UPSC SO-Steno Archives

11. Which one of the following statements is correct?

Which one of the following statements is correct?

A Bill can be taken up in a joint sitting of the Houses notwithstanding the dissolution of the Lok Sabha.

A Bill cannot be taken up in a joint sitting of the Houses after Lok Sabha is dissolved.

Joint session cannot be convened by the President after dissolution of Lok Sabha even though the President notified his intention to summon the Joint Sitting of the Houses.

There is express provision in the Constitution regarding the effect of dissolution on a Bill which has been passed by the two Houses and sent to the President for assent.

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Statement A is incorrect. A Bill can only be taken up in a joint sitting if it has not lapsed. Bills that cause typical deadlocks and originate in one House pending in the other often lapse upon dissolution.
Statement B is generally true for most common scenarios where a joint sitting might be required, as the Bill causing the deadlock would have lapsed.
Statement C is incorrect. Article 108(5) explicitly states that if the President has notified his intention to summon a joint sitting *before* the dissolution of the Lok Sabha, the joint sitting *can* be held and the Bill passed, *notwithstanding* the dissolution, provided the Bill has not lapsed under Article 107.
Statement D is correct. Article 107(5) is the express provision in the Constitution regarding the effect of dissolution on a Bill which has been passed by the two Houses and sent to the President for assent. It states that such a Bill *shall not lapse*.

Article 107(5) provides that Bills passed by both Houses and pending Presidential assent or returned for reconsideration do not lapse upon dissolution. Article 108(5) provides a specific condition under which a joint sitting *can* be held after dissolution if notified before, provided the Bill has not lapsed. Statement D correctly identifies the presence of an express provision concerning Bills passed by both Houses and pending assent.

The interrelationship between dissolution of Lok Sabha, lapse of Bills (Article 107), and Joint Sittings (Article 108) is a complex area of constitutional law and parliamentary practice.

12. Which of the following statements is/are correct with regard to the ef

Which of the following statements is/are correct with regard to the effects of dissolution of Lok Sabha?
1. The dissolution is irrevocable.
2. All business pending before the Lok Sabha lapses.
3. A Bill passed by the Lok Sabha immediately before its dissolution can be taken up by the Rajya Sabha.
Select the correct answer using the code given below :

1, 2 and 3

1 and 2 only

1 only

2 and 3 only

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Statement 1 is correct. Once the Lok Sabha is dissolved, it ceases to exist and cannot be revived. A general election is held to constitute a new Lok Sabha.
Statement 2 is correct. As per Article 107(5) of the Constitution, a Bill pending in Parliament shall not lapse by reason of the prorogation of the Houses. However, a Bill pending in the Lok Sabha, or a Bill which has passed by the Lok Sabha and is pending in the Rajya Sabha, shall lapse on a dissolution of the Lok Sabha. This covers most of the business pending before the Lok Sabha.
Statement 3 is incorrect. As stated in Article 107(5), a Bill passed by the Lok Sabha but pending in the Rajya Sabha lapses upon the dissolution of the Lok Sabha. Therefore, it cannot be taken up by the Rajya Sabha after the dissolution.

Dissolution terminates the life of the Lok Sabha. Most pending business, particularly Bills originating in or pending in the Lok Sabha, lapse upon dissolution.

Exceptions to the rule of lapse include Bills passed by both Houses and pending President’s assent or returned by the President for reconsideration (Article 107(5)). Also, Bills originating in and pending in the Rajya Sabha, which have not been sent to the Lok Sabha, do not lapse.

13. Which one of the following statements is not correct?

Which one of the following statements is not correct?

Before 1923, a Bill passed by one House and transmitted to the other House of the Central Legislative Assembly did not lapse upon dissolution of the House which had passed it.

Bills passed by Lok Sabha but pending in Rajya Sabha on the date of dissolution of Lok Sabha, lapse.

Only Bills originating in Rajya Sabha which have not been passed by Lok Sabha but are still pending before Rajya Sabha, lapse.

Only Bills originating in Rajya Sabha which have not been passed by Lok Sabha but are still pending before Rajya Sabha, do not lapse.

