Committee on Public Undertakings
Also called: COPU · Topic: Parliamentary Procedure, Committees and Privileges · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
The Committee on Public Undertakings (COPU) is one of Parliament's three financial committees. Public undertakings are government-owned companies and corporations, also called public sector undertakings (PSUs). The committee was set up in 1964 on the advice of the Krishna Menon Committee. It has 22 members: 15 from the Lok Sabha and 7 from the Rajya Sabha. It examines the reports and accounts of PSUs and the CAG's audit reports on them. It checks whether PSUs are run efficiently and on sound business lines. It does not look into major government policy or the day-to-day management of these companies.
Example
Suppose the CAG's audit finds that a public sector company made heavy losses on a project. COPU can examine that audit report, question officials and recommend improvements.
Don't confuse with
- Public Accounts Committee: also has 22 members, but it examines CAG audit reports on government spending in general, not just on PSUs.
- Estimates Committee: has 30 members, all from the Lok Sabha. It suggests economies in the estimates of spending.
Related concepts
- Parliamentary committee
- Standing committee
- Ad hoc committee
- Public Accounts Committee
- Estimates Committee