Hubbry Logo
Estimates CommitteeEstimates CommitteeMain
Open search
Estimates Committee
Community hub
Estimates Committee
logo
7 pages, 0 posts
0 subscribers
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Estimates Committee
Estimates Committee
Estimates Committee
View on Wikipedia
from Wikipedia

Estimates Committee
Financial Standing Committee
18th Lok Sabha
Founded1950; 75 years ago (1950)
Country India
Leadership
ChairpersonSanjay Jaiswal
Chairperson partyBharatiya Janata Party
AppointerLok Sabha Speaker
Structure
Seats30; all from Lok Sabha
Political parties  BJP (16)

  INC (2)
  AIADMK (2)
  AITC (2)
  TDP (1)
  BJD (1)
  SS (1)
  BRS (1)
  CPI(M) (1)
  RJD (1)
  INLD (1)

  JDU (1)
Election criteriaThe members are elected every year from amongst its members according to the principle of proportional representation.
Tenure1 year
Jurisdiction
Purpose
  • Scrutinizing the functioning of government ministries and departments in terms of expenditure and utilization of funds
  • Suggest alternative policies in order to bring about efficiency and economy in administration
Sub-committees
  • Drought situation in the country pertaining to the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare
  • Education with special reference to the recent development regarding autonomy in Education
Rules and Procedures
Applicable rulesRule 310,311 & 312 (page 114 - 115)
This article is part of a series on the
Politics of India
Constitution
Government
Parliament
  • Vacant
Law and judiciary
Elections and politics
Administrative divisions
Federalism
Foreign relations
flag India portal

The Estimates Committee (India) is a committee of selected members of parliament, constituted by the Parliament of India (the Lok Sabha), for the purpose of scrutinising the functioning of government ministries and departments in terms of expenditure and utilisation of funds. It also suggests alternative policies in order to bring about efficiency and economy in administration. It also examines whether the finances are laid out within the limits of the policy implied in the estimates and also to suggest the form in which the estimates shall be presented to Parliament.[1] This committee along with the Public Accounts committee(PAC) and Committee on Public Undertakings (COPU) are the three financial standing committees of the Parliament of India.

The committee consists of thirty members, all elected from Lok Sabha, the lower house of the Parliament of India. The members are elected every year from amongst its members of the Lok Sabha, according to the principle of proportional representation by means of single transferable vote. 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 or continue to serve after appointment as a minister. There are no members from Rajya Sabha[2]

Currently the committee is headed by Sanjay Jaiswal from the Bharatiya Janata Party.[1][3]

History

[edit]

Although the committee existed pre-independence, post independence, it was established following directives by John Mathai. In his speech presenting the budget of 1950–51, Mathai outlined the role that had been envisaged, saying

As you, Sir, announced earlier in the session, we propose to ask the House to set up an Estimates Committee to scrutinize the expenditure of each Department of Government and of the Government as a whole. Personally I am looking forward to the work of the Estimates Committee when it is set up because I think in two directions it is going to exert a healthy influence upon the course of public expenditure. In the first place, the suggestions and criticisms which may be made by the Estimates Committee would, in my judgement, give a useful direction and guidance to the Government in the matter of regulating expenditure. Secondly I think the knowledge that the expenditure of Government and of the various Departments of Government would be examined in detail by an independent authority set up by the House would act as a deterrent to extravagance in public expenditure.

— John Mathai

Initially the membership of the committee was limited to 25 members, however, in 1956, the membership was expanded to 30 members.[2]

Scope and working

[edit]

The functions of the committee as enshrined in Rule 310 of Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha are:

  • To report what economies, improvements in organisation, efficiency or administrative reform, consistent with the policy underlying the estimates may be effected
  • To suggest alternative policies in order to bring about efficiency and economy in administration
  • To examine whether the money is well laid out within the limits of the policy implied in the estimates
  • To suggest the form in which the estimates shall be presented to Parliament.

The committee from time to time selects the estimates pertaining to a ministry or department of the central government or such of the statutory and other bodies of the central government as may seem fit to the committee. The committee also examines matters of special interest which may arise in the course of its work or which are specially referred to it by the house or by the speaker.[4] The committee calls for preliminary materials from the relevant bodies in regard to the subjects selected for examination and also comments from non-officials connected with the subjects for the use of the members of the committee.

The committee does not exercise its functions in relation to such public sector undertakings as are allotted to the Committee on Public Undertakings by the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business of Lok Sabha or by the speaker.

Current composition

[edit]

Keys:   BJP (15)   INC (5)   SP (2)   AITC (1)   DMK (1)   TDP (1)   SS (UBT) (1)   YSRCP (1)   RLD (1)   JDS (1)   SKM (1) = 30 members

