In a move to fast track deliberations over major technology-related issues, the Union government has once again reconstituted Parliamentary standing committees for a new term with senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor at the helm of panels including Home, Information Technology and Environment and Forests.
The Centre has announced to reconstitute all the 24 committees with the same chairpersons who were at the helm earlier. While Shashi Tharoor will remain at the helm as chairman of the Standing Committee on Information Technology, senior Congress leader Anand Sharma will continue to head the committee on Home Affairs.
Also, another party leader Jairam Ramesh will continue to head the Committee on Science & Technology, Environment and Forests and Climate Change.
As per the announcement senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi has been made chairman of the Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice. Earlier, Bhupendra Yadav was the chairman of the committee and he is now Union cabinet minister for environment, forest and climate change and also of labour and employment.
Also, three Rajya Sabha members of Shiv Sena have been moved to new committees. Sanjay Raut from Defence to External Affairs, Anil Desai from Coal and Steel to Commerce and Priyanka Chaturvedi from Commerce to Transport, Tourism and Culture.
Ram Gopal Yadav heads the committee on Health and Welfare, Radha Mohan Singh on Railways, Jayant Sinha on Finance and Jagadambika Pal on Urban Development.
The panels have been reconstituted with effect from September 13.