UPSC Prelims 2019 Q69: Indian Polity – Parliament & State Legislatures
- (a) 1 and 2
- (b) 1, 3 and 4
- (c) 3, 4 and 5
- (d) 2 and 5
Answer: (a) 1 and 2
Explanation
Parliamentary Review of Independent Regulators
| Body | Reviews Regulators? |
|---|---|
| 1. Ad Hoc Committees set up by Parliament | YES - Parliament can set up ad hoc committees to review specific regulator issues. |
| 2. Parliamentary Department Related Standing Committees (DRSCs) | YES - Each regulator (TRAI, IRDAI, CERC etc.) reports to Parliament via the relevant Ministry, and its work is reviewed by the DRSC. |
| 3. Finance Commission | NO - FinCom deals with Centre-State fiscal federalism, not regulator oversight. |
| 4. Financial Sector Legislative Reforms Commission | NO - FSLRC (2011-13) was one-time; it made recommendations, not a continuous review body. |
| 5. NITI Aayog | NO - Policy think tank, does not formally review regulators. |
Only Ad Hoc Committees (1) and DRSCs (2) review regulators in Parliament's oversight framework. Answer: (a) 1 and 2.
Answer: (a) 1 and 2.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) CORRECT. Parliamentary Ad Hoc Committees and Department Related Standing Committees (DRSCs) review independent regulators as part of parliamentary oversight.
- (b) Incorrect. Finance Commission (fiscal transfer) and FSLRC (defunct) do not review regulators.
- (c) Incorrect. FinCom, FSLRC and NITI Aayog do not have a regulator-review mandate.
- (d) Incorrect. NITI Aayog does not review regulators.
Key point
Regulator oversight in India: Parliament via (i) Ad Hoc Committees + (ii) DRSCs. Not FinCom, FSLRC or NITI Aayog.
Remember
In India, Ad Hoc Committees set up by Parliament and Parliamentary Department Related Standing Committees (DRSCs) review the independent regulators in sectors like telecommunications, insurance and electricity. Finance Commission, FSLRC and NITI Aayog do not have this specific function.
Common mistakes
- Assuming NITI Aayog reviews regulators - it advises on policy, not regulatory oversight.
- Confusing FinCom (Article 280, fiscal transfers) with regulator review.
- Not knowing FSLRC (Justice Srikrishna, 2013) was a one-time commission for financial sector legal architecture - not continuous oversight.
Exam tip
Regulator accountability chain: Regulator -> Ministry -> Parliament (DRSC + Ad Hoc Committees) -> Public Accounts Committee (CAG audit). Also judicial review of quasi-judicial functions.
Sources
- PRS Legislative Research - Parliamentary Committees and their functions
- Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha - DRSC provisions