What distinguishes the role of DRSCs from Ad-hoc Committees in parliamentary procedure?
Of course. Here is a detailed comparative analysis of Departmentally Related Standing Committees (DRSCs) and Ad-hoc Committees, framed for a UPSC aspirant.
Opening
In the Indian parliamentary system, committees are essential instruments for ensuring detailed scrutiny of legislation, policy, and expenditure, thereby upholding executive accountability. These committees are broadly classified into two categories: Standing Committees and Ad-hoc Committees. Understanding the distinction between Departmentally Related Standing Committees (DRSCs), a key type of Standing Committee, and Ad-hoc Committees is fundamental to grasping the mechanics of parliamentary oversight. While both derive their authority from the Rules of Procedure of the Houses and directions of the Presiding Officers, their nature, tenure, and functions are fundamentally different.
Comparison Table: DRSCs vs. Ad-hoc Committees
| Feature | Departmentally Related Standing Committees (DRSCs) | Ad-hoc Committees |
|---|---|---|
| Nature | Permanent and regular committees, constituted annually. They are a type of Standing Committee. | Temporary and specific-purpose committees, ceasing to exist upon completion of their assigned task. |
| Constitution | Constituted by the Speaker of Lok Sabha and the Chairman of Rajya Sabha. Governed by Rules 331C to 331N of the Rules of Procedure of Lok Sabha. | Constituted by either House or by the Presiding Officers for a specific purpose. Examples include Select Committees and Joint Parliamentary Committees (JPCs). |
| Tenure | Continuous. Members are nominated for a term of one year, but the committee system itself is permanent. | Discontinuous and short-lived. They are dissolved after submitting their report on the specific matter assigned. |
| Scope of Work | Broad and pre-defined. Each DRSC has jurisdiction over a set of ministries/departments. Their work includes examining Bills, Demands for Grants, annual reports, and long-term policies. | Narrow and task-specific. Their scope is defined by the motion that creates them, such as investigating a particular event (e.g., Bofors scam JPC) or examining a specific Bill (Select Committee). |
| Membership | Fixed composition: 31 members (21 from Lok Sabha + 10 from Rajya Sabha). Members are nominated by the respective Presiding Officers. | Variable composition. The number of members is decided on a case-by-case basis. A Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) has members from both Houses, often in a 2:1 Lok Sabha to Rajya Sabha ratio. |
| Example | Committee on Home Affairs, Committee on External Affairs, Committee on Finance. There are 24 DRSCs in total. | Joint Parliamentary Committee on the stock market scam (1992), Joint Committee on the Personal Data Protection Bill, 2019. |
Key Differences Explained
The primary distinction lies in their permanence and purpose.
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Permanence and Continuity: DRSCs are a permanent feature of the parliamentary landscape. Although their membership is reconstituted annually, the committees themselves endure, providing continuous and institutionalized oversight over their assigned ministries. This system was established in 1993 with 17 DRSCs, which were later expanded to 24 in 2004. This continuity allows for the development of domain expertise among members and staff. In contrast, Ad-hoc Committees are, by definition, transient. They are created to address a specific, often urgent, issue and are dissolved once their report is submitted.
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Scope of Function: The role of DRSCs is proactive and comprehensive. As per the Rules of Procedure, their mandate includes:
- Scrutiny of the Demands for Grants of the concerned ministries before they are voted on by the House.
- Examination of Bills referred to them by the Chairman (Rajya Sabha) or the Speaker (Lok Sabha).
- Consideration of annual reports of ministries.
- Analysis of national basic long-term policy documents presented to the Houses. They are explicitly barred from considering matters of day-to-day administration. Ad-hoc Committees, on the other hand, have a highly focused and reactive mandate. A Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC), for instance, is set up to investigate a specific subject or event of great public importance, such as the JPC on the 2G Spectrum allocation case (2011). A Select Committee is formed to examine a particular Bill and nothing else.
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Procedural Authority: Both committee types derive their authority from Parliament. Their powers, privileges, and immunities are extensions of those of Parliament itself, as enshrined under Article 105 of the Constitution. However, the creation of a DRSC is a routine, annual administrative process managed by the Presiding Officers. The creation of an Ad-hoc Committee, especially a high-profile JPC, is a significant political event, often resulting from intense pressure from the opposition and requiring a specific motion to be passed by the House(s).
UPSC Angle
For the UPSC Civil Services Examination, examiners look for more than just a superficial definition. They expect candidates to demonstrate a nuanced understanding of how these committees contribute to parliamentary democracy.
- Conceptual Clarity: You must clearly articulate the difference between 'Standing' (permanent) and 'Ad-hoc' (temporary). Using precise terminology like "institutionalized oversight" for DRSCs versus "task-specific inquiry" for Ad-hoc committees will fetch higher marks.
- Significance and Role: The focus should be on the 'why'. Why are DRSCs called 'mini-Parliaments'? Because they enable detailed, non-partisan, and expert-driven scrutiny away from the public glare and political posturing of the main chamber. Why are JPCs constituted? To conduct in-depth investigations into complex issues or scandals that require cross-party consensus and carry significant political weight.
- Factual Accuracy: Mentioning the year of establishment of DRSCs (1993), the expansion (2004), the number of committees (24), and their composition (21 LS + 10 RS) is crucial. Citing specific examples of JPCs (e.g., Bofors, Harshad Mehta scam, 2G spectrum) demonstrates a strong command of the subject.
- Constitutional and Procedural Linkages: Connecting the committees' functions to the broader constitutional framework (e.g., Article 105, Article 118 for rules of procedure) and the Rules of Procedure of the Houses shows a deeper, integrated understanding.
Ultimately, a strong answer will contrast these two committee types not just by their features but by their distinct roles in making parliamentary work more effective, detailed, and accountable.