Indian Parliament reconstitutes standing committees with new chairpersons

The Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha have reconstituted their department-related parliamentary standing committees for the year. The restructuring involves several leadership changes and reappointments across various political parties.

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has been reappointed as chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on External Affairs, while Charanjit Singh Channi retains his position heading the agriculture panel. Mukul Wasnik continues to lead the committee for education, women, children, and youth affairs, and Ram Gopal Yadav of the Samajwadi Party remains chairman of the Health and Family Welfare committee.

In the BJP, Anurag Thakur continues as chairman of the Coal, Mines and Steel committee, and Nishikant Dubey retains his role heading the Communications and Information Technology panel. Sudhanshu Trivedi has been appointed as the new chairperson of the Commerce committee, replacing Dola Sen of the Trinamool Congress (TMC).

Other notable appointments include DMK MP Tiruchi Siva as chairman of the Industry committee and K Kanimozhi leading the food, consumer affairs, and public distribution panel. JD-U's Sanjay Kumar Jha remains head of the Transport, Tourism, and Culture committee, and Shiv Sena's Shrirang Barne retains leadership of the energy panel.