National Conference of Estimates Committees Concludes in Mumbai

The National Conference of Estimates Committees of Parliament and State/Union Territories(UT)Legislative Bodies concluded at the Maharashtra Vidhan Bhawan, Mumbai, on 24 June 2025. 

The National Conference of the Estimates Committee was organised on the 75th anniversary of establishment of the Committee of Estimates of the Lok Sabha of the Parliament of India.

The Chairman and members of the Estimates Committee of  Parliament and all the State/ UT legislative bodies participated in the conference. Only three UTs - Jammu and Kashmir, Delhi and Puducherry have legislative bodies.

Opening and Closing Session of the National Conference 

• The Lok Sabha Speaker, Om Birla, addressed the opening session of the National Conference of Estimates Committees of Parliament and State/Union Territories(UT)Legislative Bodies on 23 June 2025. 
• The Maharashtra Governor, C.P. Radhakrishnan, delivered the valedictory session of the conference on 24 June 2025.

Theme of the National Conference 

• The theme of the Conference was - Role of Estimates Committee in Effective Monitoring and Review of Budget Estimates for ensuring Efficiency and economy in Administration.

About the Estimate Committee

The Estimates Committee is one of the three financial committees of the Indian legislature, the others being the Public Accounts Committee and the Committee on Public Undertakings.

The Estimate Committee of the Lok Sabha and the Vidhan Sabha of the respective state and UT has been set up under the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Lok Sabha/Vidhan Sabhas of the States/UTs, respectively.

Members and Election of the Lok Sabha Estimate Committee 

• The Committee consists of 30 members of the Lok Sabha. No Rajya Sabha member is a member of the Estimates Committee.
• The members of the Estimates Committee are elected by the Lok Sabha members amongst themselves.
• The Lok Sabha Speaker appoints the Chairman of the Committee amongst the newly elected 30 members.
• Being a Parliamentary Committee, no government minister is elected as a committee member.

Duration of Office 

• The duration of the committee is one year.

Function of the Committee

After the government presents the budget, the job of the Estimate Committees starts. 

The Estimate Committee examines the expenditure estimates for each administrative department in the government budget.

The functions of the Estimate Committee are: 

• Recommend measures to improve the economy and efficiency of the administration, consistent with the policy underlying the estimates
• It also suggests policies to bring efficiency and economy to the administration. 
• Examine whether the proposed expenditure is within the limits of the policy implied in the estimates, and 
• Suggest the form in which the estimates shall be presented to Parliament. 

Report of the Committee 

The committee submits its recommendation to the Lok Sabha. 

The Ministry or Department concerned is required to take action on the recommendations contained in the Report within six months or as directed by the Committee. 

The government is not bound to accept the recommendation, but according to Om Birla, it has accepted 90 to 95% of its recommendations.