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Public Accounts Committee

The Public Accounts Committee is a standing committee of the Indian Parliament, which functions as the Parliament’s finance watchdog by examining annual audit reports of the CAG.

Table of Content

Set up under the Government of India Act of 1919, the Public Accounts Committee functions as a watchdog over the Government’s finances. It examines the audit reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India, which are presented to the Parliament by the President. It tries to find technical irregularities, questions the government’s priorities, and checks corruption, losses, and inefficiencies.

Composition and Term of Office

It consists of 22 members – 15 from the Lok Sabha and 7 from the Rajya Sabha
They are elected from existing members, using proportional representation and utilising the single transferable vote
A minister cannot be a member of the Public Accounts Committee
By a convention since 1967, the committee has been headed by a member of the Opposition parties
Term of Office – 1 year.

Functions of Public Accounts Committee

It examines appropriations and finance accounts of the Union Government and any other accounts presented to Parliament.
It scrutinises the actual expenditure vs the expenditure sanctioned by the Parliament via the Appropriation Act.
- The committee has to ensure that money is disbursed and available for any purpose.
- Expenditure complies with the authority that governs it.
- Re-appropriations have been made as per the rules.
- Finance Accounts – Annual receipts and disbursements of the Government.
It examines state corporations’ trading and manufacturing projects.
It examines autonomous and semi-autonomous bodies that the CAG has audited
It examines any excess expenditure
It examines the CAG report on any particular receipt and accounts of stores and stocks.
The CAG assists the Public Accounts Committee while it performs its essential functions.

Limitations of the Committee

Not involved with broader policies
Cannot intervene in matters of day to day expenditure
Recommendations are advisory and not binding on the government.
Cannot issue orders as it is not an executive body – Only Parliament can act on the committee’s findings.
Not vested with powers to disallow expenditure of departments.

Conclusion

The Public Accounts Committee is an essential functionary in parliamentary democracy despite its limitations. It helps root out corruption from the Government and safeguards the public wallet. It allows the Parliament to perform its significant role of holding the executive responsible by questioning its expenditures and preventing irregularities.

Frequently Asked Questions

Get answers to the most common queries related to the Karnataka PSC Examination Preparation.

Why is the Public Accounts Committee a very important functionary in a Parliamentary democracy?

Answer. The PAC examines appropriations and finance accounts of the Union Government and any other accounts presente...Read full

Which act from the colonial era brought the Public Accounts Committee into existence?

Answer. The act which brought the Public Accounts Committee into existence was the Government of India Act of 1919....Read full

What is the composition of the Public Accounts Committee?

Answer. The Public Accounts Committee consists of 22 members – 15 from the Lok Sabha and 7 from the Rajya Sabh...Read full

Critics have pointed out that the Public Accounts Committee is not vested with real powers. Point out a few limitations of the same.

Answer. It can be said that the Public Accounts Committee is not vested with any real powers as it is not involved w...Read full

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