Business Advisory Committee (BAC)

 

Introduction

The Business Advisory Committee (BAC) is an important parliamentary committee concerned with the planning and regulation of the business of the House. Parliamentary time is limited, while a large number of legislative and other matters have to be discussed. The Business Advisory Committee helps the House to organise its business efficiently by recommending the allocation of time for discussion of government legislative and other business.

The Committee is particularly important because it helps prevent parliamentary time from being used inefficiently and facilitates the orderly conduct of proceedings.

The Business Advisory Committee exists in both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. Although the basic purpose of the committee is similar in both Houses, its composition and procedural rules are governed by the respective Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business.

Business Advisory Committee of Lok Sabha

The Lok Sabha Business Advisory Committee is constituted by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha. The Speaker is the ex-officio Chairman of the Committee.

The Committee consists of not more than 15 members, including the Speaker. The members are nominated by the Speaker.

The Committee generally reflects the composition of different political parties and groups in the House. This enables the Committee to consider the views of different sections while planning parliamentary business.

Main Functions of the Lok Sabha BAC

The most important function of the Business Advisory Committee is to recommend the allocation of time for the discussion of government legislative and other business brought before the House.

For example, when several Bills and other matters are pending before the Lok Sabha, the available parliamentary time has to be distributed among them. The BAC considers the nature and importance of the business and recommends how much time should be allotted for discussion.

The Committee may also recommend changes or adjustments in the allocation of time when necessary. Its recommendations help the Speaker and the House in conducting business in an organised manner.

The BAC therefore plays an important role in ensuring that important legislative and other parliamentary matters receive adequate time for discussion.

Business Advisory Committee of Rajya Sabha

The Rajya Sabha Business Advisory Committee is constituted by the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. The Chairman of the Rajya Sabha is the ex-officio Chairman of the Committee.

The Committee consists of 11 members, including the Chairman, who are nominated by the Chairman.

Like the Lok Sabha BAC, its principal responsibility is to recommend the allocation of time for the discussion of government legislative and other business.

The Committee assists in ensuring that the business of the Rajya Sabha is conducted in an orderly and time-bound manner.

Importance of the Business Advisory Committee

The Business Advisory Committee is important for the effective functioning of Parliament because parliamentary time is a limited public resource. Parliament has to consider Bills, financial business, motions, discussions, questions and other matters within the available sessions.

Without proper planning, important matters may not receive sufficient time for discussion. The BAC helps overcome this problem by planning the allocation of parliamentary time.

The Committee also contributes to legislative efficiency, because it helps determine the amount of time available for different items of business. At the same time, the participation of members from different political groups helps provide an opportunity for discussion of business from different viewpoints.

Thus, the BAC acts as an important mechanism for time management, orderly parliamentary business and legislative efficiency.

BAC and Parliamentary Business

The Business Advisory Committee should not be confused with a committee that examines the detailed merits of Bills. Its primary concern is the management of parliamentary time and the scheduling of business.

For example, the BAC does not function like the Departmentally Related Standing Committees, which examine Bills, Demands for Grants and policies in detail. Similarly, it does not perform the financial scrutiny functions of the Public Accounts Committee.

Its central concern is:

“How much parliamentary time should be allocated to particular business?”

BAC and Political Parties

The Business Advisory Committee has an important role in accommodating the interests of different political parties and groups in Parliament. Since parliamentary proceedings involve both the government and the opposition, the allocation of time for discussion requires coordination.

The Committee therefore provides an institutional mechanism through which the parliamentary leadership can consider the demands and requirements of different sections of the House while organising its business.

Difference Between BAC and Other Parliamentary Committees

Committee| Main Function

Business Advisory Committee| Recommends allocation of time for parliamentary business

Public Accounts Committee| Examines government expenditure and CAG reports

Estimates Committee| Examines estimates of expenditure and suggests economies

Committee on Public Undertakings| Examines reports and accounts of public undertakings

Committee of Privileges| Examines questions involving breach of parliamentary privilege

Ethics Committee| Examines matters relating to ethical conduct of members

Important Exam Facts

1. BAC stands for Business Advisory Committee.

2. It is a parliamentary committee concerned mainly with the management of the business of the House.

3. The Lok Sabha BAC consists of not more than 15 members, including the Speaker.

4. The Speaker of Lok Sabha is the ex-officio Chairman of the Lok Sabha BAC.

5. The Rajya Sabha BAC consists of 11 members, including the Chairman.

6. The Chairman of Rajya Sabha is the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha BAC.

7. Members of the Lok Sabha BAC are nominated by the Speaker.

8. Members of the Rajya Sabha BAC are nominated by the Chairman.

9. Its major function is to recommend allocation of time for discussion of government legislative and other business.

10. It is primarily a time-management and business-scheduling committee, not a financial scrutiny committee.

One-Line Definition

The Business Advisory Committee is a parliamentary committee that recommends the allocation of time for the discussion of government legislative and other business in the House.

Easy Memory Trick

BAC = Business + Allocation of Time + Coordination

So, whenever a question asks “Which parliamentary committee recommends the allocation of time for discussion of government business?”, the answer is:

Business Advisory Committee (BAC).

Sources

- Constitution of India

- Lok Sabha, Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha

- Rajya Sabha, Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Council of States

- Lok Sabha Secretariat, Parliamentary Committees

- Rajya Sabha Secretariat, Parliamentary Committees

- Comptroller and Auditor General of India – Parliamentary financial oversight materials

- IGNOU, Study Material on Indian Parliament and Parliamentary Committees

- M. Laxmikanth, Indian Polity, Parliamentary Committees