Context: While the Indian Constitution enshrines checks and balances, legislative oversight has often been diminished. If India seeks ‘Maximum Governance’, it must also commit to ‘Maximum Accountability’, starting with an empowered and effective Parliament.
Relevance of the Topic: Mains: Issues in Parliamentary oversight mechanism in India.
Parliamentary Oversight Mechanism
- The Constituent Assembly opted for a Parliamentary system of governance because it ensures greater executive accountability through daily parliamentary oversight.
- Parliamentary oversight refers to the mechanism through which the legislature supervises and scrutinises the policies and actions of the executive. This includes:
- Question Hour and Zero Hour
- Parliamentary and Department-related Standing Committees (DRSC)
- Financial Committees like Estimates Committee, Public Accounts Committee and Committee on Public Undertakings
- No-confidence motions, adjournment motions, and debates on bills and budgets
Weakening Parlimanetary Oversight Mechanisms
However, over time, Parliamentary oversight mechanisms have weakened, raising institutional concerns about transparency and democratic functioning.
- Erosion of Question Hour: Frequent disruptions, adjournments, and lack of substantive queries have diluted its impact. During the 17th Lok Sabha (2019–2024), Question Hour functioned only 60% of the scheduled time in Lok Sabha and 52% in Rajya Sabha. Frequent disruptions, adjournments, and lack of substantive queries have diluted its impact.
- Underutilised Committees: Parliamentary committees produce detailed reports, but their findings are seldom discussed on the floor of the House. Consequently, the committee's findings have had limited influence on legislation or executive action. Moreover, most Standing Committees lack technical and research staff, resulting in superficial reviews of complex policy matters.
- Lack of Research and Analytical Support for MPs: MPs in India often operate without specialised staff or professional research support, making it harder to scrutinise complex policies or spending data.
- Declining quality of Parliamentary Debates: Parliamentarians generally tow the party line and argue on rhetoric rather than facts and substantial reports. It leads to lack of quality debates in parliament and frequent disruptions.
- Post-Legislative Vacuum: India lacks a formal mechanism for post-legislative scrutiny. Laws are rarely assessed for their real-world outcomes after enactment. This creates a governance gap where performance evaluation of statutes is absent.
Achievements of Indian Legislative Oversight
Even with its inconsistencies, Indian legislative oversight has had notable successes:
- The Standing Committee on Railways recommended waiving Indian Railways' dividend payments in 2015, a move implemented in 2016 to ease financial stress.
- The Standing Committee on Transport influenced the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019, notably in establishing the National Road Safety Board.
- The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) exposed critical delays, opaque appointments, and corrupt practices during the Commonwealth Games in 2010. On average, the PAC has made 180 recommendations every year in the past eight years, out of which 80% were accepted by the government.
- On average, the PAC has made 180 recommendations every year in the past eight years, out of which 80% were accepted by the government.
Way Forward
To make oversight truly effective, Parliament must adopt targeted reforms, beginning with robust post-legislative scrutiny.
- Institutionalise Post-Legislative Scrutiny: Create subcommittees under each Standing Committee or a specialised body to track the implementation of laws. Emulate UK Model where government departments submit post-legislative reviews within 3–5 years of implementation.
- Committee Reform and Empowerment: Mandate floor discussion on select DRSC reports with compulsory ministerial response. Committees must be strengthened with dedicated research and technical support, thus moving beyond mere administrative assistance.
- Leveraging Technology: By leveraging Artificial Intelligence and data analytics, Parliament can help members swiftly flag irregularities, track policy trends, and frame sharper, evidence-based questions.
- Public Accessibility and Transparency: Oversight reports should be published in regional languages, supplemented by infographics, short videos, and data dashboards to make committee findings accessible to citizens, promoting participatory democracy.
In a democracy, maximum governance demands maximum accountability. Strengthening the role of Parliament in scrutinising executive action is essential in not just making laws but also ensuring their effective implementation and accountability.