Advisory Committee

Advisory Committees in India function as the advisory machinery to the Central Government at the national level. It is mainly formed by a group of non official members who do not directly earn payroll under the Government of India. In India the advisory committee which were established after independence included six types of advisory committees. These are the Representative advisory committees; Expert committees; Advisory committees for independent administration which is about 22 in number; Informal Consultative Committees of Parliament which includes 27 in number; six Advisory committees, one each for Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Tripura, Manipur and Andaman and Nicobar Islands (the committees for Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Tripura and Manipur have since been abolished); and the Zonal councils which are five in number.

Advisory Committees which has been a post independent innovation in Indian administration is supposed to be responsible for collecting information and equipping the centre with latest information and relevant decisions. There had been nearly 518 advisory committees on the eve of independence which were established to advise the government. This can be largely categorised within six types which represent the democratic principles of the government. For instance the representative committee provides representation to various interest groups and enlists the participation of the affected people in the administrative process which broadens the democratic base of India. Similarly the government that regulates the entire life of its people must be equipped with all facts which are collected by these committees. While framing the policies a department must acquire all information regarding the reaction of those groups whose interests are affected. For such purpose the representative committees are the most appropriate committees which are supposed to be ready with the conventional institutional devises of mutual consultation, and little negotiation. They are supposed to act as a bridge between the government and the affected group of people. This defines the role of the advisory committees which are supposed to act as a mediator and seek every body`s cooperation while taking some decisions and make it successful.

Advisory Committees as such play a very significant role along with the legislative and executive in running the administration. These include group of experts with specialized qualifications, training and experience. As the modern day government is becoming increasingly technical and complex, it needs some scientific, technical and professional knowledge to make relevant decisions. The advisory committee with its experts also provides the government to furnish with the latest technical, scientific and professional knowledge that will help the government to compete with latest technical knowledge.

Thus the advisory committees in India remain significant as they provide the latest information to the government. They also function as a bridge between the policy makers and receivers of benefits.