• Formation year: The DRSCs were set up in 1993 on the basis of reports of rules committees of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. Presently, there are 24 DRSCs – 8 under Rajya Sabha and 16 under Lok Sabha.
• Composition: Each DRSC consists of a maximum 31 members, of which 21 members are nominated by the Speaker from amongst members of Lok Sabha and 10 members are nominated by the Chairman from amongst members of the Rajya Sabha.
• Chairman: Chairpersons to 8 committees under the Rajya Sabha is appointed by the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha while chairpersons to 16 committees under the Lok Sabha is appointed by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha.
• Tenure: Tenure of all members, including the chairman, is one year.
• Functions: 
  • To consider the Demands for Grants of the concerned Ministries/ Departments and make a report on the same to the Houses. The report should not suggest anything of the nature of cut motions.
  • To review those Bills connected to Ministries/Departments that have been referred to the Committee by either the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha or the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, and to prepare a report on such bills.
  • To consider annual reports of Ministries/Departments and make reports on the same.
  • To assess national fundamental long-term policy documents presented to the Houses, if referred to the Committee by the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha or the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, and to create reports accordingly.

Overview of Key Parliamentary Committees and Their Functions

Evaluating the Role and Functionality of Parliament in a Democratic Framework

In a parliamentary democracy, the executive branch is part of the legislature. The policy agenda of the executive finds its expression through various bills introduced in the parliament by different ministers. Parliament, as a supreme law making body, then passes such bills to reflect the popular will of citizens. But it would be wrong to consider the parliament as merely a law making body.

Parliament performs multifarious functions, using powers bestowed upon it by the Constitution,  which range from ensuring accountability of the government to giving voice to voiceless and power to powerless. The functions performed by the parliament affect the lives of common citizens to a great extent. 

Powers and functions of the Parliament  in a Democracy

• Legislative powers and Functions: Law-making is the primary function of the Parliament. Parliament reviews, examines, discusses and influences the final shaping of bills proposed by the executive. The parliament can make laws on subjects mentioned in the Union and concurrent list of the seventh schedule. Furthermore, Parliament possesses the authority to legislate on subjects not explicitly listed in any of the categories within the seventh schedule.
• Controlling the executive: The government is answerable to the Parliament for all of its acts or those of its officials. The Parliament exercises control over the executive through questions, various motions, and committees of the parliament. Through this function, parliament ensures democratic functioning of the government within the boundaries demarcated by the Constitution.
• Financial Powers and functions: No taxes can be collected and no money can be spent by the government without the approval from the Parliament. This indicates the financial control exercised by the Parliament on activities of the government.
• Judicial Powers and functions: The Parliament is endowed with powers to remove some of the highest constitutional functionaries like the President, the Vice-President, Judges of the Supreme Court, etc. When parliament exercises such powers, it acts as a quasi-judicial body. 
• Constituent powers and functions: The Parliament is not only an ordinary law making body but also a constituent body. While exercising its constituent powers under article 368, the parliament can amend any part of the constitution. But this power to amend the constitution is a limited power as it is subjected to judicial review.
• Grievance redressal: Grievances of the people are effectively given an expression through the questions and motions moved by their representatives in the Parliament.
• Conflict resolution: The parliament provides a platform for diverse opinions on issues affecting the society as a whole. Debates and discussions on sensitive issues bring out the underlying tensions and resentments in the society. The in-depth deliberations about issues such as secularism, regionalism, communalism, etc. on the floor of the parliament paves the way for assimilation of new ideas and resolution of conflicts.
• Dissemination of information: The answers provided by ministers to the questions, detailed debates & discussions on issues of national importance, reports of various parliamentary committees, etc. provide a rich, accurate and authentic repository of information to the public.
• Building leadership for future: The Parliament acts as a national reservoir and nursery of political leadership. Parliamentarians gain invaluable experience through participation in the functioning of the parliament, this experience helps in building a strong leadership for the future.