In the financial committee system of the Indian Parliament, which committee is often described as the "twin sister" of the Estimates Committee?

Introduction / Context:
Parliamentary financial committees play a crucial role in ensuring legislative control over public expenditure. In India, three major financial committees are frequently discussed together: the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), the Estimates Committee, and the Committee on Public Undertakings (COPU). Textbooks sometimes refer to one of these as the "twin sister" of the Estimates Committee because their functions are closely related. This question tests whether you can identify that committee correctly.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The question is about the "twin sister" of the Estimates Committee.
• Options include the Public Accounts Committee, Committee on Public Undertakings, Departmental Standing Committee, and Committee of Privileges.
• We assume familiarity with the basic roles of these committees.
• The focus is on the relationship between committees that examine public expenditure and public sector performance.

Concept / Approach:
The Estimates Committee examines budget estimates to suggest economies and improvements in organisation and policy before money is spent. The Committee on Public Undertakings examines the reports and accounts of public sector undertakings to evaluate their efficiency and financial performance. Because both committees are concerned with how public money is planned and used, especially in relation to government enterprises, COPU is often described as the "twin sister" of the Estimates Committee. The Public Accounts Committee focuses more on auditing expenditure already incurred, while Departmental Standing Committees and the Committee of Privileges have different mandates.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that the Estimates Committee works primarily with budget estimates and suggestions for savings and efficiency.Step 2: Note that the Committee on Public Undertakings reviews the performance and accounts of public sector enterprises, which are major users of public funds.Step 3: Recognise that this similarity of focus on the use of public money, especially in undertakings, leads textbooks to label COPU as the "twin sister" of the Estimates Committee.Step 4: Distinguish this from the Public Accounts Committee, which focuses on post audit examination of government expenditure as a whole.Step 5: Choose the Committee on Public Undertakings as the correct answer from the list of options.

Verification / Alternative check:
Indian polity and public administration books that discuss financial committees often use the phrase "twin sister of the Estimates Committee" to describe the Committee on Public Undertakings. They do so because both committees examine aspects of planned spending and functioning in detail, though from slightly different angles. In contrast, descriptions of the Public Accounts Committee emphasise its role in audit and accounting, not as a twin of the Estimates Committee. This consistent phrasing across multiple sources confirms that COPU is the correct match for the question.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Public Accounts Committee: It is a key financial committee, but it is focused on post audit scrutiny and is not commonly described as the twin sister of the Estimates Committee.
• Departmental Standing Committee: These committees examine bills and demands for grants for specific ministries, but the twin sister label is not used for them.
• Committee of Privileges: It deals with breaches of privilege and contempt of the House, a very different function from financial oversight.

Common Pitfalls:
Because PAC and COPU are both financial committees, candidates sometimes assume that the oldest or most famous one must be the twin sister of the Estimates Committee. This leads to incorrectly selecting PAC. To avoid this, it is useful to remember each committee's main focus: PAC for audit of expenditure, Estimates for budget estimates, and COPU for public undertakings. Linking the phrase twin sister specifically with COPU in your memory will help you quickly answer similar questions in exams.

Final Answer:
The parliamentary committee often described as the "twin sister" of the Estimates Committee is the Committee on Public Undertakings.