House-Keeping Committees (Service Committees) of Parliament
House keeping committees, also called service committees, look after facilities and services for MPs — General Purposes, House, Library, and Salaries committees.
At a glance
Parliamentary service committees that provide facilities and administrative services to MPs.
Four committees: General Purposes, House, Library, and Joint Committee on Salaries and Allowances of MPs.
Handles Parliament's internal administration so it does not fall to ad hoc arrangements.
House-keeping committees, also known as service committees, are the group of parliamentary committees concerned with providing facilities and services to Members of Parliament, rather than with legislation, finance, or scrutiny of the executive. They form a distinct category within the wider architecture of parliamentary committees, sitting alongside financial committees, committees of inquiry, and committees relating to the day-to-day business of the House.
Which Committees Fall Under This Category
Four committees are classified as house-keeping or service committees:
| Committee | Broad Concern |
|---|---|
| General Purposes Committee | Affairs of the House not covered by any other committee |
| House Committee | Facilities for members |
| Library Committee | Parliament library services |
| Joint Committee on Salaries and Allowances of Members of Parliament | Members' salaries and allowances |
General Purposes Committee
Among these, the General Purposes Committee has the broadest mandate: it considers and advises on matters concerning the affairs of the House that do not fall within the jurisdiction of any other parliamentary committee. It functions as a residual body for House administration, stepping in wherever no other specialised committee has been assigned responsibility. In each House of Parliament, this committee is headed by the presiding officer — the Speaker in the Lok Sabha and the Chairman in the Rajya Sabha.
House, Library and Salaries Committees
The House Committee, the Library Committee, and the Joint Committee on Salaries and Allowances of Members of Parliament complete the set of house-keeping committees. As their names indicate, each is oriented toward a specific service function for members — accommodation and related facilities, library resources, and matters of members' compensation, respectively — rather than toward policy, finance, or legislative scrutiny. Together with the General Purposes Committee, they ensure that the day-to-day institutional needs of Parliament and its members are managed through dedicated parliamentary bodies rather than left to ad hoc administrative arrangements.
Distinguishing House-Keeping Committees from Other Parliamentary Committees
Parliamentary committees are broadly grouped by function — financial committees (like the Public Accounts Committee), committees to inquire (like the Committee on Petitions and Committee of Privileges), committees to scrutinise and control (like the Committee on Subordinate Legislation), committees on day-to-day business (like the Business Advisory Committee and Rules Committee), and house-keeping or service committees. House-keeping committees stand apart because their concern is internal administration and member welfare/facilities rather than oversight of the executive or of legislation.
UPSC Relevance
Prelims: Know the four committees classified as house-keeping/service committees — General Purposes Committee, House Committee, Library Committee, and the Joint Committee on Salaries and Allowances of Members of Parliament — and that the presiding officer chairs the General Purposes Committee in each House.
Mains: Useful as a supporting point in answers on the parliamentary committee system (GS2), illustrating how Parliament organises itself administratively alongside its legislative and oversight functions.
FAQ
Q1. What are house-keeping committees? They are parliamentary committees, also called service committees, concerned with providing facilities and services to Members of Parliament.
Q2. Which committees are classified as house-keeping committees? The General Purposes Committee, the House Committee, the Library Committee, and the Joint Committee on Salaries and Allowances of Members of Parliament.
Q3. What does the General Purposes Committee do? It considers and advises on matters concerning the affairs of the House that do not fall within the jurisdiction of any other parliamentary committee.
Q4. Who chairs the General Purposes Committee? The presiding officer of the House — the Speaker in the Lok Sabha and the Chairman in the Rajya Sabha.
Quick Revision
- House-keeping committees = service committees for member facilities.
- Four committees: General Purposes, House, Library, Joint Committee on Salaries and Allowances of MPs.
- General Purposes Committee: residual jurisdiction over House affairs; chaired by presiding officer.
- Distinct from financial, inquiry, scrutiny, and day-to-day business committee categories.
Sources
Further Reference
For deeper reading on this topic and the wider polity syllabus, these standard works are recommended:
- M. Laxmikanth, Indian Polity (McGraw Hill) — the standard UPSC handbook.
- D.D. Basu, Introduction to the Constitution of India (LexisNexis) — authoritative constitutional-law treatment.
- The Constitution of India — Bare Act — the official text.
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