Parliamentary Panel to Review National Testing Agency Reforms

Context

Against the backdrop of intensifying controversies surrounding public entrance examinations, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth and Sports has issued a notice to review the implementation of structural reforms within the National Testing Agency (NTA)

1. Understanding Parliamentary Committees

• Parliamentary committees are panels of Members of Parliament (MPs) appointed or elected to scrutinize legislation, review government budgets, and investigate specific policy issues. Because modern legislative business is complex and time is limited, these committees allow MPs to examine details away from the busy floor of the House.
• Constitutional Basis: These committees draw their legitimacy and authority from Article 105 (dealing with privileges of Members of Parliament) and Article 118 (granting Parliament the power to make rules for regulating its procedure and conduct of business).

2. Classification of Parliamentary Committees

Parliamentary Committees are broadly classified into two categories:

• Standing Committees: Permanent and regular committees constituted periodically (usually every year) in pursuance of an Act of Parliament or Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business. They work on a continuous basis.
• Ad-hoc Committees: Temporary committees appointed for a specific task. They cease to exist once they complete their assigned mandate and submit a report (e.g., Joint Parliamentary Committees or Select Committees on specific Bills).

3. Department-Related Standing Committees (DRSCs)

The committee reviewing the NTA reforms belongs to the robust framework of Department-Related Standing Committees (DRSCs).

• Origin: First introduced in 1993 on the recommendation of the Rules Committee of the Houses. Initially, 17 committees were formed, which were expanded to 24 DRSCs in 2004.
• Composition Matrix: Each DRSC consists of 31 members:
  • 21 members are nominated from the Lok Sabha by the Speaker.
  • 10 members are nominated from the Rajya Sabha by the Chairman.
• Tenure: The term of office of the members of these committees does not exceed one year.
• The Minister Exclusion Rule: A Minister is not eligible to be nominated/elected as a member of these committees. If a member, after nomination to the committee, is appointed as a Minister, they cease to be a member from the date of such appointment. This ensures the separation of powers and impartial oversight over the executive.
• Division of Jurisdiction: Out of the 24 DRSCs, 8 function under the Rajya Sabha (including the Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth and Sports), and 16 function under the Lok Sabha.

Primary Functions of DRSCs

1. To consider the Demands for Grants of the concerned ministries before they are formally voted upon in the Lok Sabha.
2. To examine Bills pertaining to the concerned ministries as referred to them by the Chairman or the Speaker.
3. To consider Annual Reports of the ministries and long-term policy documents presented to Parliament.

4. About National Testing Agency (NTA)

• Status: Established in 2017 as an independent, autonomous, and self-sustained premier testing organization under the Ministry of Education.
• Legal Structure: It is registered as a Society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860, rather than being a statutory body established by a specific Act of Parliament.
• Mandate: To conduct highly efficient, transparent, and international-standard entrance tests (such as NEET-UG, JEE-Main, UGC-NET) to assess candidate competence for admissions and recruitments.

With reference to Department-Related Standing Committees (DRSCs), consider the following statements:
1. DRSCs were first introduced in 1993. 
2. A Union Minister can be a member of a DRSC related to his ministry. 
3. The term of office of DRSC members does not exceed one year. 
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 3 only
(b) 2 only
(c) 1 and 2 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer:
(a) 1 and 3 only
Explanation:
• Statement 1 is Correct — DRSCs were introduced in 1993 on the recommendation of the Rules Committee. 
• Statement 2 is Incorrect — Ministers are not eligible to be members of these committees to ensure impartial parliamentary oversight. 
• Statement 3 is Correct — The tenure of DRSC members is generally one year.