Party-wise membership of Public Accounts Committee
  1. INC 16.66 (16.1%)
  2. AITC 3.33 (3.22%)
  3. SP 6.66 (6.45%)
  4. BJP 50 (48.4%)
  5. JDS 3.33 (3.22%)
  6. SS(UBT) 3.33 (3.22%)
  7. YSRCP 3.33 (3.22%)
  8. RLD 3.33 (3.22%)
  9. DMK 3.33 (3.22%)
  10. SKM 3.33 (3.22%)
  11. JDU 3.33 (3.22%)
  12. TDP 3.33 (3.22%)
30 members from 18th Lok Sabha; tenure – 2024-25[5]
Sr. No. Portrait Name Constituency, state Party
1 Sanjay Jaiswal Paschim Champaran, Bihar BJP
2 Brijmohan Agrawal Raipur, Chhattisgarh
3 Pradan Baruah Lakhimpur, Assam
4 P. P. Chaudhary Pali, Rajasthan
5 Devusinh Chauhan Kheda, Gujarat
6 Sangeeta Kumari Singh Deo Bolangir, Odisha
7 Sudhir Gupta Mandsaur, Madhya Pradesh
8 Manish Jaiswal Hazaribagh, Jharkhand
9 Naveen Jindal Kurukshetra, Haryana
10 Jugal Kishore Sharma Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir
11 P. C. Mohan Bangalore Central, Karnataka
12 Bishnu Pada Ray Andaman and Nicobar Islands
13 Bhola Singh Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh
14 Manoj Tiwari North East Delhi, Delhi
15 Rajiv Pratap Rudy Saran, Bihar
16 Charanjit Singh Channi Jalandhar, Punjab INC
17 Deepender Singh Hooda Rohtak, Haryana
18 M. K. Raghavan Kozhikode, Kerala
19 Kumari Selja Sirsa, Haryana
20 V. Vaithilingam Puducherry
21 Awadhesh Prasad Faizabad, Uttar Pradesh SP
22 Iqra Choudhary Kairana, Uttar Pradesh
23 Kalyan Banerjee Serampore, West Bengal AITC
24 Dayanidhi Maran Chennai Central, Tamil Nadu DMK
25 B. K. Parthasarathi Hindupur, Andhra Pradesh TDP
26 Arvind Ganpat Sawant Mumbai South, Maharashtra SS (UBT)
27 Y. S. Avinash Reddy Kadapa, Andhra Pradesh YSRCP
28 Rajkumar Sangwan Baghpat, Uttar Pradesh RLD
29 M. Mallesh Babu Kolar, Karnataka JDS
30 Indra Hang Subba Sikkim SKM
Notes

Sub-committees

[edit]

Currently there are two sub-committees within the estimates committee. They are as follows:

Sub-Committees of Public Accounts Committee India
Sr. No. Sub-committee Date constituted Portrait Convener Portrait Alternate convener
1 Sub-Committee – I

Drought situation in the country pertaining to the Ministry of Agriculture

and Farmers Welfare

25 June 2018 Sanjay Shamrao Dhotre Bhagirath Prasad
2 Sub-Committee - II

Education with special reference to the recent development

regarding autonomy in Education

25 June 2018 Rajesh Pandey Arvind Ganpat Sawant

Current subjects of examination

[edit]

By the press release circulated on 17 May 2018, the committee released the subjects that it has selected for examination during the year 2018-19[6]

Subjects selected for examination by the committee for the year 2018-19 [6]
  • Import of Uranium for Nuclear Plants
  • Subsidising of Fertilizers
  • Mining Activities and Environment
  • Budgetary Reforms
  • Archives - Museums
  • PNG Network
  • Public Distribution System
  • Education
  • Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana
  • Drought situation in the Country
  • Impact of Mega Projects on Ecology
  • Botanical Survey of India and Botanical Gardens
  • Preparedness of Armed Forces – Defence Production and Procurement
  • Employment Generation and Role of MSME
  • Promotion of Yoga and Naturopathy
  • Rural Housing Fund
  • Amenities/Facilities at Public Places for persons with disabilities and Senior Citizens
  • Estimates and Functioning of National Highways
  • Estimates and Policy Aspects of the Department of Space
  • Estimates and Policy Aspects of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region
  • Estimates and Policy Aspects of the Ministry of Food Processing Industries
  • Estimates and Policy Aspects of the Ministry of Earth Sciences
  • Review of Major and Medium Ports 23. Estimates and Review of Tourism Ministry
  • Management and Protection of Bird Sanctuaries and National Parks
  • Performance of the National Action Plan for Climate Change (NAPCC)
  • All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE)
  • Minority Affairs
  • Collection and Utilisation of various kinds of Cess
  • Formulation of Standards for Edible Oil
  • Upgradation of Indian Post Offices
  • Enforcement Directorate and Recovery of Black Money
  • Swantantrata Sainik Samman Pension Scheme, 1980
  • Deen Dayal Upadhyay Gram Jyoti Yojna
  • Need for alternate cropping patterns in drought affected areas in India
  • Measuring Growth, Employment and Incomes
  • Review of Imports, Exports and Balance of Payments
  • Redevelopment Plan of Government Colonies
  • Review of Functioning of CGHS
  • Real Estate Regulatory Mechanism
  • Encroachment of Public Land for Commercial Activities
  • Electrification of Trains
  • Review of Infrastructural Projects in various Holy Cities
  • Land Policy for Non-Agricultural Lands 46. Border Area Development Programme

Probes in recent years

[edit]

Ganga rejuvenation (2016)

[edit]
Further information: National Mission for clean Ganga and National Ganga River Basin Authority

The committee noted in its May 2016 report that the river Ganga has been declared one of the ten most polluted rivers of the world. The committee outlined the gist of numerous recommendations as

In view of the incalculable damage caused to the "Nirmalta" and "Aviralta" of the river due to continued emptying of untreated sewage and industrial pollutants into the Ganga despite the efforts made under Ganga Action Plan –Iⅈ excessive use of chemical fertilizers in the Ganga basin leading to disposal of high levels of nitrogen and phosphorus which eventually drains into surface and subsurface water which is part of the Ganga river system and the multiplicity of authorities wanting in synergy, the Committee recommend that an overarching and empowered authority be set up for securing the 'nirmalta' and 'aviralta' and rejuvenation of the Ganga without further delay.

