Committee on Government Assurances
Topic: Parliamentary Procedure, Committees and Privileges · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
The Committee on Government Assurances is a committee in each House of Parliament. Ministers often promise things on the floor of the House. They may say "I will look into it", "the matter is under consideration" or "the information will be laid on the table". This committee checks whether those promises, assurances and undertakings were actually carried out, and how quickly. It keeps ministers from making empty promises just to get through a debate.
Example
Suppose a minister tells the Lok Sabha during Question Hour that a report on rail accidents will be laid before the House. The committee follows this up and reports whether the minister kept the promise.
Don't confuse with
- Committee on Petitions: examines petitions sent in on bills and public matters. It does not track ministers' promises.
Related concepts
- Departmentally related standing committee
- Joint Parliamentary Committee
- Business Advisory Committee
- Committee on Private Members' Bills and Resolutions
- Committee on Petitions
- Committee on Subordinate Legislation
- Committee on the Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes
- Committee on Empowerment of Women
- Joint Committee on Offices of Profit
- Consultative committees