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The Department Related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Commerce, chaired by Ms Dola Sen, MP (Rajya Sabha), presented its 200th Report on 'Evaluation of India-US Trade Relations' to both Houses on 6 August 2026.
The Committee examined the challenges arising from US tariff measures across marine products, leather, automotive, textiles, gems and jewellery, chemicals, steel and agriculture.
It recommends concluding the proposed India-US Bilateral Trade Agreement at the earliest and a time-bound roadmap for the Mission 500 initiative and the TRUST technology framework.
The report records that India's services exports to the US stood at USD 51.20 billion growing at 11.58 per cent CAGR since 2020, while services imports from the US reached USD 47.32 billion at a faster 18.68 per cent CAGR.
It asks the Government to negotiate complete exemption for generic medicines, critical minerals and smartphones from future US tariff increases, and for the DGFT to run a fast-acting watch desk tracking US customs audits in real time.
There are 24 DRSCs covering every ministry and department of the Union Government - 16 serviced by the Lok Sabha and 8 by the Rajya Sabha. The Committee on Commerce is one of the eight Rajya Sabha committees, which is why its chairperson is a Rajya Sabha MP and why the Rajya Sabha Secretariat issues its releases. Each committee has 31 members: 21 from the Lok Sabha nominated by the Speaker and 10 from the Rajya Sabha nominated by the Chairman. The term of office is one year. A Minister cannot be appointed to a DRSC, and a member who becomes a Minister ceases to belong to it - the design intent being scrutiny of the executive by members who are not part of it. The present department-related system began functioning in April 1993, replacing an earlier arrangement of subject committees. DRSCs examine demands for grants, bills referred to them, annual reports and long-term policy documents; their recommendations are persuasive rather than binding on the Government.
Simple Analogy: A DRSC is Parliament's standing audit team for one cluster of ministries - it cannot overrule the executive, but it can put a documented, on-the-record assessment before both Houses.
An India-US commitment to double bilateral trade to USD 500 billion by 2030, announced during the Prime Minister's Washington visit in February 2025.
Key: The Committee asks the Department of Commerce to prepare a time-bound roadmap for achieving it, covering goods, services, investment and supply-chain resilience.
India-US initiative launched in February 2025 to deepen cooperation in critical and emerging technologies.
Key: Covers artificial intelligence, semiconductors, quantum computing, biotechnology, defence, energy and space, linking governments, academia and industry.
A negotiated trade agreement intended to give exporters a stable and predictable environment.
Key: The Committee recommends concluding it at the earliest while protecting Indian exporters' interests, and seeking complete exemption for generic medicines, critical minerals and smartphones from future tariff increases.
Domestic manufacturing incentives tied to incremental production.
Key: The Committee wants PLI used strategically to build export infrastructure and cost-competitiveness against global supply shocks.
Agreements under which each country accepts the other's conformity assessments and standards.
Key: The Committee wants MRAs fast-tracked for professional services, pharmaceuticals and agricultural standards to prevent arbitrary technical barriers to trade at US ports.
Formulates and implements India's foreign trade policy and issues the Import-Export Code; the Committee wants it to run a real-time watch desk on US customs audits.
Statutory body promoting exports of scheduled agricultural and processed food products.
Apex body of Indian export promotion organisations, set up jointly by the Ministry of Commerce and industry.
Industry associations that presented evidence to the Committee - the Confederation of Indian Industry and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry.
The US regulator whose guidelines govern pharmaceutical and food imports; the Committee wants Indian pre-clearance and joint testing facilities aligned to it.
GS Paper 2 > Polity: Parliament and Parliamentary Committees; International Relations: India and the United States. GS Paper 3 > Economy: External Sector, Effects of Liberalization
General Awareness > Polity and Current Affairs
General Awareness > Indian Economy and External Trade
In India, which of the following review the independent regulators in sectors like telecommunications, insurance, electricity, etc.? 1. Ad Hoc Committees set up by the Parliament 2. Parliamentary Department Related Standing Committees 3. Finance Commission 4. Financial Sector Legislative Reforms Commission 5. NITI Aayog Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Answer: 1 and 2
Parliamentary committees are a near-annual UPSC Prelims polity topic, and India-US trade features regularly in Mains GS-2 and GS-3.
Department Related Parliamentary Standing Committee - 24 in all, 16 under the Lok Sabha and 8 under the Rajya Sabha, each with 31 members and a one-year term.
The India-US goal of doubling bilateral trade to USD 500 billion by 2030.
Transforming the Relationship Utilizing Strategic Technology - the India-US initiative on AI, semiconductors, quantum, biotechnology, defence, energy and space.
A trade restriction other than a tariff - licensing, quotas, standards or technical requirements - that limits market access.
Standards, testing and certification requirements that can obstruct imports; addressed through Mutual Recognition Agreements.
Relocating supply chains to politically aligned partner countries rather than to the lowest-cost location.
Compound Annual Growth Rate - the smoothed annual growth rate over a period, used here for services trade.