, all from the Lok Sabha, making it the largest parliamentary committee by membership.
- **Function:** To examine estimates included in the budget and suggest economies in expenditure.

**Other Major Financial Committees**
- **Committee on Public Accounts**
  - **Membership:** 22 members (15 from Lok Sabha, 7 from Rajya Sabha).
  - **Function:** To examine government expenditures and ensure they are sanctioned by Parliament.
- **Committee on Public Undertakings**
  - **Membership:** 22 members (15 from Lok Sabha, 7 from Rajya Sabha).
  - **Function:** To evaluate the reports and accounts of Public Sector Undertakings.

The Committee on Petitions, which examines petitions submitted to either House, generally comprises a smaller membership. While all these standing committees play important roles in financial oversight, the Estimates Committee is the largest by composition.

IASCODEX · Answer

Option A: The Committee on Public Accounts

IASCODEX · Answer

Option C: The Committee on Public Undertakings

IASCODEX · Answer

Option D: The Committee on Petitions