What is Parliament in India? Parliament is the Union legislature of India. Under Article 79, it consists of the President, the Rajya Sabha, and the Lok Sabha. It is not only a law-making body. It is also the main institution for representation, executive accountability, financial control, and national deliberation.
Parliament is often reduced to a list of labels: upper House, lower House, Speaker, Money Bill, Question Hour, and so on. But Parliament is better understood as a constitutional system in which representation, federalism, executive responsibility, financial control and law-making all meet in one place.
The Parliament chapter in the Constitution runs broadly through Articles 79 to 122. These provisions deal with the composition of the Houses, their duration, sessions, officers, voting, privileges, legislative procedure, and the rules for Bills. Read together, they explain how Parliament is structured, how it works, and how it controls the executive.
The Constitutional Position of Parliament
The first point that must be stated correctly is this: Parliament does not mean only Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. The President is also a part of Parliament. That is why a Bill passed by both Houses does not become law merely by passage in the Houses. Presidential assent is still required.
| Constitutional point | What it means in simple English | UPSC significance |
|---|---|---|
| Article 79 | Parliament for the Union consists of the President, Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha. | Do not define Parliament as only the two Houses. |
| Bicameral legislature | India has two Houses at the Union level, not one. | This allows both popular representation and federal review. |
| President's role | The President is part of Parliament in the constitutional sense, though not a member of either House. | This explains assent, summoning, prorogation and special address. |
Why India Has Two Houses of Parliament
India did not adopt bicameralism by accident. The Lok Sabha gives direct democratic representation to the people. The Rajya Sabha gives the States and the federal idea a continuing place in Union legislation. It also works as a revising chamber, which means it can slow down, re-examine, and improve legislation instead of allowing every Bill to move only through the pressure of the temporary majority in the popular House.
This is why it is wrong to describe Rajya Sabha as a decorative chamber. It is not equal to Lok Sabha in every matter, but it is also not powerless. In some fields, especially Article 249 and Article 312, it has powers that Lok Sabha does not possess in the same form.
Composition of Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha
| Feature | Rajya Sabha | Lok Sabha |
|---|---|---|
| Constitutional name | Council of States | House of the People |
| Nature | Permanent House; not subject to dissolution | Popular House; normally continues for five years unless sooner dissolved |
| Constitutional maximum | 250: 12 nominated + not more than 238 representatives of States and Union territories | 550: not more than 530 from States + not more than 20 from Union territories |
| Important modern nuance | Nominated members are constitutionally recognised and come from literature, science, art and social service. | Older books mentioning a total of 552 reflect the former Anglo-Indian nomination position. That is no longer the present constitutional arrangement after the 104th Amendment, 2020. |
| Method of election | Indirect election for representatives of States through elected MLAs, by proportional representation through the single transferable vote | Direct election from territorial constituencies under the ordinary electoral system |
| Minimum age | 30 years | 25 years |
| Term | 6 years; as nearly as possible one-third retire every second year | 5 years from the date appointed for its first meeting, unless sooner dissolved |
| Presiding officer | Chairman of Rajya Sabha, who is the Vice-President of India | Speaker of Lok Sabha |
Exam trap: Do not mix up constitutional maximum strength with the current working strength. UPSC often expects the constitutional scheme first.
Quick Facts
- Parliament means President + Rajya Sabha + Lok Sabha.
- Rajya Sabha is a permanent House; Lok Sabha is not.
- The constitutional maximum of Lok Sabha in the present scheme is 550, not the older 552-based formulation.
- The gap between two sessions cannot exceed six months.
- Quorum in either House is one-tenth of total membership.
- Money Bill: only in Lok Sabha, only on President's recommendation, and Rajya Sabha gets only 14 days.
- Joint sitting is not available for Money Bills or Constitution Amendment Bills.
What Makes Rajya Sabha Important
Rajya Sabha is often called the federal chamber because the States are represented in it. But that description becomes meaningful only when we see what follows from it.
- It is a continuing House. It does not disappear when Lok Sabha is dissolved.
- It offers a second legislative look, which is important in a large and diverse democracy.
- It protects the federal principle through special constitutional powers, especially under Article 249 and Article 312.