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Statement A is likely correct as a historical point regarding the Central Legislative Assembly before 1923. Rules regarding lapse upon dissolution have changed over time.
Statement B is correct. This is explicitly stated in Article 107(5) of the Constitution: a Bill which has passed by the Lok Sabha and is pending in the Rajya Sabha, shall lapse on a dissolution of the Lok Sabha.
Statement C is incorrect. The statement claims that *only* Bills originating in Rajya Sabha which have not been passed by Lok Sabha but are still pending before Rajya Sabha, *lapse*. This is false. According to Article 107(4), a Bill pending in the Rajya Sabha which has not been passed by the Lok Sabha shall *not* lapse on a dissolution of the Lok Sabha. Such Bills originating in RS and pending in RS do *not* lapse. Furthermore, the word “Only” is incorrect, as other types of bills also lapse (e.g., bills pending in LS, bills passed by LS but pending in RS).
Statement D is correct. It states that *only* Bills originating in Rajya Sabha which have not been passed by Lok Sabha but are still pending before Rajya Sabha, *do not lapse*. While the word “Only” is incorrect as other bills also do not lapse (passed by both houses, pending assent/reconsideration), the core assertion that Bills originating and pending in Rajya Sabha (and not transmitted to LS) do not lapse is correct (Article 107(4)). However, compared to C, C’s core assertion that these bills *lapse* is fundamentally false, making C the “not correct” statement.

Bills originating in the Rajya Sabha and pending there (not having been sent to Lok Sabha) do not lapse upon the dissolution of the Lok Sabha. Statement C incorrectly claims that this category of bills *lapses*.

The rules regarding lapse of Bills upon dissolution of the Lok Sabha are crucial aspects of parliamentary procedure governed by Article 107 of the Constitution. Understanding which Bills lapse and which do not is essential.

14. The Commission of Railway Safety functions under the administrative co

The Commission of Railway Safety functions under the administrative control of the Ministry of

Labour and Employment

Railways

Commerce and Industries

Civil Aviation

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The Commission of Railway Safety (CRS) is a government safety authority that investigates serious railway accidents. To ensure its independence from the operational body (Ministry of Railways), it functions under the administrative control of the Ministry of Civil Aviation.

Placing the railway safety regulator under a different ministry than the one operating the railways enhances its autonomy and impartiality in investigating accidents and recommending safety measures.

The CRS is the nodal body responsible for ensuring safety in rail travel and operations in India. Its role is crucial in accident inquiry and suggesting improvements in railway infrastructure and procedures.

15. Which one of the following Ministries/Departments handles matters rela

Which one of the following Ministries/Departments handles matters related to private air transport (including Cargo) Industry ?

Department of Heavy Industries

Department of Defence Production

Ministry of Civil Aviation

Ministry of Tourism

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Matters related to private air transport (including Cargo) Industry, airlines, airports, air traffic control, and overall civil aviation infrastructure and policy are handled by the Ministry of Civil Aviation in the Government of India.

Government ministries are allocated specific portfolios covering various sectors of the economy and administration. Civil aviation, encompassing all air transport activities except military, falls under the purview of the Ministry of Civil Aviation.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation is responsible for the formulation of national policies and programmes for the development and regulation of civil aviation. It oversees regulatory bodies like the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

16. The book titled, ‘Platform Scale : For a Post-Pandemic World’ has been

The book titled, ‘Platform Scale : For a Post-Pandemic World’ has been authored by

Michael Joseph

Meghna Pant

Sangeet Paul Choudhary

Priyanka Chopra Jonas

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The book titled, ‘Platform Scale : For a Post-Pandemic World’ is authored by Sangeet Paul Choudhary. The book discusses the impact of platforms in the digital economy and their potential role in a post-pandemic world.

This is a factual question about the authorship of a specific book. The book deals with themes relevant to technology and the economy.

Sangeet Paul Choudhary is known for his work on platform business models. Books on contemporary economic and technological themes, especially if authored by recognised experts, are often included in current affairs questions.

17. Which one of the following statements is not correct with regard to

Which one of the following statements is *not* correct with regard to quorum of Lok Sabha / Parliamentary Committees ?

Quorum of the House is one-tenth of the total members of the House.

Quorum of a Parliamentary Committee is, as near as may be, one-third of its total members.

The House/Committee cannot commence its sitting without ensuring quorum.

Quorum is ensured only when it is pointed out by a member.

