Consider the following statements about the Committee on the Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes of the Parliament of India:

1. Although members of this Committee are elected from both Houses of Parliament, the Chairperson of this Committee is appointed by the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.
2. Twenty members are elected by the Rajya Sabha and ten members by the Lok Sabha.
3. No Minister, except for the Union Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment, is eligible to be a member of this Committee.
4. Members are elected for a fixed term of two years from the date they enter their office.

Which one of the following conclusions based on the above statements is correct?

1. There is only one correct statement.
2. There are four correct statements.
3. There is only one correct statement, that is statement 2.
4. There is no correct statement.

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect

• The Speaker of the Lok Sabha appoints the Chairperson of the Committee on the Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes from its members, not the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.

Statement 2 is incorrect

• The Committee has 30 members, with 20 elected by the Lok Sabha and 10 elected by the Rajya Sabha.

Statement 3 is incorrect

• A Minister is not eligible for election to this Committee, with no exception for the Union Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment.

Statement 4 is incorrect

• Committee members hold office for a term not exceeding one year, not a fixed two-year term.
• Following are the functions of the Committee:
  • to consider the reports submitted by the * under article 338(5)(d) and 338A (5)(d) respectively of the Constitution and to report as to the measures that should be taken by the Union Government in respect of matters within the purview of the Union Government including the administration of the Union Territories;
  • to report on the action taken by the Union Government and the administration of the Union Territories on the measures proposed by the Committee;
  • to examine the measures taken by the Union Government to secure due representation of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in services and posts under its control (including appointments in the Public Sector Undertakings, Nationalised Banks, statutory and semi-Government bodies and in the Union Territories) having regard to the provisions of article 335;
  • to report on the working of the welfare programmes for the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in the Union Territories; and
  • to examine other such matters as may deem fit by the Committee or are specifically referred to it by the House or the Speaker. This Committee, like other Parliamentary Committees has all the powers to call for the detailed information from the Ministries of the Government, Public Undertakings, Nationalised Banks, and various organisations in respect of subjects taken up by the Committee for examination of official and non-official witnesses.

Answer: (d) There is no correct statement; Difficulty Level: Hard