- It prevents the entire parliamentary structure from becoming dependent only on the temporary majority in Lok Sabha.
Qualifications and Officers of Parliament
Article 84 lays down the basic qualification rule: a person must be a citizen of India, must make and subscribe the required oath or affirmation, must satisfy the minimum age requirement, and must possess any other qualifications prescribed by Parliament by law.
| Office | How it is filled | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Chairman of Rajya Sabha | The Vice-President of India is ex officio Chairman. | This is why Rajya Sabha has a presiding officer who is not elected from its ordinary membership in the same way as Lok Sabha elects its Speaker. |
| Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha | Elected by Rajya Sabha from among its members. | Ensures continuity of House functioning. |
| Speaker of Lok Sabha | Elected by Lok Sabha from among its members. | Central to debate, discipline, certification of Money Bills, and joint sitting. |
| Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha | Elected by Lok Sabha from among its members. | Acts when Speaker is absent and is important in procedural continuity. |
Presiding Officers: Election, Vacancy and Removal
The four presiding offices of Parliament are often read as a short list, but UPSC regularly tests the differences among them. The most important contrast is this: the Chairman of Rajya Sabha is the Vice-President of India ex officio, while the Speaker of Lok Sabha is elected by Lok Sabha from among its own members.
1. Chairman of Rajya Sabha
How the office is filled: the Vice-President of India is the ex officio Chairman under Article 89, clause 1. So Rajya Sabha does not separately elect its Chairman in the same way that Lok Sabha elects its Speaker.
Removal: removal of the Chairman is really removal of the Vice-President under Article 67(b). The resolution must be moved in Rajya Sabha, passed by a majority of all the then members of Rajya Sabha, agreed to by Lok Sabha, and it requires at least fourteen days' notice.
During removal proceedings: under Article 92, the Chairman does not preside while such a resolution is under consideration. He may speak and take part in the proceedings, but he does not vote at all during those proceedings.
2. Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha
How the office is filled: Rajya Sabha elects one of its own members as Deputy Chairman under Article 89, clause 2. In other words, the Deputy Chairman is elected by the House from among the sitting members of Rajya Sabha.
Vacation, resignation and removal: the Deputy Chairman vacates office if he ceases to be a member of Rajya Sabha, may resign by writing addressed to the Chairman, and may be removed by a resolution of Rajya Sabha passed by a majority of all the then members of the House. Here too, fourteen days' notice is necessary.
Continuity rule: if the office of Chairman is vacant, or if the Vice-President is acting as President or discharging the functions of the President, the Deputy Chairman performs the duties of the Chairman. If the office of Deputy Chairman is also vacant, the President may appoint a member of Rajya Sabha for the purpose.
During removal proceedings: the Deputy Chairman also does not preside while a resolution for his removal is under consideration.
3. Speaker of Lok Sabha
How the office is filled: Lok Sabha elects two of its members as Speaker and Deputy Speaker under Article 93. The Speaker is therefore a member of the House who is elected by the House to the presiding office.
Vacation, resignation and removal: the Speaker vacates office if he ceases to be a member of Lok Sabha, may resign by writing addressed to the Deputy Speaker, and may be removed by a resolution of Lok Sabha passed by a majority of all the then members of the House. Such a resolution can be moved only after at least fourteen days' notice.
Important continuity point: unlike many other offices, the Speaker does not vacate office immediately on dissolution of Lok Sabha. Under Article 94, he continues until immediately before the first meeting of the next Lok Sabha.
During removal proceedings: under Article 96, the Speaker does not preside while the House is considering a resolution for his removal. He may speak and take part in the proceedings, and may vote only in the first instance, not in the case of equality.
4. Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha
How the office is filled: Lok Sabha elects the Deputy Speaker from among its own members under Article 93.
Vacation, resignation and removal: the Deputy Speaker vacates office if he ceases to be a member of Lok Sabha, may resign by writing addressed to the Speaker, and may be removed by a resolution of Lok Sabha passed by a majority of all the then members of the House, after fourteen days' notice.
Continuity rule: when the Speaker is absent from a sitting, the Deputy Speaker acts as Speaker. If both are absent, the rules of the House or the House itself determine who will preside. If the office of Speaker is vacant, the Deputy Speaker performs the duties of the office, and if both offices are vacant, the President may appoint a member of Lok Sabha for the purpose.
