A historical fact is that in about three years, the component assembly met for 167 days to frame the Constitution of India. Among many important debates, the question was how the government should adopt India. Defending the choice of a parliamentary system, Dr. Bribedkar argued that it offered more responsibility and low stability which is a necessary business for a working democracy. He emphasized the point that such a system allows for daily accountability of the executive through questions, motions and debates in Parliament through daily accountability and elections.
Overcast
While the constitution increases investigation and balance, legislative inspection has often decreased. Efficiency is important in governance, but not at the cost of transparency. Strengthening the role of Parliament in the investigation of executive action is not only necessary in enacting laws, but also to ensure their effective implementation and accountability. If India wants ‘maximum governance’, it should also be committed to ‘maximum accountability’, which begins with a strong and effective parliament.
For decades, Parliament has developed an array of Tantra to fulfill this mandate – some formal, by some conference. These devices create a structure of accountability, from the daily investigation of the question hour and the easily of zero hours, to the functioning of the work behind permanent committees. In theory, they empower members of Parliament (MP) to investigate, get detailed information, and even if necessary, the mistrust pursue speed.
Despite its strong structure, the parliamentary oversight often decreases. As a daily spotlight on the accountability of the government, the question hour, is often interrupted by noise protests, which adjourns, where important issues remain uncontrolled. During the 17th Lok Sabha (2019–24), the Question Hour worked for 60% of its scheduled time in the Lok Sabha and 52% in the Rajya Sabha, which reduced its effectiveness. Even when it operates, different MPs focus on isolated questions rather than a systematic examination of complex, cross-ministrial problems.
Parliamentary committees, including permanent commitments (DRSC) related to the department, meet regularly and generate detailed reports, although they are often not taken to discuss the floor. As a result, despite their detailed evaluation of policies and plans, the committee’s findings have a limited impact on law or executive action. Despite its mandate for a detailed investigation, the committee consults to attach a relatively small group of consulting stakeholders, raising concerns about diversity and width of input. In addition, their naturally temporary structure limits the ability of members to develop both expertise and institutional.
Some successes
Even with its discrepancies, Indian legislative inspection has found significant success. The Standing Committee on Railways recommended the Indian Railways to waive dividend payment in 2015, which was implemented in 2016. In 2016, the Standing Committee on Transport affected the motor vehicle bill modifications in 2017, removed the cap on third party insurance and set up a National Road Safety Board.
Other important interventions include the National Highways Authority Authority Authority (NHAI) -Committee on public undertakings addressing a delay in highway projects, recommending that projects begin only after receiving 80% of land and necessary approval. Similarly, the Estimates Committee advised to increase domestic uranium production by opening new mines, reducing dependence on imports. The Public Account Committee (PAC) highlighted significant delays, opaque appointments and corrupt practices during the 2010 Commonwealth Games. On average, PAC has made 180 recommendations every year in the last eight years, of which 80% were accepted by the government.
To make the oversight really effective, Parliament must adopt targeted reforms, starting with a strong post-electoral investigation. Laws do not end with their passage; They start from there. Nevertheless, there is a lack of a formal process to track in India whether the laws are achieving their intended effect. This difference can be addressed by forming a subcommittee under a particular body to review each standing committee or implementation. The United Kingdom provides a useful model: Government departments present major laws reviews within three to five years, which are then examined by parliamentary committees – enabling timely course improvement and ensuring that laws fulfill their promises.
Strengthening and institutionalizing the work of the committee should also be a priority. One way to do this is to make the oversite findings more accessible; Through translations in local languages, visual interpreters or short videos. At the same time, the DRSC report should be brought to the floor for debate, followed by a compulsory response from the minister concerned. This will ensure that the committee’s work informs the parliamentary discourse and increases the executive accountability. The committees should also be strengthened with research and technical assistance dedicated, thus proceeding with administrative assistance only.
Adopt technology
Technology provides a powerful opportunity to modernize and strengthen parliamentary inspection. MPs in India often work without special employees or professional research aid, making it difficult to check complex policies or spend data. Facing large -scale versions of budget documents, audit reports and policy reviews, they are in a loss. Taking advantage of Artificial Intelligence and Data Analytics, can help the Members of Parliament rapid irregularities, track policy trends and frame sharper, to destroy the evidence-based questions.
Distributing the inaugural address held in 1993 to formally inaugurate the new permanent committees, the then vice -president KR Narayanan said that the main objective of the system was not to weaken or criticize the administration, but rather it was to strengthen it by investing with more meaningful parliamentary support. Strengthening legislative inspection means honoring the citizens to its representatives; To ensure that the government’s machinery lives transparent, accountable and truly for people, by people, and people.
Mitul Jhaveri is a public policy professional and a research scholar at Carnegie Melon University. Atman Shah is a public policy professional and a research scholar at the National University of Singapore
Published – May 03, 2025 12:08 am IST