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Statement A is correct. As per Article 100(3) of the Constitution, the quorum to constitute a meeting of either House of Parliament is one-tenth of the total number of members of the House.
Statement B is correct. The Rules of Procedure of Parliament generally stipulate that the quorum for a meeting of a Parliamentary Committee shall be, as near as may be, one-third of the total number of members of the Committee.
Statement C is correct. Article 100(4) states that if at any time during a meeting of a House there is no quorum, it shall be the duty of the Chairman or Speaker to adjourn the House or suspend the meeting until there is a quorum. Similar rules apply to committees. Business cannot commence without quorum.
Statement D is incorrect. Quorum must be ensured by the Presiding Officer (Speaker/Chairman or Committee Chairperson) before commencing the sitting and also when the deficiency of quorum is pointed out by a member during the sitting. The requirement of quorum is mandatory for the validity of proceedings; it is not contingent *only* on a member pointing it out. The sitting should not commence or continue without quorum, whether pointed out or not.

Quorum is the minimum number of members required to be present for a legislative body or committee to conduct valid business. It is the responsibility of the presiding officer to ensure quorum, not solely dependent on a member raising the issue.

If a sitting commences without quorum and is later discovered, the proceedings may be invalidated. If quorum is pointed out during a sitting and is lacking, the sitting is adjourned or suspended.

18. The book titled, ‘By Many a Happy Accident : Recollections of a Life’

The book titled, ‘By Many a Happy Accident : Recollections of a Life’ has been authored by

R.P. Gupta

Mohammad Hamid Ansari

Peter Mukerjea

Kabir Bedi

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The book titled, ‘By Many a Happy Accident : Recollections of a Life’ is the autobiography of Mohammad Hamid Ansari, the former Vice-President of India.

This is a factual question about the authorship of a specific book. Mohammad Hamid Ansari served as the 12th Vice-President of India from 2007 to 2017.

Autobiographies and memoirs by prominent political figures, bureaucrats, and public personalities are often featured in current affairs sections of examinations like UPSC. Staying updated on recent book releases by notable figures is helpful.

19. Which of the following statements is/are correct ? The President of In

Which of the following statements is/are correct ?
The President of India can proclaim emergency

1. on the ground of war, aggression or armed rebellion.
2. only if the decision of the Union Council of Ministers is communicated to him in writing.
3. only if both houses of Parliament approve the proclamation after its promulgation.

Select the correct answer using the code given below :

1 only

1 and 2 only

1, 2 and 3

3 only

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Statement 1 is correct. Article 352(1) of the Constitution allows the President to proclaim a National Emergency on the ground of war, external aggression, or armed rebellion (originally internal disturbance, changed by the 44th Amendment Act, 1978).
Statement 2 is correct. Article 352(3), inserted by the 44th Amendment Act, 1978, mandates that the President shall not issue a Proclamation of Emergency unless the decision of the Union Cabinet (not just Council of Ministers generally) that such a Proclamation may be issued has been communicated to him in writing. This was a safeguard added after the experience of the 1975 emergency.
Statement 3 is incorrect. The President proclaims the emergency based on the grounds and written communication from the Cabinet. The proclamation must then be laid before each House of Parliament and must be approved by resolutions of both Houses within one month of its promulgation (Article 352(4)). Approval is a condition for the *continuation* of the emergency beyond one month, not a prerequisite for its initial *promulgation* by the President.

A National Emergency can be proclaimed by the President based on specific grounds and only upon the written recommendation of the Union Cabinet. Parliamentary approval is required *after* the proclamation to keep it in force.

The 44th Amendment Act, 1978 significantly reformed the emergency provisions to prevent misuse. Key changes included replacing “internal disturbance” with “armed rebellion” as a ground, requiring written Cabinet communication, and enhancing parliamentary control over the proclamation and its duration.

20. Parliament of India consists

Parliament of India consists

the President of India only

the House of the People and the Council of States only

The President of India, the House of the People and the Council of States

the Vice-President of India, the House of the People and the Council of States

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Article 79 of the Constitution of India defines the constitution of Parliament. It states: “There shall be a Parliament for the Union, which shall consist of the President and two Houses to be known respectively as the Council of States and the House of the People.”
The Parliament of India is therefore composed of three parts: the President of India, the Council of States (Rajya Sabha), and the House of the People (Lok Sabha).

– The composition of the Parliament of India is defined by Article 79 of the Constitution.
– Parliament consists of the President, the Rajya Sabha (Council of States), and the Lok Sabha (House of the People).

The President is an integral part of the Parliament, even though they do not sit or participate in discussions in either House. No bill passed by the Houses can become law without the President’s assent. The Vice-President is the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha but is not a component of the Parliament itself.