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With reference to the Parliament of India, which of the following Parliamentary Committees scrutinizes and reports to the House whether the powers to make regulations, rules, sub-rules, by-laws, etc. conferred by the Constitution or delegated by the Parliament are being properly exercised by the Executive within the scope of such delegation ?
Explanation
The correct answer is option B - Committee on Subordinate Legislation.
This committee examines and reports to the House whether the powers to make regulations, rules, sub-rules and bye-laws delegated by the Parliament or conferred by the Constitution to the Executive are being properly exercised by it.[2] The Committee scrutinizes all 'Orders' whether laid on the Table of the Council or not, issued in exercise of powers delegated by the Parliament as also those framed in exercise of powers conferred by the Constitution of India.[3] In both the Houses, the committee consists of 15 members and it was constituted in 1953.[1]
In contrast, the Committee on Government Assurances scrutinises the assurances, promises, and undertakings given by Ministers on the floor of the House[4], which is a different function altogether. The Rules Committee and Business Advisory Committee deal with procedural and scheduling matters of Parliament, not the scrutiny of delegated legislation. Therefore, the Committee on Subordinate Legislation is specifically designed to ensure that the Executive exercises delegated legislative powers within constitutional and statutory limits.
Sources- [1] Laxmikanth, M. Indian Polity. 7th ed., McGraw Hill. > Chapter 24: Parliamentary Committees > Committee on Subordinate Legislation > p. 278
- [2] Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 24: Parliamentary Committees > Committee on Subordinate Legislation > p. 278
- [3] https://cms.rajyasabha.nic.in/UploadedFiles/Procedure/HandBookForMembers/English/Handbook2022.pdf
- [4] https://prsindia.org/files/parliament/discussion_papers/Parliamentary%20Committees%20Increasing%20their%20effectiveness.pdf
PROVENANCE & STUDY PATTERN
Guest previewThis is a classic 'reward question' for reading standard static sources (Laxmikanth) faithfully. It tests the core definition of a standing committee without any twist. If you missed this, your static polity revision is dangerously weak.
This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.
Web source
Presence: 5/5
"ensure that powers to make rules, regulations, bye-laws, schemes or other statutory instruments hereinafter referred to as the 'Order' conferred by the Constitution or delegated by Parliament have been properly exercised within such conferment or delegation, as the case may be. The Committee scrutinizes all 'Orders' whether laid on the Table of the Council or not, issued in exercise of powers delegated by the Parliament as also those framed in exercise of powers conferred by the Constitution of India."
Why this source?
- States the function of scrutinising whether powers to make rules, regulations, bye‑laws, schemes or other statutory instruments conferred by the Constitution or delegated by Parliament have been properly exercised.
- Specifically says the Committee scrutinizes all 'Orders' issued in exercise of powers delegated by Parliament or conferred by the Constitution.
Web source
Presence: 5/5
"delegated by Parliament are being properly exercised within such conferment or delegation, as the case may be. The Committee examines such rule, regulation, bye-law, scheme or other statutory instrument framed in pursuance of the Constitution or the legislative functions delegated by Parliament to a subordinate authority, irrespective of the fact whether it is required to be laid before the House or not"
Why this source?
- Confirms the Committee examines rules, regulations, bye‑laws, schemes or other statutory instruments framed pursuant to the Constitution or powers delegated by Parliament.
- Specifies the Committee's remit is to see that such delegated powers are being properly exercised within the scope of the delegation.
Web source
Presence: 5/5
"Committee on Government Assurances The Committee on Government Assurances scrutinises the assurances, promises, and undertakings given by Ministers on the floor of the House."
Why this source?
- Identifies the Committee on Government Assurances as a separate committee and defines its function — scrutinising assurances, promises and undertakings given by Ministers on the floor of the House.
- By distinguishing its role, this passage implies that scrutiny of subordinate legislation is the remit of a different committee (see other passages).
- States the function of scrutinising whether powers to make rules, regulations, bye‑laws, schemes or other statutory instruments conferred by the Constitution or delegated by Parliament have been properly exercised.
- Specifically says the Committee scrutinizes all 'Orders' issued in exercise of powers delegated by Parliament or conferred by the Constitution.
- Confirms the Committee examines rules, regulations, bye‑laws, schemes or other statutory instruments framed pursuant to the Constitution or powers delegated by Parliament.
- Specifies the Committee's remit is to see that such delegated powers are being properly exercised within the scope of the delegation.
- Identifies the Committee on Government Assurances as a separate committee and defines its function — scrutinising assurances, promises and undertakings given by Ministers on the floor of the House.
- By distinguishing its role, this passage implies that scrutiny of subordinate legislation is the remit of a different committee (see other passages).
Laxmikanth, M. Indian Polity. 7th ed., McGraw Hill. > Chapter 24: Parliamentary Committees > Committee on Subordinate Legislation > p. 278
Strength: 5/5
“This committee examines and reports to the House whether the powers to make regulations, rules, sub-rules and bye-laws delegated by the Parliament or conferred by the Constitution to the Executive are being properly exercised by it. In both the I-Louses, the committee consists of 15 members. It was constituted in 1953.”
