Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs (India)

The Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs is an Indian government ministry.

It handles affairs relating to the Parliament of India, and works as a link between the two chambers, the Lok Sabha ("House of the People," the lower house) and the Rajya Sabha ("Council of States," the upper house). It was created in 1949 as a department but now is a full ministry.

The Minister of Parliamentary Affairs holds cabinet rank as a member of the Council of Ministers. The current minister is Pawan Kumar Bansal. He is assisted by two Ministers of State, Prithviraj Chavan (Rajya Sabha) and V. Narayanasamy (Lok Sabha).

Functions

• Renders secretarial assistance to the Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs.
• Constitutes consultative committees of members of Parliament and makes arrangements for holding their meetings, both during and between sessions.
• Pursues other ministries for prompt and proper implementation of assurances given by ministers in the Parliament.
• Sets dates for summoning and prorogation of the two houses of Parliament: dissolution of Lok Sabha, President's Address to Parliament
• Plans and coordinates legislative and other official business in both houses
• Acts as liaison with leaders and whips of various parties and groups represented in Parliament
• Sets government's stand on private members' bills and resolutions
• Advises to ministries on procedural and other parliamentary matters
• Organises of Youth Parliament Competitions in schools and colleges throughout the country
• Deals with salaries and allowances of officers of Parliament and salary, allowances, and pensions of members of Parliament, as well as for Leaders of the Opposition

External links

• Official website