The Parliament

131. Consider the following statements: 1. The President of India can su

Consider the following statements:

  • 1. The President of India can summon a joint sitting of the Parliament.
  • 2. The Speaker of the Lok Sabha presides over a joint sitting of the Parliament.
  • 3. The Vice-President of India presides over a joint sitting of the Parliament if the Speaker is absent.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

[amp_mcq option1=”1 and 2 only” option2=”1 and 3 only” option3=”2 and 3 only” option4=”1, 2 and 3″ correct=”option1″]

This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2010
Download PDFAttempt Online
Statements 1 and 2 are correct, while statement 3 is incorrect.
– Statement 1: Article 108 of the Constitution provides for the President to summon a joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament in certain cases of disagreement over a bill. This statement is correct.
– Statement 2: As per Article 118(4) of the Constitution, the Speaker of the Lok Sabha presides over a joint sitting of the two Houses. This statement is correct.
– Statement 3: If the Speaker is absent from a joint sitting, the Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha presides. If both the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker are absent, the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha presides. The Vice-President of India, who is the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, does *not* preside over a joint sitting. This statement is incorrect.
Joint sittings are rare and are typically summoned to resolve deadlocks on ordinary bills. They are not applicable to Money Bills or Constitution Amendment Bills. The rules of procedure for a joint sitting are made by the President after consultation with the Speaker of the Lok Sabha and the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.

132. Consider the following statements: 1. The Lok Sabha has the power t

Consider the following statements:

  • 1. The Lok Sabha has the power to pass a vote of no-confidence against the Council of Ministers.
  • 2. The Rajya Sabha has the power to pass a vote of no-confidence against the Council of Ministers.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

[amp_mcq option1=”1 only” option2=”2 only” option3=”Both 1 and 2″ option4=”Neither 1 nor 2″ correct=”option1″]

This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2010
Download PDFAttempt Online
Statement 1 is correct, while statement 2 is incorrect.
– Statement 1: The Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to the House of the People (Lok Sabha) as per Article 75(3) of the Constitution. Therefore, the Lok Sabha has the power to express lack of confidence in the government by passing a vote of no-confidence. If the motion is passed, the Council of Ministers must resign. This statement is correct.
– Statement 2: The Rajya Sabha does not have the power to pass a vote of no-confidence against the Council of Ministers. While the Rajya Sabha can discuss government policies and criticise the government, it cannot remove the government from power through a no-confidence motion. This statement is incorrect.
A no-confidence motion can only be introduced in the Lok Sabha. It requires the support of at least 50 members to be admitted. If passed by a majority of the members present and voting, the government falls.

133. Which one of the following are advance grants made by the House of Peo

Which one of the following are advance grants made by the House of People in respect of the estimated expenditure for a part of the ensuing financial year, pending the regular passage of the budget ?

[amp_mcq option1=”Supplementary grants” option2=”Special grants” option3=”Vote on credit” option4=”Vote on account” correct=”option4″]

This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2009
Download PDFAttempt Online
The correct option is D (Vote on account).
– A Vote on Account is a grant made by the Lok Sabha in advance to the government to meet the estimated expenditure for a part of the financial year, typically the first two months, pending the regular passage of the demands for grants and the Appropriation Bill related to the full budget. It allows the government to continue functioning and meet its essential expenses until the complete budget is approved.
– Supplementary Grants are needed when the amount authorised by Parliament through the appropriation act for a service for the current financial year is found to be insufficient, or when a need arises during the current financial year for expenditure upon a new service not contemplated in the annual financial statement.
– Special Grants is not a standard term used in the Indian budgetary process in this context.
– Vote on Credit is granted by Lok Sabha to meet an unexpected demand upon the resources of India when, on account of the magnitude or the indefinite character of the service, the demand cannot be stated with the details ordinarily given in a financial statement. It is granted for exceptional circumstances.
Article 116 of the Constitution deals with Votes on account, Votes of credit, and exceptional grants. A Vote on Account is typically for about one-sixth of the total expenditure for the year and involves only expenditure demands, not revenue proposals.

134. Who among the following Prime Ministers of India has not presented the

Who among the following Prime Ministers of India has not presented the budget ?