Indian activist G. D. Agrawal died at the age of 86, following a 15-week hunger strike aimed at protesting the state of the Ganges river. He was a former professor of environmental engineering at IIT Kanpur.[7]

Banking sector NPAs (2018)

[edit]
Further information: Non-performing asset

The supreme court in 2016 took suo muto cognisance of reports of bad debts asking RBI to share publicly names of all defaulters who owe over ₹500 crore (equivalent to ₹669 crore or US$79 million in 2023), since in 2015 the top ten public sector banks had written off ₹40,000 crore (equivalent to ₹540 billion or US$6.3 billion in 2023).[8] As of December 2017, this toxic debt problem worsened as it touched ₹899,000 crore (equivalent to ₹12 trillion or US$140 billion in 2023) with public sector banks(PSBs) accounting for over 86% of the pie roughly ₹777,000 crore (equivalent to ₹10 trillion or US$120 billion in 2023)[9][10] In September 2018, the Joshi led committee sent notices to the coal and power ministries asking for explanations on mounting NPAs in the sectors.[11]

GDP norms issue (2018)

[edit]

The committee noted in its report titled "Measuring growth, employment and income" that there are several parameters that need to be factored into the calculation of the GDP, like indicators to gauge the environmental resource decay and replenishment efforts made to compensate the loss concluding that - " The committee strongly recommends the government to have mechanisms by coming up with new measures of GDP estimation and statistical measurement of other socio-economic factors "[12][13]

Chairpersons

[edit]

Chairpersons of the committee (1950–present)

[edit]
Sr. No. Name Term of office Terms Political party

(Alliance)

1 M. A. Ayyangar 1950-54 4 INC
2 Balwantray G. Mehta 1954-59 5
3 H.C. Dasappa 1959-63 4
4 Arun C. Guha 1963-67 4
5 P. Venkatasubbaiah 1967-69 2
6 M. Thirumala Rao 1969-71 2
7 Kamal Nath Tewari 1971-74 3
8 R K. Sinha 1974-76 2
9 Bhagwat Jha Azad 1976-77 1
10 Satyendra Narayan Sinha 1977-79 2
11 Baldev Prakash 1979 partial JP
12 S.B.P. Pattabhi Rama Rao 1980-82 2 INC
13 Bansi Lal 1982-85 3
14 Chintamani Panigrahi 1985-86 1
15 Chandra Tripathi 1987-88 1
16 Asutosh Laha 1988-89 1
17 Jaswant Singh 1990-91 1 BJP
18 Manoranjan Bhakta 1991-93 2 INC
19 Krupasindhu Bhoi 1993-95 2
20 S.B. Sidnal 1995-96 1
21 Rupchand Pal 1996-98 2 CPI(M)
22 Madhukar Sarpotdar 1998-99 1 SS
23 Ummareddy Venkateswarlu 1999-2004 5 INC
24 C. Kuppuswami 2004-09 5 DMK
25 Francisco Sardinha 2009-14 5 INC
26 Murli Manohar Joshi 2014-19 5 BJP
27 Girish Bapat 2019-24 5
28 Sanjay Jaiswal 2024-incumbent 1

Longest serving chairpersons of committee on Estimates

[edit]
Sr. No. Name Terms Years Party
1 Balwantray G. Mehta 1954-59 5 INC
2 Ummareddy Venkateswarlu 1999-2004 5
3 C. Kuppuswami 2004-09 5 DMK
4 Francisco Sardinha 2009-14 5 INC
5 Murli Manohar Joshi 2014-19 5 BJP
6 M. A. Ayyangar 1950-54 4 INC

Reports published

[edit]

As part of its oversight process the committee has published quite a number of reports over the course of its existence. The committee has published a total of 1118 reports from 1950 to 2018. Out of these, 624 are the original reports and 494 are reports on action taken by the government on corresponding reports of the committee.

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Estimates Committee

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
The Estimates Committee is a standing financial committee of the , comprising 30 members elected annually from among its ranks, tasked with scrutinizing the estimates of expenditure presented in the Union Budget to recommend economies, enhancements in organizational efficiency, and administrative reforms consistent with underlying policy objectives. First constituted in 1950 on the recommendation of Finance Minister John Mathai, it traces its origins to pre-independence financial oversight mechanisms but operates independently of policy formulation, focusing instead on post-budget implementation and resource utilization to ensure fiscal accountability without delving into matters reserved for other committees like the . The committee's functions include selecting specific ministries or departments for in-depth review, examining government responses to its prior reports via action taken statements, and reporting findings to the , thereby bolstering parliamentary oversight of executive spending without binding authority over appropriations. Its non-partisan ethos—despite the chair typically from the ruling party—emphasizes evidence-based suggestions for reallocating underutilized funds and streamlining operations, as evidenced in historical reports urging reforms in sectors like defense and enterprises. Over decades, it has influenced incremental efficiencies, such as identifying surplus allocations and advocating audits, though its impact is constrained by reliance on executive compliance and limited scope to avoid policy critique.

Overview and Establishment

Historical Context and Formation

The Estimates Committee traces its roots to the post-independence imperative for parliamentary control over executive expenditure, building on colonial-era precedents such as the Standing Finance Committee formed in 1921 under the , which advised on financial proposals but lacked comprehensive scrutiny powers. Following India's attainment of in and the of the in 1950, there emerged a recognized need to institutionalize mechanisms preventing arbitrary spending by the executive, emphasizing efficiency and economy in public finances within India's federal system. This adaptation of British parliamentary traditions, where committees like those in the reviewed estimates, was tailored to empower the as the primary legislative body for budgetary oversight. The committee was formally established on the recommendation of Finance Minister John Mathai, who advocated for a dedicated body to examine appropriation estimates prior to their approval. On April 3, 1950, the Provisional Parliament passed a resolution electing its inaugural 30 members from the Lok Sabha, with the committee officially constituted by April 10, 1950, marking it as one of the first standing financial committees in independent India. Unlike policy-oriented reviews, its mandate from inception focused solely on post-budgetary analysis of spending efficiency, avoiding interference in executive policy decisions. Early operations underscored the committee's role in fostering fiscal discipline; its initial meetings in 1950 scrutinized ministry-specific estimates, producing reports that highlighted potential savings and administrative improvements without questioning the underlying allocations. This foundational approach laid the groundwork for ongoing parliamentary , reflecting a deliberate design to balance executive autonomy with legislative vigilance in .

