In a written reply to the House, Minister of State in the PMO V Narayansamy said, "Presently 37 GoMs and EGoMs are functioning... 47 GoMs and 13 EGoMs constituted since May 2009, have either submitted their reports of considered issue placed before them."
Throwing light on when the mechanism of GoMs and EGoMs started, he said, "The provision for constitution of ad hoc committees of Ministers has been a part of the Government of India (Transaction of Business) Rules 1961, since the commencement of these rules."
He also tabled details of the GoMs and EGoMs and their terms of references.
Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee is heading 24 such committees while Home Minister P Chidambaram is looking after nine groups.
Mukherjee is heading Committees including those to Review Fertiliser Policy, location of National War Memorial, economic cooperation agreement between India and ASEAN, Administrative Reforms Commission, Civil Aviation, Coal Mines Amendment Bill and issues related to World Trade Organisation.
Chidambaram is heading GoMs to oversee the modernisation of transport system in Delhi, issues pertaining to functioning of Prasar Bharti, management of salt-pan land in Mumbai, construction of a greenfield airport, committee regarding Bhopal gas leak disaster among others. (MORE)