The question asks about the establishment year of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) in India. This is a factual question related to the history of parliamentary committees and financial oversight in India, particularly during the British colonial period. The key is to recall the specific historical event or legislation that led to its formation.
D) 1921 — The Public Accounts Committee was first set up in India in 1921, following the implementation of the Government of India Act, 1919.
The question asks about the historical origin of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) in India. To answer this, we need to recall the major constitutional acts passed by the British Parliament concerning India and their provisions, specifically looking for the establishment of parliamentary committees related to financial oversight.
A) Government of India Act, 1919
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) was first established in 1921 under the provisions of the Government of India Act, 1919. This Act introduced significant constitutional reforms, including the establishment of a PAC to examine the appropriation accounts and the report of the Auditor General thereon, thus laying the foundation for parliamentary financial oversight in India.
The question asks about the historical context of the establishment of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) in India. This requires knowledge of the major constitutional reforms introduced by the British in India and their specific provisions.
A) Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms
The Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms, which culminated in the Government of India Act, 1919, were instrumental in establishing the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) in 1921. This committee was formed to examine the accounts showing the appropriation of sums granted by the Legislative Assembly for expenditure, to scrutinize the audit report of the Comptroller and Auditor General, and to ensure financial accountability of the executive to the legislature.
The question asks to identify the first Indian Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) during the colonial era. This requires knowledge of historical figures associated with Indian legislative and financial administration under British rule.
Correct Option: C) Bhupendra Nath Mitra was the first Indian to chair the Public Accounts Committee in 1924, during the colonial era. He was a prominent Indian administrator and politician who served in various capacities under the British Raj.
The question asks about the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) in the pre-1950 era in India. This requires knowledge of the historical context and the administrative structure during the British Raj and early independence period.
Therefore, in the pre-1950 era, the Finance Member/Finance Minister was the Chairman.
D) Finance Member/Finance Minister — In the pre-1950 era, particularly under the British administration and in the interim government, the Finance Member of the Viceroy's Executive Council (who later became the Finance Minister) served as the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee. This ensured that the government's chief financial officer was directly responsible for overseeing public accounts.
The question asks about the year when the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) transitioned into a parliamentary committee operating under the Speaker of the Lok Sabha. This requires knowledge of the historical development of parliamentary committees in India.
Correct Option: C) The Public Accounts Committee became a Parliamentary Committee functioning under the Speaker of the Lok Sabha in 1950, following the adoption of the Indian Constitution and the establishment of the Lok Sabha.