- What is it?: Parliamentary Forums are non-statutory committees established by the Parliament of India.
- Function
- They provide a platform for Members of Parliament (MPs) to discuss specific issues in detail with relevant stakeholders.
- These forums bring together MPs, ministers, experts, and officials from concerned ministries for focused discussions.
- Objectives:
- Facilitate deeper understanding of critical issues by parliamentarians.
- Promote interaction with experts and stakeholders for informed decision-making.
- Speed up the implementation process of policies and programs.
- Equip MPs with knowledge and technical expertise to effectively raise issues in the House.
- Composition and Functioning:
- Each forum has a maximum of 31 members, with a majority (around 21) from the Lok Sabha and a minority (up to 10) from the Rajya Sabha.
- The Speaker of Lok Sabha is often the ex-officio President, with other key members including Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha, Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha, and relevant ministers.
- Forums meet periodically to discuss specific themes or challenges related to their designated area.
- They are not empowered to take binding decisions but can submit recommendations to the government.