[amp_mcq option1=”Jawaharlal Nehru” option2=”Morarji Desai” option3=”Indira Gandhi” option4=”Rajeev Gandhi” correct=”option4″]

This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2009
Download PDFAttempt Online
This question is factually problematic as all the listed Prime Ministers have presented the Union Budget at some point during their tenure, either as Prime Minister holding the Finance portfolio or as Finance Minister. However, if forced to choose based on interpretations seen in some sources, Rajiv Gandhi is sometimes cited as the intended answer.
– Jawaharlal Nehru presented the budget for 1958-59 while holding the Finance portfolio.
– Morarji Desai presented numerous budgets as Finance Minister under Jawaharlal Nehru. He also presented the 1977-78 budget as Prime Minister holding the Finance portfolio.
– Indira Gandhi presented the budgets for 1970-71, 1980-81, and 1981-82 while holding the Finance portfolio as Prime Minister.
– Rajiv Gandhi presented the budget for 1987-88 while holding the Finance portfolio as Prime Minister after the resignation of V.P. Singh and N.D. Tiwari.
– Given that all four options *did* present budgets while serving as PM or FM, the question “Who among the following Prime Ministers of India has not presented the budget?” is factually incorrect with these options.
– If there is an intended correct answer among the options, it relies on a nuance not captured by the question, such as perhaps presenting a budget for a full year while being PM and full-time FM, or frequency of presentation. However, based on the simple criterion of “presented the budget”, none of the options fit the description of *not* having done so. Some interpretations suggest Rajiv Gandhi might be the intended answer because he presented only one budget while PM, and that too when the FM was unwell. However, this does not mean he “has not presented the budget”.
Prime Ministers who have presented the budget include Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, P.V. Narasimha Rao, and Atal Bihari Vajpayee (briefly). Morarji Desai presented the most budgets overall, primarily as Finance Minister.

135. The Parliament is entitled to enact a law of preventive detention for

The Parliament is entitled to enact a law of preventive detention for reasons connected with :

[amp_mcq option1=”defence” option2=”foreign affairs” option3=”security of India” option4=”all the above” correct=”option4″]

This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2009
Download PDFAttempt Online
The correct option is D (all the above).
– The power to enact laws for preventive detention is covered in the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution.
– Union List (List I): Entry 9 specifically lists “Preventive detention for reasons connected with Defence, Foreign Affairs, or the Security of India; persons subjected to such detention”. Parliament has exclusive power to legislate on items in the Union List.
– Concurrent List (List III): Entry 3 lists “Preventive detention for reasons connected with the security of a State, the maintenance of public order, or the maintenance of supplies and services essential to the community; persons subjected to such detention; regulation of the place and conditions of detention of such persons”. Both Parliament and state legislatures can legislate on items in the Concurrent List.
– Since Defence, Foreign Affairs, and Security of India are explicitly mentioned in Entry 9 of the Union List, Parliament is entitled to enact a law of preventive detention for reasons connected with all these three areas.
Preventive detention is a contentious issue in India’s legal framework, allowing for detention of individuals without trial based on suspicion that they may commit a future crime, for reasons specified in the Lists. Safeguards against misuse are provided in Article 22 of the Constitution.

136. Which of the following statements is not correct ?

Which of the following statements is not correct ?

[amp_mcq option1=”Rajya Sabha can make recommendations on a money bill” option2=”Rajya Sabha can amend a money bill” option3=”Rajya Sabha can delay the passing of a money bill upto a maximum of 14 days” option4=”Rajya Sabha cannot reject a money bill” correct=”option2″]

This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2009
Download PDFAttempt Online
The question asks for the statement that is NOT correct. According to the Indian Constitution, Money Bills can only be introduced in the Lok Sabha. Once passed by the Lok Sabha, they are sent to the Rajya Sabha, which cannot amend a Money Bill. The Rajya Sabha can only make recommendations, which the Lok Sabha may or may not accept. If Rajya Sabha does not return the bill within 14 days, or if it makes recommendations that Lok Sabha rejects, the bill is deemed to have been passed by both Houses in the form passed by Lok Sabha. Rajya Sabha cannot reject a Money Bill. Therefore, Statement B, “Rajya Sabha can amend a money bill,” is incorrect.
The Rajya Sabha has limited powers regarding Money Bills; it can only recommend changes and cannot amend or reject the bill.
Article 109 of the Constitution of India specifically deals with the special procedure in respect of Money Bills, outlining the limited role of the Rajya Sabha. This provision highlights the primacy of the Lok Sabha (representing the directly elected representatives) in financial matters.

137. Which of the following is not a correct description of the ‘zero hour’

Which of the following is not a correct description of the ‘zero hour’ ?

[amp_mcq option1=”The time allotted after the Question Hour” option2=”Question on issues of national importance or serious grievances of the people can be raised by members of either House” option3=”Questions to be asked during zero hour are circulated one day in advance only” option4=”The justification for its origin lies in allowing for democratic discussion beyond rules and procedures” correct=”option3″]

This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2009
Download PDFAttempt Online
The question asks for the statement that is NOT a correct description of ‘Zero Hour’. Zero Hour is an informal parliamentary procedure in India that starts immediately after the Question Hour and lasts until the agenda for the day is taken up. It is used by members to raise urgent matters of public importance without prior notice (or with very short notice). Statement C is incorrect because questions or issues raised during Zero Hour do not require formal circulation one day in advance, unlike the established procedures for Questions (Starred, Unstarred, Short Notice). Its nature is precisely that of allowing members to raise urgent matters spontaneously or with minimal notice.
Zero Hour is an informal mechanism in the Indian Parliament allowing members to raise urgent matters without following the formal rules requiring prior notice.
Zero Hour is not mentioned in the Rules of Procedure of the House but has become an established practice since the early 1960s. It allows members to draw the government’s attention to issues of public concern quickly, often leading to noisy scenes due to the lack of formal procedure and control.

