Introduction & Background
- Initiated in 2005 by then Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee.
- First forum created: Parliamentary Forum on Water Conservation and Management.
- Since then, 8 forums have been established on key socio-political and developmental themes.
- Operate independently of Departmentally Related Standing Committees.
Objectives & Purpose
- Enhance MP awareness and understanding on critical national issues.
- Provide structured interaction with ministries, experts, NGOs, and international bodies.
- Help MPs raise informed debates and questions on the floor of the House.
- Facilitate knowledge-sharing and database creation on policy domains.
Structure & Composition
- Each forum can have up to 31 members:
- Max 21 from Lok Sabha.
- Max 10 from Rajya Sabha.
- Speaker of Lok Sabha is ex-officio President of all forums except one.
- For the Forum on Population and Public Health, the Rajya Sabha Chairperson is the President, and Speaker is Co-President.
- Vice-Presidents include:
- Deputy Speaker (LS), Deputy Chairman (RS),
- Ministers of relevant departments,
- Chairpersons of DRSCs.
- Other members are nominated by the Speaker/Chairperson based on subject expertise.
- Term of forum membership is co-terminus with MP’s tenure in the House.
- No binding authority; forums act as discussion platforms only.
Key Forums (2005–2013)
- Water conservation and management (2005)
- Youth (2006)
- Children (2006)
- Population and Public Health (2006)
- Global Warming and Climate Change (2008)
- Disaster Management (2011)
- Artisans and Crafts-people (2013)
- Millennium Development Goals (2013)
Sub-Forums
The Speaker also formed four sub-forums under the Parliamentary Forum on Youth:
- Sub-Forum on Sports and Youth Development
- Sub-Forum on Health
- Sub-Forum on Education
- Sub-Forum on Employment
Comparison between Parliamentary Committees & Parliamentary Forum
| Aspect | Parliamentary Committees | Parliamentary Forums |
| Legal Status | Statutory/motion-based creation | No statutory backing |
| Ministers as Members | Usually not members | Ministers can be included |
| Reports & ATRs | Submit formal reports & Action Taken Reports | Do not prepare formal reports or ATRs |
| Authority over Bureaucracy | No formal power to summon officials | Same – no binding authority |
| Tenure | Usually 1 year | Co-terminus with House membership |
| Membership | Some exclusive to Lok Sabha | Include members from both Houses |
Impact & Relevance
- Provide a non-adversarial, non-partisan space for dialogue.
- Encourage multi-party consensus on national priorities.
- Complement the legislative and committee functions by offering deep-dives into niche areas.
- Encourage MPs to stay updated and raise informed issues in Parliament.
- Serve as knowledge platforms without diluting the formal legislative framework.