The first Parliamentary Forum on Water Conservation and Management was constituted in the year 2005. Subsequently, seven more Parliamentary forums were constituted.
➤At present, there are eight Parliamentary forums.
1. Parliamentary Forum on Water Conservation and Management (2005)
2. Parliamentary Forum on Youth (2006)
3. Parliamentary Forum on Children (2006)
4. Parliamentary Forum on Population and Public Health (2006)
5. Parliamentary Forum on Global Warming and Climate Change (2008)
6. Parliamentary Forum on Disaster Management (2011)
7. Parliamentary Forum on Artisans and Crafts-people (2013)
8. Parliamentary Forum on Millennium Development Goals (2013)
The Speaker of the Lok Sabha is the ex-officio President of all parliamentary forums, except the Parliamentary Forum on Population and Public Health, where the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha is the ex-officio President and the Speaker serves as the ex-officio Co-President.
The Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, the Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha, relevant ministers, and the chairpersons of Departmentally-Related Standing Committees serve as ex-officio Vice Presidents of their respective forums.
Key points about parliamentary forums:
- Membership: Each forum includes up to 31 members (excluding the President, Co-President, and Vice Presidents). Of these, up to 21 come from the Lok Sabha, and up to 10 from the Rajya Sabha.
- Selection: Members (other than the President, Co-President, and Vice Presidents) are chosen by the Speaker/Chairman from leaders of various political parties/groups or their nominees who have expertise or interest in the forum's subject.
- Duration: Membership in the forum lasts as long as the member's term in their respective House. A member can resign from the forum by writing to the Speaker/Chairman.
- Meetings: The President of the forum appoints a member-convener to manage regular, approved meetings in consultation with the President. These meetings occur as needed during parliamentary sessions.
