Question

In 2023, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has been named as the chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee on _______________.

• A. Chemicals and Fertilisers
• B. Housing and Urban Affairs
• C. Finance and Health
• D. External Affairs

Answer 1

Answer:

A. Chemicals and Fertilisers

Parliamentary Committees in India

• Parliamentary Committees are an essential part of the Indian parliamentary system. They function as extensions of the Parliament, performing detailed scrutiny of legislative and other matters.

• These committees are broadly classified into two categories: Standing Committees and Ad hoc Committees.

Standing Committees

• Standing Committees are permanent committees constituted on a regular basis. There are 24 Standing Committees in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha combined.

• These committees cover various subjects and ministries. For instance, there are committees for Finance, External Affairs, Defence, Food, Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution, Chemicals and Fertilisers, etc.

Parliamentary Committee on Chemicals and Fertilisers

• This is one of the Standing Committees of Parliament.

• Its primary role is to examine the demands for grants of the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers and make recommendations to the Lok Sabha thereon.

• The committee also scrutinizes the bills related to the ministry and reviews policies and programmes of the government concerning chemicals and fertilisers.

• Appointment of Chairperson: The Chairperson of a Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee is appointed by the Speaker of Lok Sabha (for committees predominantly serviced by Lok Sabha Secretariat) or the Chairman of Rajya Sabha (for committees predominantly serviced by Rajya Sabha Secretariat).

• In 2023, the chairperson of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Chemicals and Fertilisers was appointed as Shashi Tharoor, a Member of Parliament from the Congress party.