Can India Save Rs 100 Crore With Online Parliamentary Panel Meetings? Here’s What Milind Deora Says

Deora suggested that most Parliamentary committee meetings and PSU review meetings should be held virtually when Parliament is not in session.

Shiv Sena MP Milind Deora. (Image: PTI)

Shiv Sena MP Milind Deora has suggested that the government could save nearly Rs 100 crore every year by moving Parliamentary committee meetings online. The suggestion comes at a time when Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made an appeal to the citizens to adopt austerity measures, from reviving work-from-home practices to cutting down on fuel use, postponing foreign travel and avoiding unnecessary expenditure, as India faces mounting economic pressure from the war in West Asia.

Deora suggested that most Parliamentary committee meetings and PSU review meetings should be held virtually when Parliament is not in session. The Rajya Sabha MP argued that the move could save the government “at least Rs 100 crore annually” while also reducing carbon emissions.

In a post on X, Deora said, “As PM Narendra Modi ji calls for fuel austerity in light of the West Asia crisis, one reform worth considering is moving most Parliamentary Committee & PSU meetings online when Parliament is not in session.” He added that such a shift would allow committees to “function efficiently through secure virtual platforms.”

How Will Govt Save Rs 100 Crore If These Meetings Go Online?

Parliamentary committees are a crucial but often overlooked part of India’s legislative system. There are 24 department-related standing committees, besides several select committees and joint committees, which routinely hold meetings even when Parliament is not in session.

These meetings involve substantial expenditure and fuel consumption due to air travel for MPs from across the country. The expenses then also include hotel accommodation and local transport, logistics and secretariat arrangements, and PSU-related review visits and inspections.

Speaking to Economic Times, Deora reportedly said the estimate was based on costs incurred for around 800 MPs attending committee meetings in Delhi, parliamentary tours and PSU-related travel across sectors. In effect, the proposal argues that a large chunk of this spending can be avoided through secure digital platforms, something that became commonplace during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The supporters of the idea put forth by Deora argue that virtual meetings would make Parliamentary functioning more efficient, reduce disruptions, cut costs and save time. Many corporate boards, courts and international legislatures now routinely use hybrid systems.

However, Parliamentary committees often involve sensitive discussions, confidential documents and detailed negotiations. There are also concerns over cybersecurity and technological access.

Yet the timing of the proposal is significant. Unlike earlier conversations around digital governance that were framed around convenience or modernisation, this one is being framed as an economic necessity.

Why Is The Government Talking Austerity?

The immediate trigger for the return of the work from home conversation is the intensifying conflict involving the US and Iran, which has rattled global energy markets and pushed up oil prices. India imports more than 85 per cent of its crude oil needs, making it highly vulnerable to geopolitical disruptions in West Asia.

With fuel prices threatening inflation, foreign exchange reserves coming under pressure and the rupee facing volatility, the Modi government has increasingly focused on conservation measures. In speeches over the past two days, PM Modi has urged people to use petrol and diesel “with restraint”, use public transport, embrace carpooling, and even revive work-from-home arrangements to reduce fuel consumption.

The Prime Minister also called for more online meetings and video conferences as a way to cut unnecessary travel and save foreign exchange.

Deora’s proposal extends that logic to Parliament itself with an “austerity begins at home” message.

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