Answer

Parliamentary Standing Committees are often referred to as “mini-parliaments” due to their role in reviewing, scrutinising, and debating policy matters in detail, much like the Parliament itself. Comprising members from both Houses, they examine legislation, budgets, and policies, providing recommendations to enhance governance. In India, these committees play a crucial role in maintaining accountability and deepening democratic processes by ensuring transparency and in-depth deliberation on key national issues.

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Parliamentary Standing Committees as “Mini-Parliaments”

• Detailed Legislative Scrutiny: Committees examine proposed legislation in detail, much like the Parliament, identifying gaps and suggesting improvements to ensure effective lawmaking.
  For example: The Committee on Food and Consumer Affairs suggested critical amendments to the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, like stricter penalties for misleading advertisements.
• Non-Partisan Debates: Standing Committees facilitate non-partisan discussions, providing a platform for members to engage in objective debate, free from political pressure seen in larger parliamentary sessions.
  For instance: The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) often scrutinises government spending without party biases, strengthening financial accountability.
• Expert Consultation and Witness Testimony: Committees invite experts, stakeholders, and civil society representatives to provide insights on legislation, ensuring a well-rounded perspective before decisions are made.
  For example: The Committee on Health and Family Welfare reviewed the Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2016, recommending regulations that balanced ethical and medical standards in surrogacy.
• Continuous Monitoring of Policy Implementation: By reviewing policies post-implementation, committees hold the government accountable and assess policy impact, embodying a check-and-balance function akin to Parliament’s role.
  For instance: The Committee on Public Undertakings evaluates the performance of public sector enterprises, suggesting improvements to enhance efficiency.
• Inclusive Representation Across Party Lines: Committees include members from multiple parties, ensuring diverse representation and perspectives in decision-making, mirroring the democratic setup of Parliament.
  For instance: The Standing Committee on Defence has representation from various parties, allowing for comprehensive deliberation on national security issues.

Challenges Faced by Parliamentary Standing Committees leading to their Declining Effectiveness

• Reduced Meeting Frequency and Attendance: Many committees meet less frequently, and low attendance by members reduces the depth of discussions and the quality of recommendations.
  For example: A PRS report suggests that attendance of MPs in Committee meetings is about 50%, which is lower than the 84% attendance seen during the Parliament sittings.
• Inadequate Time for Legislative Review: Complex bills are often referred to committees with limited time for review, affecting the quality of their analysis and recommendations.
  For example: In recent years, Parliament sat for only 67 days on average, restricting the time available for committee deliberations.
• Lack of Adequate Resources and Expertise: Committees often lack access to data, resources, and research support, hindering their ability to analyse complex legislative proposals thoroughly.
  For instance: The Environment Committee faces challenges in accessing real-time climate data, impacting its policy recommendations.
• Political Interference in Committee Decisions: Political agendas sometimes influence committee decisions, reducing the objectivity and non-partisan nature of discussions.
• Public Inaccessibility to Committee Reports: Limited public access to committee reports reduces transparency, preventing citizens from understanding committee recommendations on key issues.
  For instance: Committee reports on defence procurement remain classified, limiting public scrutiny.
• Delayed Presentation of Reports: Delays in submitting reports reduce the relevance of committee findings, particularly when swift legislative action is required.
• Underutilization of Committee Powers: Many committees underutilize their powers, such as summoning officials or conducting field visits, reducing the depth of their inquiries.
  For instance: The lack of consistent field visits to evaluate the implementation of welfare schemes limits the understanding of on-the-ground realities.

Reforms to Strengthen Parliamentary Democracy in India

• Mandating Regular Meetings and Reporting Timelines: Introducing mandatory minimum meeting frequencies and reporting timelines can ensure timely submission of relevant insights.
  For example: Regular meetings can ensure timely analysis of critical bills like the Personal Data Protection Bill, 2022 .
• Enhancing Resource Allocation and Research Support: Allocating dedicated research staff and data resources to committees can improve their ability to conduct evidence-based evaluations.
  For instance: Strengthening the Finance Committee with economic researchers could improve fiscal policy analysis.
• Making Committee Recommendations Binding for Specific Policies: Implementing a requirement for binding recommendations on critical issues like healthcare and defence would increase their impact.
  For instance: Binding recommendations for the Education Committee could enhance the impact of policies like the NEP 2020.
• Increasing Public Access to Reports and Proceedings: Publishing committee reports and allowing limited public access to sessions can increase transparency and public accountability.
  For instance: Making PAC reports on public spending accessible to citizens could improve financial accountability.
• Encouraging Cross-Party Collaboration Initiatives: Creating programs that encourage cross-party collaboration within committees can reduce partisanship and promote consensus-driven policy recommendations.

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Parliamentary Standing Committees play an integral role in strengthening India’s parliamentary democracy through legislative scrutiny and policy evaluation. However, their declining effectiveness due to resource constraints, lack of transparency, and political influence highlights the need for targeted reforms. By ensuring regular meetings, enhancing public access, and providing sufficient resources, India can leverage these “mini-parliaments” to promote accountable, transparent, and effective governance for an inclusive democratic future.