138. In the passing of a Money Bill, the Rajya Sabha has limited powers in

In the passing of a Money Bill, the Rajya Sabha has limited powers in that it shall return the Bill, with or without any recommendation, within the stipulated time of

[amp_mcq option1=”12 days” option2=”21 days” option3=”14 days” option4=”30 days” correct=”option3″]

This question was previously asked in
UPSC NDA-2 – 2024
Download PDFAttempt Online
The correct answer is 14 days.
According to Article 109(1) of the Constitution of India, after a Money Bill has been passed by the House of the People (Lok Sabha), it is transmitted to the Council of States (Rajya Sabha) for its recommendations. The Rajya Sabha must return the bill to the Lok Sabha within a period of fourteen days from the date of its receipt.
Rajya Sabha has limited powers regarding Money Bills. It cannot reject or amend a Money Bill. It can only suggest recommendations, which the Lok Sabha is free to accept or reject. If the Rajya Sabha does not return the bill within 14 days, it is deemed to have been passed by both Houses in the form it was passed by the Lok Sabha.

139. According to Article 79 of the Constitution of India, which of the fol

According to Article 79 of the Constitution of India, which of the following is/are described as a part of Parliament of India ?

  • 1. The House of the People
  • 2. The Council of States
  • 3. The President of India

Select the correct answer using the code given below :

[amp_mcq option1=”1 only” option2=”1 and 2 only” option3=”2 and 3 only” option4=”1, 2 and 3″ correct=”option4″]

This question was previously asked in
UPSC NDA-2 – 2020
Download PDFAttempt Online
According to Article 79 of the Constitution of India, the Parliament of India consists of the President, the Council of States, and the House of the People.
Article 79 explicitly states the composition of the Indian Parliament. The Council of States is the Rajya Sabha (Upper House), and the House of the People is the Lok Sabha (Lower House). The President is a crucial component of the Parliament, as bills passed by both Houses require the President’s assent to become law.
Although the President is not a member of either House, the role is integral to the legislative process. This structure reflects the parliamentary system of government where the head of state is part of the legislature but distinct from the head of government.

140. Which one of the following statements about Money Bill is correct ?

Which one of the following statements about Money Bill is correct ?

[amp_mcq option1=”A Bill shall be deemed to be a Money Bill only if it provides for imposition of fines or penalties” option2=”A Money Bill shall be introduced in the Rajya Sabha” option3=”The Rajya Sabha can reject the Money Bill” option4=”The Speaker of the Lok Sabha finally decides if it is a Money Bill, should any dispute about it arise” correct=”option4″]

This question was previously asked in
UPSC NDA-2 – 2016
Download PDFAttempt Online
Statement A is incorrect. Article 110(2) explicitly states that a bill is *not* a Money Bill *only* because it imposes fines or penalties. Money Bills deal with matters listed in Article 110(1), primarily related to taxation, government borrowing, Consolidated Fund, etc.
Statement B is incorrect. Article 109(1) states that a Money Bill *shall not* be introduced in the Rajya Sabha; it can only be introduced in the Lok Sabha.
Statement C is incorrect. The Rajya Sabha has limited powers regarding Money Bills. It cannot reject or amend a Money Bill. It can only make recommendations to the Lok Sabha, which the Lok Sabha may accept or reject. If the Rajya Sabha does not return the bill within 14 days, it is deemed to have been passed by both Houses.
Statement D is correct. Article 110(3) of the Constitution states, “If any question arises whether a Bill is a Money Bill or not, the decision of the Speaker of the House of the People thereon shall be final.” The Speaker’s decision on this matter is conclusive.
The Lok Sabha has overriding powers compared to the Rajya Sabha with respect to Money Bills. This reflects the principle that the power to tax and spend (financial power) rests primarily with the directly elected representatives of the people.
Article 110(1) lists the specific matters that qualify a Bill as a Money Bill. These include the imposition, abolition, remission, alteration or regulation of any tax; regulation of the borrowing of money or the giving of any guarantee by the Government of India; the custody of the Consolidated Fund or the Contingency Fund, the payment of moneys into or the withdrawal of moneys from any such Fund, etc.
Page 1Page 2Page 3Page 4Page 5