Subject: Indian Polity

Parliamentary committees serve as the eyes, ears, and hands of the Parliament, playing a crucial role in ensuring effective parliamentary oversight and governance. The Estimates Committee, often called the 'Continuous Economy Committee', exemplifies this through its comprehensive examination of budgetary allocations and administrative efficiency.

Significance of Parliamentary Committees

1. Detailed Scrutiny and Expertise:

• Enable thorough examination of complex legislative and policy matters through specialized focus and expertise.
• Provide platform for in-depth analysis of technical subjects through expert consultations and stakeholder interactions.

2. Bipartisan Cooperation:

• Foster collaboration across party lines through smaller group discussions and consensus-building.
• Help overcome political deadlocks through focused deliberations (e.g., GST Bill discussions in parliamentary committees).

3. Administrative Oversight:

• Monitor government functioning and ensure accountability through regular reviews and reports.
• Strengthen parliamentary control over executive through detailed scrutiny of policies and programs.

Role of Estimates Committee

1. Financial Oversight:

• Examines budget estimates to suggest alternative policies for efficiency and economy.
• Has submitted over 1067 reports between 2000-2025, demonstrating its active role in financial scrutiny.

2. Administrative Efficiency:

• Suggests improvements in organization, methods, and administrative reforms.
• Reviews implementation of policies and programs across ministries/departments.

3. Policy Recommendations:

• Proposes alternative policies to bring efficiency and economy in administration.
• Makes recommendations for better utilization of financial resources.

4. Continuous Monitoring:

• Functions as a permanent body examining various aspects of administration throughout the year.
• Ensures regular follow-up on implementation of recommendations.

The effectiveness of parliamentary committees, particularly the Estimates Committee, is evident in their contribution to better governance through systematic scrutiny and informed decision-making. Their role becomes even more critical in the context of India's complex parliamentary democracy, where they serve as specialized instruments of parliamentary control over executive actions and public expenditure.