Answer:

Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committees (DRSCs) are permanent committees established to scrutinise the working of various ministries and departments in a structured manner. They ensure parliamentary control over the executive by reviewing policies, budgets, and bills. This mechanism enables effective oversight and fosters transparency in governance, holding the administration accountable for its actions.

How DRSCs Keep the Administration on its Toes:

• Regular Oversight of Ministries: DRSCs conduct in-depth reviews of ministries’ policies and expenditures, ensuring alignment with objectives and compelling ministries to justify actions, keeping the administration accountable.
  For example: The Committee on Agriculture regularly reviews agriculture schemes, improving their efficiency.
• Detailed Scrutiny of Bills: DRSCs ensure bills receive adequate expert examination and stakeholder consultations before approval, preventing hasty decisions forcing the administration to revisit provisions and ensure alignment with public interests.
  For example: The Consumer Protection Act, 2019 was refined after thorough committee scrutiny.
• Accountability Through Reports: Committees produce detailed reports that highlight inefficiencies or gaps in implementation, compelling the government to respond promoting a culture of accountability.
  For example: The National Medical Commission Act, 2019 incorporated numerous suggestions from the Health Committee’s report.
• Incorporation of Public Opinion: By holding consultations with experts and stakeholders, DRSCs ensure that policies reflect public sentiment and expert advice, keeping the administration aligned with ground realities.
  For example: The Parliamentary Committee on IT took inputs from various stakeholders for the Data Protection Bill.
• Cross-Party Cooperation: DRSCs operate in a relatively non-partisan manner, enabling collaborative decision-making across party lines promoting respect for parliamentary consensus and keeping the executive alert to bipartisan scrutiny.
  For example: The Standing Committee on Defence worked with all parties to review the budget allocation for military modernization.

Evaluation of DRSCs’ Working:

• Ensuring Comprehensive Policy Review: DRSCs have enabled detailed policy reviews across sectors, helping to align government actions with national objectives. This has improved governance outcomes.
  For instance: The Standing Committee on Education‘s review of NEP 2020 recommendations led to more inclusive education policies.
• Enhancing Legislative Expertise: The committees have facilitated specialised knowledge on complex issues by consulting experts, ensuring more informed policy discussions in Parliament.
  For instance: The Finance Committee consulted economists and financial experts for budgetary discussions, enhancing fiscal accountability.
• Bridge Between Public and Government: DRSCs serve as a conduit between public opinion and government policies, integrating feedback from various stakeholders into legislative processes.
  For example: The Committee on Environment incorporated public inputs for the Environmental Protection Act.
• Strengthening Parliamentary Democracy: The committee system has helped to decentralise decision-making, allowing for a wider range of voices to be heard in the parliamentary process.
• Improving Government Accountability: DRSCs have made the government more accountable by reviewing actions and demanding explanations on policy failures, thus reinforcing checks and balances.

Way Ahead for DRSCs:

• Increasing Tenure for Committees: Extending the tenure of committees to allow for continuous scrutiny would enhance the depth of their oversight and allow members to specialise in sectors.
  For example: The Kerala Assembly Committees have longer tenures of 30 months.
• Mandatory Referral of Bills: There should be a provision making the referral of important bills to committees mandatory, ensuring more rigorous examination before passing laws.
• Improving Resources and Expertise: Committees should be provided with more expert staff and research resources to improve the quality of their reports and recommendations.
  For instance: The Venkatachaliah Commission (2000) recommended strengthening committee resources.
• Curbing Partisanship: Ensuring that DRSCs function in a non-partisan manner through stronger norms would improve their effectiveness and impartiality.
  For instance: Clear guidelines on non-partisan conduct should be established for committee chairs and members.
• Ensuring Greater Participation: Measures to ensure better attendance and participation from committee members will improve the effectiveness of deliberations and reports.
  For instance: Digital tools can be introduced to track member attendance in committee meetings.

Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committees are crucial for ensuring government accountability and maintaining parliamentary control over the executive. While they have played a pivotal role in enhancing legislative scrutiny, there is a need to address their shortcomings, including partisan behaviour and limited resources. Strengthening these committees will ensure greater transparency and a robust democracy in the future.

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