Core Mandate and Objectives

The Estimates Committee of the is mandated to scrutinize the budget estimates, with a primary focus on examining demands for grants presented by ministries and departments to , aiming to identify opportunities for economies, enhancements in organizational efficiency, and administrative reforms that align with underlying policy objectives. This pre-approval review process emphasizes proactive fiscal oversight, suggesting alternative implementations or reallocations that could achieve policy goals at lower cost or with greater effectiveness, without delving into the merits of policy decisions themselves. For instance, under Rule 310 of the Lok Sabha's Rules of Procedure, the committee reports on potential savings and improved resource utilization in specific expenditure heads, such as operational inefficiencies or redundant programs, based on from departmental data and expert inputs. A core objective is to promote value for money in public spending through causal examination of expenditure patterns, highlighting instances of over-allocation or ineffective mechanisms that lead to suboptimal outcomes, such as duplicated efforts across agencies or underutilized funds. The committee's reports often recommend evidence-based adjustments, like reallocating resources from low-impact areas to high-priority ones, drawing on quantitative analysis of past spending trends and projected needs to foster budgetary restraint. This approach underscores a commitment to empirical fiscal realism, prioritizing measurable efficiency gains over expansive spending. In distinction from other parliamentary financial committees, the Estimates Committee's mandate centers on anticipatory budgetary control rather than retrospective accountability; it differs from the , which audits actual expenditures post-facto to verify compliance with appropriations, and from the , which targets performance evaluation of specific public enterprises. This proactive orientation enables the committee to influence grant approvals before funds are disbursed, potentially averting inefficiencies that audits later uncover, though its suggestions remain advisory and non-binding on Parliament's voting process.

Functions and Procedures

Scope of Budgetary Scrutiny

The Estimates Committee examines the demands for grants of ministries and departments under the Union Budget, excluding those of the Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Railways, and Department of Atomic Energy, which fall under the purview of dedicated departmental standing committees for specialized oversight. This delimitation of scope, established since the committee's inception in 1950, prevents duplication of efforts and concentrates parliamentary review on civil expenditures where efficiency gains can be pursued without sector-specific technical complexities. Central to its mandate is the of expenditure through verifiable metrics, such as underutilization of allocated funds, cost-benefit analyses of programs, and suggestions for administrative reforms that align with existing policies without altering their objectives. The committee historically prioritized non-plan revenue expenditures—ongoing costs like salaries and maintenance—over plan outlays tied to developmental policies, though the formal distinction ended with the 2017-18 to streamline fiscal classification. Recommendations emphasize economies and organizational improvements, such as reallocating resources to mitigate fiscal deficits, grounded in empirical data from ministry performance rather than ideological preferences. To preserve fiscal impartiality, the scope deliberately avoids interrogation of policy merits, new scheme proposals, or domains like foreign affairs where expenditure is inextricably linked to strategic or diplomatic decisions. This boundary reinforces the committee's role in post-policy implementation review, ensuring scrutiny remains anchored in administrative prudence and quantifiable outcomes, such as fund absorption rates and alternative low-cost execution models for recurrent activities.

Operational Mechanisms

The Estimates Committee functions through a structured annual process commencing with the election of its 30 members by the Lok Sabha, typically following the formation of a new House or as directed by the Speaker, ensuring continuity in fiscal oversight without ministerial participation. Selection of subjects for examination occurs promptly after constitution, focusing on specific budget estimates from ministries, departments, or public sector bodies, guided by criteria such as magnitude of proposed expenditure, historical patterns of inefficiency, and alignment with national priorities outlined in the Union Budget presented in February. This selective approach limits scrutiny to 4-6 major subjects per year to enable thorough analysis rather than superficial coverage across all estimates. Evidence gathering initiates with formal requests for preliminary memoranda, including detailed expenditure data, performance metrics, and justifications from the concerned administrative ministries, supplemented by inputs from statutory bodies or non-official experts where relevant. Members then summon ministry officials and departmental heads for oral evidence sessions held in Parliament House, employing pointed, data-backed questioning to dissect variances between budgeted allocations and projected outcomes, probe causal factors in cost overruns or underutilization, and evaluate administrative efficacy without deference to unsubstantiated assertions. To ground assessments in observable realities, the conducts Speaker-approved study tours to relevant sites, facilities, or project areas, facilitating direct inspections and informal dialogues with on-ground personnel that reveal implementation gaps, though these yield no recordable evidence. This empirical orientation prioritizes verifiable metrics—such as utilization rates from audited accounts or outcome indicators—over anecdotal narratives, aiming to trace inefficiencies to specific policy, procedural, or failures. The process synchronizes with the budget cycle, with examinations intensifying post-Budget presentation to produce reports ahead of debates on demands for grants in March-April, allowing recommendations on economies or reallocations to exert timely influence on voting outcomes. Reports detail findings, causal analyses, and targeted suggestions, presented to the for tabling, with ministries required to furnish action taken notes within six months. This mechanism underscores the committee's role in preemptive fiscal correction, having yielded over 650 original reports since through rigorous, evidence-centric protocols.

Role of Sub-committees

Sub-committees, also referred to as study groups, are appointed by the Estimates Committee on an ad-hoc basis to conduct detailed examinations of specific subjects or ministries' expenditure estimates, enabling focused scrutiny that complements the main committee's broader oversight. These groups are formed when the complexity of a topic, such as infrastructure projects or thematic policy implementations, warrants specialized attention, allowing members with relevant expertise to delve into granular aspects like cost efficiencies and resource allocation without overburdening the full committee. The chairman of the Estimates Committee, with the Speaker's approval, may associate external experts with these sub-committees to enhance analytical depth on technical matters. Findings from sub-committees are reported back to the parent for integration into its deliberations and final recommendations, ensuring that specialized insights the overall assessment of budgetary estimates. This mechanism distributes the workload across targeted groups, promoting comprehensive coverage of diverse expenditure heads while maintaining the 's emphasis on fiscal prudence and alternative suggestions for economy in spending. By handling in-depth reviews of select themes, such as major capital outlays in sectors like transportation or defense procurement, sub-committees prevent dilution of the main body's efficiency and foster evidence-based critiques of government proposals.

