The paper highlights the significance of the role of Parliamentary Institutions in the present scenario of increased role of Science and Technology(S&T) in the development process. In this context, it discusses about the superiority of the recently constituted departmentally-related Parliamentary Standing Committee (DRSC) of Parliament on S&T. Environment and Forests in enhancing the role of Parliament in influencing policy decisions on S&T. The study has based its findings on the analysis of reports produced by the Committee since its inception in March 1993 till March 1999. The study reveals that the scrutiny of S&T institutions through this very Committee system is more effective mechanism in making executive accountable to Parliament. The Committee while scrutinizing the budgetary proposals, mid-term appraisals, annual reports, etc. has pinpointed various lacunae in the S&T related policies of the Ministries/Departments under its purview and has suggested various changes in the policies of the concerned department. However, the analysis brings out that though the rate of acceptance of the recommendations by the respective department is quite high, however, the rate of action taken on the recommendations is very slow. The study concludes with some suggestions for making the 'Committee System' more effective in influencing policy decisions in S&T in the achievement of various socio-economic goals of the society.
