The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence (SCOD) is a department related standing committee (DRSC) of selected members of parliament, constituted by the Parliament of India, for the purpose of legislative oversight of the defence policies and decision making of the Ministry of Defence (MOD). It is one of the 24 DRSCs that have been mandated with the onerous task of ministry specific oversight.
The committee consists of thirty one members: twenty one elected from the Lok Sabha, the lower house of the Parliament, and not more than ten members from the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the Parliament. The term of office of the members is one year and they are elected yearly from their respective houses according to the principle of proportional representation by means of single transferable vote. The chairperson is appointed by the Lok Sabha speaker. A minister is not eligible to become a member of the committee and a member must relinquish their seat if they become a Minister.
The committee currently is headed by MP Kalraj Mishra, succeeding MP Maj Gen BC Khanduri (Retd.).
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/Departments of the Union Government. Formally setup in April, 1993, the committee used to consist of 45 members— 30 nominated by the Speaker from amongst the members of Lok Sabha and 15 members 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 31 members—21 from Lok Sabha and 10 from Rajya Sabha.
The inaugural chairperson of the committee was Buta Singh, former Minister of Home Affairs (1984–86) and Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution (1995-96) and a member of Indian National Congress.
Scope and Working
Functions
The functions of the committee are stated as below :
To consider the Demands for Grants of the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and make reports on the same which are to be tabled in both the houses. To examine such bills pertaining to the MOD as are referred to the Committee by the Speaker, Lok Sabha or the Chairman, Rajya Sabha. To consider annual report of the MOD. 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.
Working Procedures
Procedure relating to consideration of 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 of the Ministry of Defence under its jurisdiction during the aforesaid period and present/lay reports. The Report on Demands for Grants does not suggest anything of the nature of cut motions. The Demands for Grants are considered by the House in the light of the Reports of the Committee
Procedure relating to consideration of Bills
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. The Committee considers the general principles and clauses of the Bills referred to it and makes Reports thereon within the given time.
Current Composition
Keys: = 31 members
Comments in recent years
Rafale Fighter MMRCFA acquisition case (2013) The $8.9 billion deal for the purchase of 36 Rafale aircraft from France was delayed due to the Agusta Westland bribery scandal and a cautious stance taken by the government of India. The committee commented on the delay saying - "The committee are unhappy to note that although a considerable time has elapsed, negotiations with France on Rafale (fighter aircraft) could not be taken to a logical end".
“The committee takes serious view of the fact that our squadron strength is already short of what has been authorized by the Government and moreover, insufficiency in number of available pilots in the Air Force further deteriorates our operational capabilities,” said the parliament panel headed by Major General (retd.) B.C Khanduri.