Why relevant
Explicitly states that the Committee on Subordinate Legislation examines and reports whether delegated powers to make regulations, rules, sub-rules and bye-laws are properly exercised by the Executive.
How to extend
A student could use this to infer that the task described is associated with the Committee on Subordinate Legislation (not Government Assurances) and thus test the statement by checking which committee has that remit.
Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 24: Parliamentary Committees > Committee on Subordinate Legislation > p. 278
Strength: 4/5
“This committee examines and reports to the House whether the powers to make regulations, rules, sub-rules and bye-laws delegated by the Parliament or conferred by the Constitution to the Executive are being properly exercised by it. In both the I-louses, the committee consists of 15 members. It was constituted in 1953.”
Why relevant
Repeats the rule that the committee examining delegated rule-making powers is the Committee on Subordinate Legislation and gives its composition and date of constitution.
How to extend
Use the committee name and role here to contrast with the Committee on Government Assurances and query official listings or rules to see which committee holds the stated function.
Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 92: World Constitutions > MATCHING PATTERN > p. 783
Strength: 4/5
“Committee on Subord inate Legislation 2. Exam in es the CAG's report on the appropriation accounts a nd ascertai ns whether the fund s voted by Pa rli ament are spent within the scope of the demand. c. Committee on Public Undertakings 3. Examines whether the powers to make rules and regulations delegated by the Parliament are properly exercised by the executive. D. Committee on Government Assurances. 4. Examines the reports and <I/count/ s of the public undertakings and finds out whether their affairs are being managed in accordance with sound business principles and prudent commercial practices.”
Why relevant
Notes that examining whether powers to make rules and regulations delegated by Parliament are properly exercised is the function of a committee (identified as Committee on Subordinate Legislation in nearby text).
How to extend
A student could map the exact phrasing of the task to this committee’s described function and thereby suspect the statement misattributes the function to Government Assurances.
Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 92: World Constitutions > 2018 TEST PAPER > p. 754
Strength: 3/5
“With reference to the Parliament of India, which of the following Parliamentary Committees scrutinizes and reports to the House whether the powers to make regulations, rules, sub-rules, by-laws, etc. conferred by the Constitution or delegated by the Parliament are being properly exercised by the Executive within the scope of such delegation? • (a) Committee on Government Assurances• (b) Committee on Subordinate Legislation• (c) Rules Committee• (d) Business Advisory Committee • 7. Consider the following statements: • 1. The Speaker of the Legislative Assembly shall vacate his/ her office if he/ she ceases to be a member of the Assembly. • 2.”
Why relevant
Contains a multiple-choice question that contrasts 'Committee on Government Assurances' with 'Committee on Subordinate Legislation' for the same description, indicating this is a commonly tested point about which committee does that work.
How to extend
Recognize from the question format that the correct answer is likely the Committee on Subordinate Legislation; a student could verify by consulting the rules/official committee descriptions.
Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 24: Parliamentary Committees > MEANING > p. 270
Strength: 3/5
“~MEANING The Parliament is too unwieldy a body to deliberate effectively the issues that come up before it. The functions of the Parliament are varied, complex and voluminous. Moreover, it neither has adequate time nor necessary expertise to make a detailed scrutiny of all legislative measures and other matters. Therefore, it is assisted by a number of committees in the discharge of its duties. The Constitution of India makes a mention of these committees at different places, but without making any specific provisions regarding their composition, tenure, functions, etc. All these matters are dealt by the rules of two Houses.”
Why relevant
Explains that Parliament uses specialized committees (created under House rules) to scrutinize detailed matters it cannot handle directly.
How to extend
Use this general rule to understand that specific scrutiny tasks (like checking delegated rule-making) are allocated to a specifically named committee—so one should check which committee’s remit matches the task.
Explicitly states that the Committee on Subordinate Legislation examines and reports whether delegated powers to make regulations, rules, sub-rules and bye-laws are properly exercised by the Executive.
A student could use this to infer that the task described is associated with the Committee on Subordinate Legislation (not Government Assurances) and thus test the statement by checking which committee has that remit.
Repeats the rule that the committee examining delegated rule-making powers is the Committee on Subordinate Legislation and gives its composition and date of constitution.
Use the committee name and role here to contrast with the Committee on Government Assurances and query official listings or rules to see which committee holds the stated function.
Notes that examining whether powers to make rules and regulations delegated by Parliament are properly exercised is the function of a committee (identified as Committee on Subordinate Legislation in nearby text).
A student could map the exact phrasing of the task to this committee’s described function and thereby suspect the statement misattributes the function to Government Assurances.
Contains a multiple-choice question that contrasts 'Committee on Government Assurances' with 'Committee on Subordinate Legislation' for the same description, indicating this is a commonly tested point about which committee does that work.
Recognize from the question format that the correct answer is likely the Committee on Subordinate Legislation; a student could verify by consulting the rules/official committee descriptions.
Explains that Parliament uses specialized committees (created under House rules) to scrutinize detailed matters it cannot handle directly.
Use this general rule to understand that specific scrutiny tasks (like checking delegated rule-making) are allocated to a specifically named committee—so one should check which committee’s remit matches the task.
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