Composition and Governance

Membership Criteria and Election

The Estimates Committee comprises 30 members, all elected exclusively from the , excluding any representation from the to emphasize oversight by members with a direct electoral mandate from the public. This structure ensures that scrutiny of government expenditure remains anchored in the lower house's accountability to voters, rather than indirect state-based representation. Members are selected annually through election by the , utilizing the principle of via the system, which allocates seats roughly in line with party strengths in the house. This method promotes balanced participation across political affiliations while preventing dominance by any single group. A key criterion excludes all ministers from eligibility, safeguarding the committee's independence from executive influence and enabling impartial examination of budgetary estimates. The one-year tenure for members, renewed through fresh elections each year, is designed to avoid institutional entrenchment and inject ongoing perspectives into fiscal oversight, with the process typically occurring shortly after the 's formation or reconstitution. This annual cycle aligns with the committee's role under Rule 310 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in , focusing renewed attention on efficiency and economies in public spending without long-term insider dynamics.

Current Composition as of 2025

The Estimates Committee was reconstituted for the 2025-26 term on May 1, 2025, comprising 30 members exclusively from the , with no representation from the or inclusion of ministers. The members are elected annually by the in proportion to the representation of parties in the House, ensuring a balance that mirrors the current parliamentary composition following the general elections. Dr. Sanjay Jaiswal, a member from Paschim Champaran, serves as chairperson for the term ending April 30, 2026. The committee prioritizes members with backgrounds in finance, , or to facilitate effective scrutiny of expenditure estimates, though formal expertise criteria are not rigidly enforced beyond proportional election. Known members include (Shiv Sena-UBT), Awadhesh Prasad (), B. K. Parthasarathi (), and Bhola Singh (), reflecting diverse regional and partisan inputs. While no statutory quorum is specified, the committee maintains operational continuity from prior years, typically requiring a minimum of three members for meetings to proceed. This setup enables focused budgetary oversight without disruptions, aligned with the Lok Sabha's post-2024 majority dynamics where the holds a dominant position.

Leadership and Chairpersons

The chairperson of the Estimates Committee is appointed annually by the Speaker from among its 30 elected members, following the established convention that the role is allocated to a member of the ruling party or coalition. This practice, originating with the committee's constitution in 1950, promotes decisive leadership in fiscal oversight by aligning the chairperson's authority with the government's policy framework while enabling independent scrutiny of expenditures. The chairperson's duties encompass directing the selection of ministries and subjects for detailed examination, conducting sessions involving rigorous interrogation of officials on budgetary efficiencies and potential economies, and guiding the compilation of reports that propose administrative reforms. By finalizing these outputs, the chairperson helps mitigate executive overreach, ensuring parliamentary influence persists beyond budget approval through evidence-based recommendations on . Historical patterns demonstrate a consistent shift toward ruling party incumbents for enhanced actionability, as seen in appointments during periods of single-party dominance. For instance, under Bharatiya Janata Party-led governments since 2014, chairpersons including and, most recently, Dr. —appointed on April 30, 2025, for the 2025-26 term—have upheld this approach, fostering continuity in advocating expenditure rationalization.

Key Investigations

Major Historical Probes

In the 1950s, the Estimates Committee conducted probes into administrative inefficiencies, particularly overstaffing in government departments and public sector undertakings. Its 55th Report, presented on 22 March 1957, examined labor management in heavy engineering projects under the Ministry of Irrigation and Power, revealing surplus staff escalating from 1,644 on 1 April 1953 to 8,527 on 1 April 1956, alongside indirect labor costs reaching 198.8% of direct labor by 1955-56. Clerical staff had increased by 22% from 1951-52 to 1955-56 despite stagnant industrial staff expenditure, contributing to administrative wastes like idle time payments rising from Rs. 1.60 lakhs in 1952-53 to Rs. 73.77 lakhs in 1955-56, even amid surplus labor. The report recommended scientific norms, extension of piece-work systems to all direct labor, and rationalization of supervisory grades through promotions rather than direct recruitment, establishing a for data-driven staff optimization. Subsequent investigations targeted broader central government expenditure patterns. The committee's examination of administrative costs from 1951 to 1959 documented civilian staff growth from 5.8 to 7.2 , with clerical positions surging 78% and administrative/executive roles 52%, fueling non-Plan expenditure that absorbed Rs. 604 crores of additional without proportional output gains. This contributed to a deficit of Rs. 124 crores over 1956-60, highlighting inefficiencies such as unchecked post creations despite a 1957 drive that abolished only 429 positions, yielding modest savings of Rs. 19.47 s. Recommendations emphasized periodic work studies, bans, and ministerial reviews to curb redundant , influencing subsequent rationalizations. These early probes evolved from general drives toward causal analyses of recurrent deficits, as seen in findings on hidden surpluses from liberal labor norms and excessive payments totaling Rs. 27.14 lakhs in 1954-55 alone, which drained funds without addressing root inefficiencies like poor safety protocols. By the and into the 1980s, such empirical informed targeted interventions, including centralized to reduce duplication and multi-skilling to minimize amid overstaffing, fostering precedents for fiscal in ministry allocations.

Prominent Recent Examinations (2010s–2020s)

In 2016, the Estimates Committee examined the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation's efforts under the , focusing on pollution control, , and river cleaning initiatives. The Fifteenth Report identified significant implementation gaps, including delays in project execution, inadequate inter-agency coordination, and suboptimal utilization of allocated funds—such as unspent balances in key schemes despite allocations exceeding ₹20,000 since 2014—attributable to fragmented planning and weak enforcement of environmental norms. These findings prompted recommendations for centralized , stricter timelines, and real-time monitoring to address persistent pollution levels, where often exceeded permissible limits in urban stretches. The committee's 2018 probe into banking sector non-performing assets (NPAs) scrutinized lending practices across banks, uncovering systemic laxity in credit appraisal, of loans, and delays in recognition under RBI norms. Gross NPAs had escalated to ₹10.3 by the end of FY18, constituting 11.2% of gross advances, primarily from infrastructure and corporate sectors where promoter defaults were rampant due to over-leveraging without . The examination, informed by inputs including former RBI Governor Rajan's analysis of pre-2014 lending surges, advocated for robust recovery mechanisms like enhanced and Bankruptcy Code enforcement, forensic audits, and promoter accountability to curb and restore capital buffers strained by provisioning requirements exceeding ₹5 cumulatively. Also in 2018, the Estimates Committee reviewed GDP estimation norms amid the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation's release of back series data revising growth figures for 2004–2012, which controversially lowered UPA-era rates to 5–6% annually from prior 8% estimates. The scrutiny highlighted methodological inconsistencies in base year shifts—from 2004–05 to 2011–12—and data sourcing, questioning adjustments that appeared influenced by electoral timelines rather than empirical rigor, such as selective use of MCA-21 corporate filings over informal sector surveys. Recommendations emphasized safeguarding statistical independence through transparent revisions, peer-reviewed methodologies, and avoidance of ad-hoc recalibrations to prevent erosion of credibility in official economic indicators.

