Question map
In what way does the Indian Parliament exercise control over the administration?
Explanation
Parliament exercises oversight chiefly through its parliamentary committees which scrutinise government policy, examine administration, collect evidence and report to the House, thereby exercising control and influence over the executive [1]. Consultative Committees, though composed of members of both Houses and attached to ministries, serve as informal forums for discussion between Ministers and MPs on policies and implementation and are not parliamentary committees (they do not present reports to the House or work under the Speaker/Chairman’s direction), so they do not perform the formal oversight role attributed to parliamentary committees [3]. Other options (periodic reports by administrators; compelling issuance of writs) are not primary parliamentary control mechanisms—the former is not highlighted as a standard parliamentary device here and the latter is a judicial remedy.
Sources
- [1] https://cms.rajyasabha.nic.in/UploadedFiles/Committee/Introduction/English/commtt_introduction.pdf
- [2] Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 24: Parliamentary Committees > MEANING > p. 270
- [3] Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 24: Parliamentary Committees > CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEES > p. 279