The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance (SCOF) is a department related standing committee (DRSC) constituted by the Parliament of India comprising selected members of parliament for the purpose of legislative oversight on the policies and decision making of the following four ministries: Ministry of Finance (MoF) Ministry of Corporate Affairs Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation NITI Aayog (succeeding the Planning Commission)
The committee consists of thirty-one members, twenty-one elected by Lok Sabha, the lower house of the Parliament, and not more than ten members of Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the Parliament. The members are nominated every year from amongst the members of Lok Sabha by the Lok Sabha Speaker and from amongst the members of Rajya Sabha by the Rajya Sabha Chairman. Efforts are made as far as possible to allocate seats in proportion to party strength in respective houses. The chairperson is appointed by the Lok Sabha speaker. The term of office of the members is one year. A minister is not eligible to become a member of the committee. If a member after his election to the committee becomes a Minister, he ceases to be a member from the date of such appointment.
The committee currently is headed by Veerappa Moily, succeeding Yashwant Sinha from the 15th Lok Sabha.
History
Following the adoption of the Reports of Rules Committees of the 10th Lok Sabha by the two houses on 29 March 1993, the way was paved for the setting up of the seventeen Departmentally Related Standing Committees (DRSCs) covering under their jurisdiction all the ministries or departments of the Government of India. Formally set up in April 1993, the committee used to consist of 45members— 30 nominated by the Speaker from amongst the members of Lok Sabha and 15members nominated by the chairman, Rajya Sabha from amongst the members of Rajya Sabha.
However, during the re-structuring of DRSCs in July 2004 by the 14th Lok Sabha, the membership was reduced to 31members—21 from Lok Sabha and 10 from Rajya Sabha.
The inaugural chairperson of the committee was Debi Prasad Pal, a former Minister of State for Finance (1995–96), member of the 10th Finance Commission, retired judge of the Calcutta High Court and member of the Indian National Congress.
Scope and Working
Scope
The functions of the committee are stated as below:
To consider the Demands for Grants of the concerned ministries or departments, preparing reports on the same which are to be tabled in both the houses. To examine such bills pertaining to the oversight ministries as are referred to the committee by the Speaker, Lok Sabha or the Chairman, Rajya Sabha. To consider the annual reports of the concerned ministries or departments. To consider national basic long-term policy documents presented to the houses, if referred to the committee by the Speaker, Lok Sabha or the chairman, Rajya Sabha.
The Standing Committees shall not consider the matters of day-to-day administration of the department.
Proceedings, Draft Reports and Minutes of the committee are treated as ‘Confidential’ until the concerned reports are presented to Parliament.
Working
Working of the committee has been designed so as to keep individual opinions and statements as confidential, so, that the atmosphere within the committee is more open to discussion without the need to toe the party line or indulge in political . The report presented by the committee "is based on a broad consensus and has persuasive value to be treated as considered advice. Hence it is not binding in nature. It is for the minister in charge of the Bill or any member to move necessary amendments in the House in the light of the recommendations or suggestions made by the committee.
It ensures that detailed scrutiny of government finances, legislation and working continues to take place even if Parliament sessions are disrupted. With a representation of members from across political parties, these committees also act as a consensus-building platform.
Demands for Grants
After the general discussion on the budget in the House is over, the Lok Sabha is adjourned for a fixed period. The Committee considers the Demands for Grants (DFGs) of the concerned ministries or departments under its jurisdiction during the aforesaid period and presents reports on them to the House. There is a separate report on the DFGs of each ministry or department.
Bills and Annual Reports
The committee considers only such bills introduced in either of the houses as are referred to it by the Speaker, Lok Sabha or the chairman, Rajya Sabha as the case may be.