Parliamentary Forums

Parliamentary Forums are specialised platforms created within the parliamentary framework to enable focused deliberation on critical national and global issues. They do not replace standing committees but function as supplementary bodies that build the knowledge base and policy awareness of legislators.

The first such forum — the Parliamentary Forum on Water Conservation and Management — was established on 12th August 2005, following an announcement by the then Speaker of Lok Sabha, Somnath Chatterjee, on 12th May 2005. It was created to enable structured discussion among MPs on the urgent issue of water.

Since then, seven more forums have been added, bringing the total to eight Parliamentary Forums:

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Three core objectives drive the functioning of all Parliamentary Forums:

1. Structured Interaction: To bring together MPs, concerned ministers, domain experts, and senior officials from nodal ministries for focused, result-oriented discussions that accelerate implementation of policy initiatives.

2. Sensitisation and Capacity Building: To equip legislators with current information, technical knowledge, and ground-level realities so they can more effectively raise these issues on the floor of the House and in the meetings of Departmentally-Related Standing Committees (DRSCs).

3. Database Creation: To collect and circulate relevant data from ministries, credible NGOs, newspapers, UN bodies, and other reliable sources, enabling members to engage meaningfully in forum discussions and pose informed questions to experts.

Critical Boundary: Parliamentary Forums are explicitly mandated not to interfere with or encroach upon the jurisdiction of the Departmentally-Related Standing Committees (DRSCs) of the concerned ministry or department.

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Presiding Authorities

• The Speaker of Lok Sabha is the ex-officio President of all forums, with one important exception:

  • In the Parliamentary Forum on Population and Public Health, the Chairman of Rajya Sabha is the ex-officio President, and the Speaker is the ex-officio Co-President.

• The ex-officio Vice-Presidents of each forum include:

  • Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha
  • Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha
  • Concerned Ministers
  • Chairmen of the relevant Departmentally-Related Standing Committees

Member Strength

• Each forum has a maximum of 31 members (excluding President, Co-President, and Vice-Presidents).
• Of these 31:
  • Not more than 21 are drawn from the Lok Sabha
  • Not more than 10 are drawn from the Rajya Sabha

Nomination Process

• Members (other than presiding authorities) are nominated by the Speaker/Chairman from among leaders of various political parties and groups, or their nominees, based on special knowledge or keen interest in the subject of the forum.
• The Secretary-General of Lok Sabha serves as the Secretary to all forums.

Tenure and Resignation

• The membership of a forum member is co-terminus with their membership in the respective House of Parliament.
• A member may resign from the forum by writing to the Speaker or Chairman.

Convener

• The President of the forum appoints a Member-Convener for each forum.
• The convener conducts regular, approved programmes and meetings in consultation with the President.
• Meetings are held during Parliament sessions, as required.

Sub-Forums

• The Speaker also constituted four sub-forums under the Parliamentary Forum on Youth:
  1. Sub-Forum on Sports and Youth Development
  2. Sub-Forum on Health
  3. Sub-Forum on Education
  4. Sub-Forum on Employment +- Each sub-forum has its own convener.

+--- + +## Functions of Individual Forums + +### 1. Water Conservation and Management +- Identify problems in water management and recommend solutions to government/organisations. +- Involve MPs in conservation and augmentation of water resources in their constituencies. +- Organise seminars and workshops to build awareness on water use efficiency. + +### 2. Youth +- Deliberate on strategies to harness youth potential for accelerating national development. +- Build awareness among public leaders about youth's role in socio-economic transformation. +- Facilitate regular interaction with youth representatives to understand their concerns. +- Improve Parliament's outreach to diverse youth sections and reinforce democratic values. +- Consult experts and academics on redesigning public policy for youth empowerment. + +### 3. Children +- Sensitise parliamentarians on critical issues affecting children's well-being and development. +- Facilitate exchange of ideas and best practices through workshops and seminars. +- Provide an interface between Parliament and civil society — including NGOs, media, and the corporate sector — on children's issues. +- Enable institutionalised interaction with specialised UN agencies such as UNICEF on global studies and trend analyses. + +### 4. Population and Public Health +- Deliberate on strategies for population stabilisation. +- Formulate and discuss strategies on public health challenges. +- Build awareness, especially at the grassroots level, on population control. +- Engage with multilateral bodies like WHO and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). + +### 5. Global Warming and Climate Change +- Identify problems linked to global warming and recommend mitigation actions. +- Involve MPs in interaction with national and international specialists working on climate solutions. +- Organise awareness programmes about causes and effects of climate change. +- Promote development of new technologies to reduce the effects of global warming. + +### 6. Disaster Management +- Identify problems related to disaster management and recommend preventive/mitigation actions. +- Connect MPs with national and international bodies working on disaster preparedness. +- Raise awareness among MPs about causes and consequences of natural and man-made disasters. +- Promote new technologies for reducing the impact of disasters. + +### 7. Artisans and Crafts-people +- Sensitise parliamentarians on challenges facing artisans and crafts-people. +- Exchange best practices through structured workshops and orientation programmes. +- Foster partnerships with civil society, media, and the corporate sector for promotion of traditional crafts. +- Enable institutionalised interaction with government bodies like KVIC, Coir Board, and CAPART. +- Hold dialogue with national and international experts on preserving traditional arts. + +### 8. Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) +- Review progress toward MDG targets and enhance parliamentary awareness on key issues. +- Provide a structured platform for exchange of best practices on MDG implementation. +- Interface with civil society on MDG themes: poverty eradication, universal primary education, gender equality, child mortality reduction, maternal health, combating HIV/AIDS and malaria, environmental sustainability, and global development partnerships. +- Enable interaction with specialised UN agencies and multilateral bodies on MDG progress. + +--- + +## Key Distinctions and Exam Traps + +| Aspect | Detail | +|--------|--------| +| First Forum established | Water Conservation and Management (2005) | +| Total Forums | 8 | +| Speaker's role | Ex-officio President of all forums Population and Public Health | +| Exception forum | Population and Public Health — Chairman of RS is President; Speaker is Co-President | +| Member strength | Max 31 (21 from LS + 10 from RS) | +| Jurisdiction boundary | Forums cannot encroach on DRSCs | +| Tenure | Co-terminus with House membership | +| Secretary | Secretary-General of Lok Sabha | +| Sub-forums | Only under Youth Forum (4 sub-forums) | + +--- + +## Exam Focus + +- The (Chairman of RS as President) is a high-frequency UPSC trap. +- The (21 LS + 10 RS) is a factual anchor. +- Forums — this boundary is constitutionally important. +- The of each forum is frequently asked in prelims. +- The is secretary to all forums — not a ministry official. +- Sub-forums exist only under the , with four distinct themes. +