Reports and Outcomes

Structure and Content of Reports

The Estimates Committee has issued over 1,100 reports since its formation in April 1950, with a cumulative total of 1,184 reports comprising 656 original reports and 528 action taken reports as of 2022. These documents adhere to a consistent format that prioritizes evidentiary rigor and transparency, beginning with an introductory section outlining the committee's mandate, the budget estimates under scrutiny, and the methodology employed, such as selection of ministries or departments for examination. Central to each report is a detailed presentation of derived from formal hearings, including oral testimonies from administrative secretaries, financial advisors, and subject experts, as well as written submissions and departmental provided under parliamentary . This evidentiary foundation supports the core analytical sections, where findings identify discrepancies between allocated funds and actual utilization, highlight inefficiencies or wasteful spending patterns, and quantify potential fiscal savings through data-driven assessments of cost overruns or underperformance. Reports often incorporate benchmarks against international fiscal standards, such as comparative efficiency metrics from peer economies, to contextualize domestic practices and propose viable alternatives. The concluding portions feature actionable recommendations, framed as suggestions for reallocating resources toward higher-priority areas or implementing procedural reforms to curb extravagance, without legislative enforceability yet carrying weight in subsequent budgetary deliberations. Appendices typically reproduce verbatim evidence transcripts, minutes of sittings, and dissenting notes if any, ensuring verifiability and openness to public and parliamentary scrutiny. This structure underscores the committee's role in fostering causal accountability in by linking observed outcomes directly to expenditure decisions.

Implementation Tracking and Fiscal Impact

The Estimates Committee monitors the implementation of its recommendations primarily through Action Taken Reports (ATRs), which scrutinize government replies on each suggestion and are tabled in the for further review. These reports categorize responses as accepted and implemented, accepted but pending action, or not accepted, enabling ongoing oversight of budgetary adherence. Government departments submit detailed notes on progress, often highlighting partial adoption where full execution faces logistical or policy constraints, such as in procurement streamlining or resource reallocation across ministries. Acceptance rates for the committee's recommendations have been notably high in recent years, with the government endorsing 90 to 95 percent of suggestions, according to Speaker Om Birla's address at the Estimates Committee's 75th anniversary national conference on June 23, 2025. This elevated rate reflects constructive engagement, particularly in areas promoting expenditure efficiency, though actual implementation can lag due to inter-ministerial coordination challenges or evolving fiscal priorities. For example, follow-up examinations have documented government responses leading to procedural adjustments in public sector undertakings, enhancing accountability without always yielding immediate full compliance. Fiscal impacts from adopted recommendations are evident in targeted efficiencies, such as employee suggestion programs that have historically generated savings in operational costs across departments, as noted in mid-1960s probes. Over decades, these interventions—spanning reforms and ministry-specific reallocations—have cumulatively supported fiscal discipline by curbing excesses, though direct attribution to deficit reductions is indirect, intertwined with macroeconomic policies and trends. Comprehensive aggregation of savings remains limited, as effects manifest diffusely through avoided expenditures rather than isolated line-item cuts, underscoring the 's role in fostering long-term causal links between oversight and prudent resource use.

Achievements

Contributions to Expenditure Efficiency

The Estimates Committee examines budget estimates to determine whether proposed expenditures align with established policy objectives, recommending alternative approaches where economies can be achieved without compromising essential functions. This process encourages ministries to justify funding requests rigorously, promoting principles akin to zero-based evaluation by requiring fresh assessments of program necessities rather than incremental adjustments from prior years. Through such scrutiny, the committee has historically identified opportunities to eliminate redundancies in administrative structures and non-priority allocations, contributing to more disciplined fiscal planning across government departments. Empirical enhancements in stem from the committee's insistence on performance metrics and outcome evaluations in expenditure proposals, which has curbed allocations to schemes exhibiting low returns on , such as inefficient mechanisms lacking targeted delivery. For instance, recommendations emphasizing cost-benefit analyses have influenced revisions in frameworks, reducing leakages and redirecting resources toward higher-impact areas, as evidenced by iterative budgetary adjustments post-report submissions. Speaker highlighted on June 23, 2025, that the committee's consistent input has driven budgetary reforms aimed at optimizing public spending efficiency. By fostering a parliamentary culture of proactive oversight on expenditure growth, the counters tendencies toward unchecked welfare expansions, advocating for fiscal restraint through evidence-based critiques of expansive proposals. This systemic reinforces long-term , as seen in its facilitation of policy-aligned spending controls that prioritize sustainable resource allocation over populist increments.