Important asymmetry: Article 94 gives the carry-over protection after dissolution only to the Speaker, not to the Deputy Speaker.
Article 88 adds another constitutional nuance: every Minister and the Attorney-General of India has the right to speak in, and otherwise take part in, the proceedings of either House, any joint sitting, and any committee of Parliament of which they may be named members. But they do not get a right to vote unless they are actually members of that House.
Sessions of Parliament
The President summons each House of Parliament from time to time. The Constitution does not say that there must be exactly three sessions called Budget, Monsoon and Winter. Those are only the conventional names used in practice. The real constitutional rule is in Article 85: six months shall not intervene between the last sitting in one session and the first sitting in the next session.
- Budget Session: usually the longest session, centered around the Budget and financial business.
- Monsoon Session: usually held in the middle part of the year.
- Winter Session: usually the shorter end-of-year session.
Important constitutional nuance: The President also has the power to prorogue either House and to dissolve Lok Sabha. Rajya Sabha cannot be dissolved because it is a continuing House.
Another related point comes from Article 87. After each general election to Lok Sabha and at the beginning of the first session of each year, the President addresses both Houses assembled together. That address is not a ceremonial extra. It is a formal constitutional communication of the government's policy direction.
Adjournment, Adjournment Sine Die, Prorogation and Dissolution
These terms are often mixed up, but they are constitutionally distinct.
| Term | Who does it | What it means | UPSC nuance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adjournment | Presiding officer of the House | Suspends the sitting of the House for a specified time, which may be hours, days or longer. | It affects only a sitting, not the life of the House. |
| Adjournment sine die | Presiding officer of the House | Terminates the sitting or series of sittings without fixing a date for the next sitting. | It usually comes before prorogation, but it is not the same thing as prorogation. |
| Prorogation | President | Ends a session of the House. | Prorogation does not cause Bills pending in Parliament to lapse. |
| Dissolution | President, in relation to Lok Sabha | Ends the life of Lok Sabha itself. | Dissolution has major consequences for pending business and certain Bills. |
How Parliament Takes Decisions
Under Article 100, parliamentary decision-making usually works on the rule of majority of members present and voting. This is important because it is not the same as a majority of the total membership unless the Constitution specifically says so in a special case.
- General rule: majority of members present and voting.
- Casting vote: the Speaker or Chairman does not vote in the first instance, but may vote in case of equality.
- Vacancies do not stop the House: Parliament can act notwithstanding vacancies in membership.
- Quorum: one-tenth of the total number of members of the House.
The correct question in each case is: Is this a normal parliamentary vote, a special majority, a total membership requirement, or a constitutional exception?
Majorities in Parliament: Simple, Effective and Special
For this chapter, the three majorities that matter most are simple majority, effective majority and special majority. They are often confused because the words look similar, but the counting base is different in each case.
1. Simple Majority
Meaning: more than half of the members present and voting. Members who are present but abstain are not counted for this purpose.
Where used: this is the ordinary rule under Article 100 for most decisions of the House, unless the Constitution requires a different majority.
Lok Sabha example: if 480 members are present and voting, the simple majority is 241.
Rajya Sabha example: if 210 members are present and voting, the simple majority is 106.
2. Effective Majority
Meaning: more than half of all the then members of the House. This means the total effective membership at that time, after excluding vacancies.
Where used: this is the relevant formula for removal of the Speaker, Deputy Speaker and Deputy Chairman, and for the Rajya Sabha resolution under Article 67(b) to remove the Vice-President from the office of Chairman.
Lok Sabha example: if Lok Sabha has its full working strength of 543, effective majority is 272. If 5 seats are vacant, the "then members" become 538, so the effective majority falls to 270.
Rajya Sabha example: if Rajya Sabha has a strength of 245, effective majority is 123. If 3 seats are vacant, the "then members" become 242, so the effective majority becomes 122.
3. Special Majority
Meaning: this is not one single formula. In Parliament, the expression covers different higher-threshold formulas depending on the constitutional provision.
Type A: not less than two-thirds of members present and voting. This is the formula used in provisions like Article 249 and Article 312.
