- Why in news
- On 2 April 2026, the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs told Lok Sabha in a written reply that the SLMS portal is operational to track stages of subordinate legislation. It currently shows progress of 86 subordinate legislations.
- What it is
- Subordinate legislation means rules, regulations and orders made by the executive under powers delegated by an Act of Parliament. The SLMS portal is an online tool to monitor such instruments through their stages. It was built on a recommendation of the Lok Sabha Committee on Subordinate Legislation, which scrutinises whether delegated powers are properly used.
- Stages tracked
- The portal monitors framing/drafting, laying, vetting and notification of subordinate legislations.
- Origin
- It is based on a recommendation of the Committee on Subordinate Legislation of Lok Sabha.
- Stakeholders
- Credentials were shared with Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha Secretariats, Cabinet Secretariat, Legislative Department and all Ministries/Departments.
- Scale
- Progress of 86 subordinate legislations is available on the portal at present.
- Nodal ministry
- The Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs runs the portal and held a training-cum-workshop for stakeholders.
Don’t confuse with Committee on Subordinate Legislation vs Committee on Government Assurances: The first scrutinises whether rules and regulations stay within delegated powers; the second tracks whether ministers' promises on the floor are fulfilled.
Laws, judgments and statutory bodies: 30 Prelims questions since 2013 (what the law says, who chairs, legal basis). In Mains, 44 news-triggered questions, most in GS2, asking for provisions and challenges.
Why it matters
- Improves timely laying and vetting of delegated legislation, strengthening parliamentary oversight of the executive.
Problems
- Only 86 instruments are tracked, so coverage may be limited; the portal does not itself ensure compliance or quality of scrutiny.
Way forward
- Extend coverage to all subordinate legislation and make status data publicly visible, with follow-up by the committees.
- 2018Prelims Q20Which parliamentary committee scrutinises whether delegated rule-making powers are properly exercised by the Executive
- 2021Mains GS2 · Q15Do departmental standing committees keep administration accountable? Evaluate with examples
- 2018Mains GS2 · Q4Why parliamentary committees are useful, and the role of the Estimates Committee
- 2021Prelims Q85Which Article is violated by legislation giving executive unguided, uncontrolled discretionary power
UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.
No practice question for this one; the card may still help an answer. Why: Parliamentary oversight of delegated legislation is syllabus-relevant; little for statements to turn on, so no question.
Worth revising until Prelims 2027: most news questions come within two years of the event.