Official Question UPSC 2026
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 ?
Solution & Analysis
Answer: D
Let's analyze the statutory rules governing this Joint Parliamentary Committee based on the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha:
•Statement 1 is Incorrect: The Chairperson of this Committee is appointed explicitly by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha from among its members, not by the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.
•Statement 2 is Incorrect: The examiner inverted the numbers. The Committee has 30 members total: 20 elected by the Lok Sabha and 10 elected by the Rajya Sabha.
•Statement 3 is Incorrect: To preserve independent legislative oversight, a Minister is strictly ineligible for membership. There is absolutely no exception carved out for the Union Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment.
•Statement 4 is Incorrect: Like most major standing parliamentary committees (such as the Public Accounts Committee), the term of office for its members is strictly one year, not two years.
Conclusion: Because every single statement contains a factual error deliberately planted by the examiner, there are no correct statements. Option D is the right choice.