Middling attendance of MPs for standing committees: data

1. At a Glance

• Standing committees = Parliament's key scrutiny tool over ministries; MP attendance data show avg 53% presence — governance/accountability angle for UPSC GS-II. [1]
• 5 committee meetings postponed since Sept for quorum failure — direct hit on Parliament's oversight function. [1]
• PM Modi himself flagged issue — political salience angle. [1]

2. Why in the News

• Lok Sabha website data (since committees' reconstitution, Sept 2025) show avg 53% attendance across 16 Dept-related Standing Committees (DRSCs) + Public Accounts Committee (PAC). [1]
• 5 meetings postponed for lack of quorum in this period. [1]
• PM Modi raising issue of MP attendance at committees. [1]

3. Background & Evolution

• DRSC system started 1993 — 17 committees then, oversight of ministries' bills/budgets/policy.
• PAC — oldest financial committee, exams CAG reports, govt expenditure.
• Committees reconstituted periodically (here: Sept 2025). [1]

4. Core Static Facts

• Standing committee size: 31 members — 21 Lok Sabha + 10 Rajya Sabha. [1]
• Quorum: minimum 11 members present. [1]
• No. of DRSCs covered in data: 16 + PAC = 17 committees. [1]
• Avg attendance since Sept 2025 reconstitution: 53%. [1]
• Meetings postponed for no-quorum: 5. [1]
• Data source: Lok Sabha website. [1]

5. Multi-Dimensional Analysis

Legal/Constitutional

• Committees = Parliament's tool for detailed scrutiny bypassing floor time constraints; not directly in Constitution — creature of Rules of Procedure.

Administrative

• Quorum failure (5 meetings) = direct governance friction, delays scrutiny of ministries/budgets.
• Low attendance dilutes committee's deliberative value, weakens legislative oversight of executive. [1]

Ethical/Governance

• MP absenteeism at committees undercuts accountability function despite full attendance obligations under Rules.
• PM raising it signals political will but also optics — accountability shifted onto MPs. [1]

6. Recent Developments (last 12-18 months)

• Sept 2025: Standing committees reconstituted. [1]
• Since then to May 2026: avg 53% attendance recorded, 5 meetings postponed (quorum). [1]
• PM Modi publicly raised MP attendance issue (timing per article, pre-May 2026). [1]

7. Prelims Hooks

• Standing committee = 31 members (21 LS + 10 RS). [1]
• Quorum for standing committee = 11 members. [1]
• 16 Dept-Related Standing Committees + PAC = 17 total tracked in this data. [1]
• Avg attendance since Sept 2025 reconstitution = 53%. [1]
• 5 meetings postponed due to lack of quorum. [1]
• Data sourced from Lok Sabha official website. [1]
• PAC = Public Accounts Committee, oldest Parliamentary financial committee (examines CAG reports).

8. Mains Relevance

• GS-II: Parliament — structure, functioning, committees, oversight mechanisms.
• Syllabus heading: "Parliament and State legislatures – structure, functioning, conduct of business."
• Q1: "Standing committees strengthen parliamentary oversight, yet low MP attendance undermines their utility. Discuss." [1]
• Q2: "Examine reasons for declining MP participation in parliamentary committees and suggest reforms." [1]
• Q3: "Compare role of DRSCs and PAC in ensuring executive accountability in India."

9. Related Topics to Study Next

• Parliamentary Committees (types: Standing, Ad hoc, Joint) — foundational classification.
• Public Accounts Committee & CAG — financial accountability chain.
• Anti-defection & whip system — related to MP attendance/discipline generally.
• Productivity of Parliament sessions — broader accountability decline theme.
• Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in LS/RS — legal base for committees.
• Committee system reforms (2nd ARC recommendations) — reform angle.

10. Common Errors / Trap Areas

• Confusing DRSC count (16) with total Parliamentary committees (many more types exist — Ad hoc, JPCs etc.).
• Mixing up quorum number (11) with total committee strength (31).
• Assuming PAC is a DRSC — it's separate, financial committee (with Estimates Committee, Committee on Public Undertakings).
• Attributing committee reconstitution timing wrongly — here Sept 2025, not annual fixed date.