With reference to the public accounts committee (PAC), consider the following statements:

1. It consists of members from both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. 

2. Chairman of the committee generally belongs to the ruling party. 

3. Excess grant needs to be approved by the PAC before being submitted to the Lok Sabha for voting. 

Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 

a) 1 only 

b) 1 and 2 only 

c) 1 and 3 only 

d) 2 and 3 only

Solution: 

• Public Accounts Committee was set up first in 1921 under the provisions of the Government of India Act of 1919 and has since been in existence. At present, it consists of 22 members (15 from the Lok Sabha and 7 from the Rajya Sabha). 
• The chairman of the committee is appointed from amongst its members by the Speaker. Until 1966 - ‘67, the chairman of the committee belonged to the ruling party. However, since 1967 a convention has developed whereby the chairman of the committee is selected invariably from the Opposition. 
• Before the demands for excess grants are submitted to the Lok Sabha for voting, they must be approved by the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament. 
• Excess grant - It is granted when money has been spent on any service during a financial year in excess of the amount granted for that service in the budget for that year. It is voted by the Lok Sabha after the financial year. 
• PAC - The members are elected by the Parliament every year from amongst its members according to the principle of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote. Thus, all parties get due representation in it. The term of office of the members is one year. A minister cannot be elected as a member of the committee.

Answer: (a)