Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla reconstitutes four Parliamentary Committees for 2026–27

Why in the News?
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has reconstituted four key Parliamentary Committees for 2026–27, appointing new chairpersons. 

About Parliamentary Committees
Parliamentary Committees are small groups of MPs constituted to ensure detailed scrutiny of legislative, financial, and administrative matters, enhancing accountability and efficiency in governance. 

Committee on Estimates: 

• Chairperson: Dr Sanjay Jaiswal
• Composition: 30 members (Lok Sabha only)
• Tenure: From May 2026 to April 2027.
• About:
  • Established in 1950.
  • Examines government expenditure and budget estimates.
  • Suggests measures for efficiency and economy in public spending.

Committee on Public Undertakings (COPU)

• Chairperson: Baijayant Panda
• Composition: 15 members (Lok Sabha) + 7 members (Rajya Sabha)
• Tenure: From May 2026 to April 2027.
• About:
  • Reviews performance and functioning of Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs).
  • Ensures accountability and efficiency in public enterprises.
  • Ministers are not eligible to be members.

Public Accounts Committee (PAC)

• Chairperson: K C Venugopal
• Composition: 15 members (Lok Sabha) + 7 members (Rajya Sabha)
• Tenure: From May 2026 to April 2027.
• About:
  • Examines audit reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India.
  • Acts as a financial watchdog to detect irregularities in government spending.

Committee on Welfare of SCs & STs

• Chairperson: Faggan Singh Kulaste
• Composition: 20 members (Lok Sabha) + 10 members (Rajya Sabha)
• Tenure: From May 2026 to April 2027.
• About:
  • Monitors implementation of safeguards for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
  • Reviews welfare programmes and policies.

Source: AIR