The central government is reportedly considering extending the tenure of parliamentary standing committees from the current one year to two years, sources said, a move aimed at improving continuity and enabling more detailed scrutiny of bills, reports, and policy matters.
The current committees’ terms are set to expire on September 26.
The proposal carries particular political significance for Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, who chairs the external affairs committee.
With an extension, Tharoor could retain his position for another two years despite recent differences with his party. Sources said changes in committee chairs are unlikely, although the tenure of newly appointed members may be doubled.
Parliamentary standing committees are permanent bodies composed of a fixed number of MPs from both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.
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They play a crucial role in examining proposed legislation, reviewing government policies, and scrutinising budget allocations. The committees also hold ministries accountable through inquiries and evidence collection on specific areas of governance.
When Parliament is not in session, standing committees often function as “mini-parliaments,” allowing MPs to conduct detailed legislative and policy oversight without waiting for full parliamentary sittings.
Currently, these committees are reconstituted annually. Several MPs, including opposition members, have urged the government to extend their term to at least two years, arguing that a single year is insufficient for conducting comprehensive, in-depth studies of assigned subjects.
Committee members are nominated by their respective political parties. Officials said the government’s decision on term extension is likely to have both administrative and political implications for parliamentary functioning in the coming years.
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