Which is the largest Committee of the Indian Parliament?

The Estimates Committee is the largest committee of Parliament, with 30 members, all drawn from the Lok Sabha. Its job is to examine the estimates in the budget, suggest economies and efficiency improvements, and check that money is spent in line with the policy laid down by Parliament. The Speaker nominates its members, and the Chairman is traditionally from the ruling party.

Why the others are wrong:

• Public Accounts Committee: 22 members (15 from Lok Sabha and 7 from Rajya Sabha). It examines CAG audit reports and is traditionally chaired by an opposition member.
• Committee on Public Undertakings: also 22 members (15 and 7). It scrutinises the working of public sector undertakings.
• Committee on Petitions: a much smaller body. It considers petitions on matters of public concern and does not carry the financial oversight role.

Core concept: parliamentary financial committees, which give the legislature control over the executive after the budget under Article 112. For Mains, this links to GS-2 on accountability and the effectiveness of parliamentary oversight.

Trap: aspirants often pick the Public Accounts Committee because it is the most famous financial committee. Fame is not size. Check the membership numbers.