For Prelims: Parliamentary Standing Committee, Government as Litigant, Department of Legal Affairs
For Mains: Judicial backlog; Responsible litigant; Legislative oversight; Efficient governance
Source:
Hindustan
5 facts for one-day exams
SSC, railway, police and teaching exams ask direct questions like these.
- Parliamentary panel to review National Litigation Policy in 2026-27.
- Government dropped the National Litigation Policy plan in 2025.
- Panel chairman is Sujit Kumar, BJP Rajya Sabha MP.
- Policy aims to reduce litigation involving government and PSUs.
- Government issued 'Guidelines for Efficient Management of Litigation' in 2025.
Why in the news?
A Parliamentary Standing Committee has decided to review the formulation and implementation of a National Litigation Policy, an initiative the government had previously dropped in 2025. This move highlights legislative oversight on government litigation practices aimed at reducing the state's burden as the largest litigant.
Summary
- The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice will review the 'Formulation and Implementation of National Litigation Policy' for 2026-27.
- The government, after years of consideration, dropped the plan for a National Litigation Policy in 2025, instead issuing directives to ministries and PSUs for efficient case management.
- The policy's core objective is to reduce litigation involving the government and its departments, which are among the biggest litigants in the country.
Background
For years, the Indian government has been the single largest litigant in the country, clogging courts with cases often involving service matters, tax disputes, and contract enforcement. A National Litigation Policy was envisaged as a strategic framework to reduce frivolous litigation, promote alternative dispute resolution, and make the government a more responsible litigant, thereby easing the judiciary's burden. The Law Ministry had been deliberating on this for a long time.
Key Analysis and Impact
The government's decision to drop the policy in 2025 and instead issue internal guidelines signifies a shift from a statutory, transparent framework to an administrative, internal directive. This could reduce accountability and uniformity. The Parliamentary Committee's intervention underscores legislative concern over this approach. The review could pressure the government to reconsider a formal policy, ensuring standardized practices across all ministries and PSUs to achieve the desired reduction in litigation.
Way Forward
The Committee's review for 2026-27 may lead to recommendations for resurrecting a formal National Litigation Policy. It could suggest specific measures like mandatory pre-litigation mediation, creating a central monitoring cell, and setting annual reduction targets for government cases. This episode is a test case for how parliamentary committees can influence policy even after executive inaction.
Background GK
Textbook concepts you need to understand this news
- Parliamentary Standing Committee
- A committee of MPs constituted by Parliament to examine specific issues, bills, and policies. They provide detailed scrutiny and recommendations, acting as a mini-parliament.
- Government as Litigant
- Refers to the situation where the government (Union or State) or its agencies are party to a case in court. In India, the government is involved in a disproportionately high number of cases.
- Department of Legal Affairs
- A department under the Ministry of Law and Justice responsible for advising the government on legal matters, representing it in courts, and handling legal reforms.
Facts to remember
Tap a card to see the answer. Try to recall it first.
How exams will ask this
- Nodal Body: Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice
- Policy: National Litigation Policy (objective: to reduce government litigation)
- Date/Alternative: April 2025 - Government issued guidelines instead of a formal policy
Common mistake:
Examiners may ask which committee is reviewing the policy, mixing it up with other committees like the Law Commission or Departmental Standing Committees. Another trap is asking about the government's action (dropped policy vs. issued guidelines) and the year (2025).
Write these in mains answers
- Judicial backlog
- Responsible litigant
- Legislative oversight
- Efficient governance
Stuck? Get it in one tap
The government is the biggest party in court cases in India. It had planned a National Litigation Policy to reduce this, but dropped the plan in 2025 and issued guidelines instead. Now, a Parliamentary Committee will review the policy's creation and implementation anyway. This shows how Parliament can oversee government actions even after they are dropped.
- Polity: Parliamentary Committees
- Governance: Government Litigation and Reforms
Related concepts: Parliamentary Standing Committee, Government as Litigant, Department of Legal Affairs
Practice questions
Pick an answer, then read the explanation.
- Q1Easy
Which Parliamentary Standing Committee is reviewing the National Litigation Policy?
Explanation: The newly constituted Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice, chaired by Sujit Kumar, has chosen this subject for review. This committee deals with matters related to law and justice.
- Q2Hard
Consider the following statements regarding the National Litigation Policy:
- 1.The policy aims to reduce litigation involving the government and its departments.
- 2.The Union Law Ministry formally implemented the National Litigation Policy in 2025.
- 3.A Parliamentary Standing Committee has decided to review its formulation and implementation in 2026-27.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Explanation: Statement 1 is correct as the policy's objective is to get the government out of being one of the biggest litigants. Statement 2 is incorrect because the Law Ministry dropped the plan to bring the policy in 2025, not implemented it. Statement 3 is correct as per the Lok Sabha bulletin.
- Q3Medium
In which year did the Department of Legal Affairs issue 'Guidelines for Efficient and Effective Management of Litigation by Government of India' as an alternative to the National Litigation Policy?
Explanation: The Department of Legal Affairs issued these guidelines in April 2025, after the government dropped the plan for a National Litigation Policy.
- Q4Medium
What was the primary rationale behind the proposed National Litigation Policy?
Explanation: The policy aimed to get the government and its departments out of the situation of being among the biggest litigants. Its core objective was to reduce litigation involving the state, thereby easing the judicial burden.
Frequently asked questions
1. Who chairs the Parliamentary Standing Committee reviewing the National Litigation Policy?
The committee is chaired by Sujit Kumar, a BJP Rajya Sabha MP.
2. What did the government do in 2025 instead of implementing a National Litigation Policy?
In 2025, the government dropped the plan and issued 'Guidelines for Efficient and Effective Management of Litigation by Government of India'.
3. What is the main objective of the National Litigation Policy?
The policy aims to reduce litigation involving the government, its ministries, departments, and Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs).
All sources
- Original29 October 2026 · Read story