Notable Successes in Oversight

The Estimates Committee has demonstrated significant influence in oversight by securing the adoption of its recommendations, which have prompted targeted policy refinements and enhanced fiscal prudence. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla noted that the government has accepted over 90% of the Committee's recommendations across its history, enabling refinements in public expenditure management and service delivery. This high acceptance rate underscores the Committee's role in enforcing , as evidenced by its examination of post-budget estimates leading to actionable economies and administrative tweaks in ministries. A concrete instance of policy impact arose from the Committee's 26th Report (17th Lok Sabha) on the Evaluation of Electric Vehicle (EV) Policy, presented in March 2023, which advocated for tax incentives, subsidy restructuring akin to two-wheelers, and a unified national EV framework to accelerate adoption and reduce import dependencies. These proposals influenced subsequent governmental actions, including the extension of tax rebates and road tax exemptions for EVs, aligning with broader incentives under schemes like FAME-II to promote sustainable mobility while optimizing public investment. In sectors like and , the Committee's scrutiny has yielded efficiencies by identifying redundancies and recommending organizational streamlining, such as in budgetary implementation tracking, which has supported long-term reductions in wasteful spending patterns verifiable through successive union budget analyses showing stabilized fiscal deficits post-reform periods. Such outcomes reflect the Committee's emphasis on evidence-based audits that challenge entrenched inefficiencies, fostering measurable improvements in without relying on unsubstantiated narratives of systemic underperformance.

Criticisms and Limitations

Structural and Procedural Weaknesses

The Estimates Committee lacks inherent punitive authority, functioning primarily through non-binding recommendations that rely on and executive cooperation rather than enforceable decisions. This structural limitation enables the executive to evade or delay of suggested economies or reforms, as the cannot compel compliance or impose sanctions on non-adherence. Its procedural mandate confines scrutiny to the efficiency and economy of expenditure implementation after parliamentary approval of budget estimates, explicitly excluding examination of underlying policy decisions or objectives. This narrow scope prevents the committee from addressing root causes of waste, such as allocations driven by policy choices that may prioritize ideological goals over fiscal prudence, thereby limiting its ability to probe causal factors in systemic inefficiencies. The committee's annual reconstitution, with members elected yearly from the on a basis, imposes time constraints that hinder sustained, in-depth investigations into chronic or recurring issues across fiscal cycles. With only selected ministries examined each year within a one-year tenure, continuity is disrupted, and comprehensive causal analysis of persistent expenditure patterns is often curtailed by the compressed timeline for report preparation and hearings.

Political and Practical Challenges

The Estimates Committee's membership, elected annually by the from its own ranks, typically mirrors the House's party composition, resulting in frequent dominance by the ruling party or coalition. This structure contrasts with the , conventionally chaired by an opposition member, potentially leading to moderated scrutiny of government expenditure estimates as majority members may align with executive priorities. Critics argue this dynamic fosters political influence, where partisan pressures can prioritize affiliation over objective fiscal probing, as observed in analyses of committee deliberations. Resource limitations exacerbate these issues, with the committee hampered by insufficient staffing and specialized expertise for handling modern tools like data analytics on vast budgetary datasets. Parliamentary records indicate that such constraints often confine reviews to high-level overviews, limiting the ability to detect inefficiencies or policy alternatives in real-time expenditure planning. For instance, the lack of dedicated personnel has been cited in evaluations as contributing to reliance on executive-provided , reducing independent verification. Debates over politicization intensify during periods of coalition governance, where fragmented alliances have delayed report finalization due to internal consensus-building demands, as evidenced in parliamentary productivity assessments from the 1990s and 2000s. These external pressures, combined with executive resistance to detailed queries, underscore broader challenges in maintaining impartial oversight amid India's multiparty system.

Recent Developments

75th Anniversary and National Conference (2025)

The National Conference of Estimates Committees of Parliament and State/UT Legislative Bodies was held on June 23-24, 2025, in Mumbai at Maharashtra Vidhan Bhavan to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Parliamentary Estimates Committee, established in 1950. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla inaugurated the event and released a souvenir marking the platinum jubilee, emphasizing the committee's historical role in promoting budgetary reforms, transparency, and alignment of public expenditures with national development goals, with 90-95% of its recommendations historically accepted by governments. The conference theme, "Role of Estimates Committee in Effective Monitoring and Review of Budget Estimates for Ensuring Efficiency and Economy in Administration," centered on enhancing fiscal oversight to curb wasteful spending and maximize welfare outcomes. Discussions highlighted the integration of modern technologies, including artificial intelligence, data analytics, and digital dashboards, to enable real-time tracking of expenditures, improve transparency, and support evidence-based scrutiny by committees. Birla advocated for strengthening oversight through technology, specialized training for committee members, and people-centric governance mechanisms, such as incorporating citizen feedback to ensure public funds are used prudently and directed toward developmental priorities rather than profligate norms. The event concluded with the unanimous adoption of six resolutions reaffirming the committees' mandate to review post-budget estimates for administrative efficiency and economy, while urging state-level bodies to adopt parliamentary best practices and develop action plans for technological empowerment and fiscal discipline. Attendees included Deputy Chairman Harivansh and chairpersons/members from various estimates committees, underscoring the conference's focus on collaborative modernization to sustain the Estimates Committee's legacy of accountability in .

Reforms for Enhanced Effectiveness

Following the adoption of resolutions at the National Conference of Chairpersons of Committee on Estimates in June 2025, proposals have focused on strengthening the Estimates Committee's auditing powers to include more robust evaluations of programs. These reforms advocate for expanded oversight to assess not only financial outlays but also the , , and social impact of welfare schemes, enabling proactive identification of underperforming initiatives. Such enhancements would build on the committee's existing mandate by incorporating outcome-based metrics, allowing for evidence-based recommendations that prioritize fiscal discipline over policy adherence alone. A key proposal involves granting improved access to real-time data and digital tools, including AI-driven , to facilitate precise monitoring of . This would empower the committee to conduct dynamic scrutiny of expenditures as they occur, rather than post-facto reviews, thereby uncovering discrepancies between allocated funds and actual outcomes more swiftly. Proponents argue that integrating these empirical technologies would enhance the committee's capacity to validate efficiency claims with verifiable data, reducing reliance on ministerial self-reporting and mitigating risks of obscured inefficiencies. Further reforms emphasize cross-legislature coordination by institutionalizing mechanisms for between the parliamentary Estimates Committee and analogous bodies in state legislatures and union territories. This includes establishing knowledge-sharing platforms for best practices and joint thematic reviews, aiming to create a unified framework for nationwide fiscal oversight. Such collaboration, drawn from conference outcomes, seeks to harmonize standards and amplify the committee's influence on subnational spending patterns, fostering consistent application of efficiency principles across federal structures. Additional suggestions, such as enabling pre-budget examinations of proposals, have been floated to allow anticipatory reforms, though these remain under discussion for legislative feasibility.

References

  1. https://sansad.in/getFile/LSSCOMMITTEE/Estimates/Introduction/Committee_Introduction.pdf?source=loksabhadocs
  2. https://www.pmfias.com/estimates-committee/
  3. https://prepp.in/news/e-492-estimates-committee-of-parliament-indian-polity-upsc-notes
  4. https://prsindia.org/parliamentary-committees/estimates
  5. https://testbook.com/ias-preparation/estimates-committee
  6. https://vajiramandravi.com/current-affairs/estimates-committee/
  7. https://www.iasgyan.in/daily-current-affairs/estimates-committee
  8. https://www.insightsonindia.com/2025/06/23/estimate-committee/
  9. https://indianexpress.com/article/upsc-current-affairs/upsc-essentials/knowledge-nugget-parliamentary-estimates-committee-standing-upsc-10088073/
  10. https://byjus.com/free-ias-prep/estimates-committee/
  11. https://sansad.in/ls/committee/introduction
  12. http://www.arthapedia.in/index.php/Estimates_Committee
  13. https://byjus.com/free-ias-prep/parliamentary-committees/
  14. https://eparlib.sansad.in/bitstream/123456789/57942/1/ec_02_79_1959.pdf
  15. https://indianexpress.com/article/business/budget/budget-2017-18-panel-to-examine-merger-of-plan-non-plan-expenditure-3088604/
  16. https://plutusias.com/the-estimates-committee-a-critical-mechanism-for-fiscal-oversight/
  17. https://mpa.gov.in/sites/default/files/Manual2018_0_0.pdf
  18. https://sansad.in/getFile/LSSCOMMITTEE/Estimates/Introduction/Introduction_for_Website_%282023-24%29.pdf?source=loksabhadocs
  19. https://egyankosh.ac.in/bitstream/123456789/82442/1/Unit-14.pdf
  20. https://www.civilsdaily.com/news/pib-estimates-committee-of-parliament/
  21. https://forumias.com/blog/estimates-committee/
  22. https://www.newsonair.gov.in/sanjay-jaiswal-named-chair-of-estimates-committee-baijayant-panda-to-head-psu-panel/
  23. https://www.facebook.com/LOKSABHASECTT/posts/honble-speaker-lok-sabha-has-appointed-dr-sanjay-jaiswal-mp-as-the-chairperson-o/1099679092187770/
  24. https://sansad.in/getFile/bull2mk/2025/30-04-25.pdf?source=loksabhadocs
  25. https://eparlib.sansad.in/bitstream/123456789/56636/1/ec_01_55_1956.pdf
  26. https://eparlib.sansad.in/bitstream/123456789/57963/1/ec_02_92_1959.pdf
  27. http://164.100.60.131/lsscommittee/Estimates/16_Estimates_15.pdf
  28. http://164.100.60.131/lsscommittee/Estimates/16_Estimates_19.pdf
  29. https://www.shankariasparliament.com/current-affairs/estimates-committees-report-on-non-performing-assets
  30. https://www.scribd.com/document/388322475/Parliamentary-Note-Raghuram-Rajan
  31. https://www.mospi.gov.in/sites/default/files/press_release/Press-Note-28Nov2018.pdf
  32. https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=2138925
  33. https://www.newsonair.gov.in/estimates-committee-consistently-contributes-to-budgetary-reforms-says-ls-speaker-om-birla/
  34. https://eparlib.nic.in/bitstream/123456789/4304/1/ec_3_44_1964.pdf
  35. https://prsindia.org/budgets/primers/overseeing-public-funds-how-scrutinise-budgets
  36. https://www.notopedia.com/board-details/43744/1/Estimates-Committee-Of-Parliament:-Role%2C-Powers-&-75th-Anniversary
  37. https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2138925
  38. https://m.economictimes.com/industry/renewables/parliamentary-estimates-committee-recommends-tax-incentives-to-boost-ev-adoption/articleshow/98991724.cms
  39. https://www.livemint.com/news/india/house-panel-suggests-national-policy-on-evs-11679667553271.html
  40. https://visionias.in/current-affairs/news-today/2024-02-19/economics-%28indian-economy%29/committee-on-estimates-coe-submitted-report-on-action-taken-by-the-government-on-recommendations-contained-in-its-26th-report
  41. https://prsindia.org/policy/report-summaries/recent-budgetary-reforms-for-better-management-of-government-expenditure
  42. https://uppcsmagazine.com/are-committees-useful-for-parliamentary-work-a-discussion-on-the-role-of-the-estimates-committee/
  43. https://www.civilsdaily.com/indias-parliament-a-silent-spectator-in-budget-decisions/
  44. https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/strengthening-parliamentary-committees
  45. https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/10/03/q16-explain-the-structure-of-the-parliamentary-committee-system-how-far-have-the-financial-committees-helped-in-the-institutionalization-of-the-indian-parliament-15/
  46. https://www.civilsdaily.com/declining-productivity-is-the-indian-parliament-losing-its-edge/
  47. https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2138756
  48. https://www.newsonair.gov.in/2-day-national-conference-of-estimates-committees-to-begin-in-mumbai-to-mark-75th-anniversary/
  49. https://www.instagram.com/p/DLO-LlKPrIH/
  50. https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2139227
  51. https://www.deccanherald.com/india/maharashtra/parliamentary-committees-must-use-tools-like-ai-says-birla-3600973
  52. https://www.sanskritiias.com/current-affairs/national-conference-of-estimates-committees-2025
Add your contribution
Related Hubs
User Avatar
No comments yet.