Rajya Sabha example under Type A: if 210 members are present and voting on an Article 249 or Article 312 resolution, the required majority is 140.
Type B: majority of the total membership of the House and not less than two-thirds of the members present and voting. This is the classic Article 368 formula for a Constitution Amendment Bill.
Lok Sabha example under Type B: if the total membership is 543 and 510 members are present and voting, the House needs both 272 and 340. So the required majority is 340.
Rajya Sabha example under Type B: if the total membership is 245 and 180 members are present and voting, the House needs both 123 and 120. So the required majority is 123.
Why this matters: in one case the two-thirds condition may control the result, and in another case the total-membership condition may control it. That is why Article 368 should never be reduced to a loose phrase like "special majority" without explanation.
Main Functions of Parliament
| Function | What Parliament does | Exam angle |
|---|---|---|
| Legislative function | Makes laws on Union List subjects and, in some situations, on other subjects as allowed by the Constitution. | Connect with ordinary Bills, Money Bills and special powers of Rajya Sabha. |
| Executive control | Questions, debates, motions and other devices are used to hold the government accountable. | Link to Question Hour, Adjournment Motion and no-confidence. |
| Financial control | Controls taxation, appropriation and discussion of public expenditure. | Lok Sabha is stronger here, especially in relation to Money Bills and demands for grants. |
| Constituent function | Amends the Constitution under Article 368. | Both Houses matter; no joint sitting here. |
| Electoral and removal functions | Participates in election or removal processes under the Constitution. | President, Vice-President, impeachment and related proceedings are all linked. |
| Deliberative function | Provides a national forum for discussion, criticism and policy debate. | Useful for analysing parliamentary democracy in constitutional terms. |
Special Powers of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha
Both Houses are important, but they are not identical. The Constitution deliberately makes them stronger in different fields.
| House | Special power | Why it is special |
|---|---|---|
| Lok Sabha | Money Bills can be introduced only in Lok Sabha. | This gives Lok Sabha clear primacy in financial matters. |
| Lok Sabha | The Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to Lok Sabha under Article 75(3). | This is why the ministry survives only while it enjoys Lok Sabha's confidence. |
| Lok Sabha | No-confidence motion is meaningful in Lok Sabha. | Because executive survival depends on Lok Sabha majority, not Rajya Sabha majority. |
| Rajya Sabha | Under Article 249, it may authorise Parliament to legislate on a State List matter in the national interest by a two-thirds majority of members present and voting. | This is a special federal power of the Council of States. |
| Rajya Sabha | Under Article 312, it may authorise Parliament to create one or more All India Services by a two-thirds majority of members present and voting. | This is a distinct constitutional power of the Council of States. |
| Rajya Sabha | A resolution for removal of the Vice-President can be moved only in Rajya Sabha. | Lok Sabha must agree, but initiation lies in Rajya Sabha. |
| Rajya Sabha | Because it is a continuing House, it has special practical significance when Lok Sabha is dissolved. | This matters in emergency-related situations and continuity of Parliament. |
Parliamentary Devices for Executive Accountability
Parliament is not only a law-making machine. It is also the arena where the government is questioned and forced to respond. That is why parliamentary devices are important.
| Device | What it does | High-value nuance |
|---|---|---|
| Question Hour | Members ask questions to ministers to obtain information and ensure accountability. | Traditionally the first hour of the sitting; one of the most important control devices. It is also useful to remember the main forms: starred, unstarred and short notice questions. |
| Zero Hour | Members raise urgent matters without waiting for the more formal long-route devices. | It is a parliamentary practice, not a constitutional phrase. |
| Calling Attention | A minister is called upon to make a statement on a matter of urgent public importance. | It shows that Parliament has graded methods of immediate accountability, not just one dramatic motion. |
| Adjournment Motion | Used to draw attention to a definite matter of urgent public importance by interrupting normal business. | Associated with Lok Sabha's control over the executive. |
| No-Confidence Motion | Tests whether the ministry continues to enjoy majority support in Lok Sabha. | Leave of the House is sought first, and the motion is taken up only if the required support is shown. It belongs only to Lok Sabha because executive responsibility is to Lok Sabha. |
| Censure Motion | Expresses formal disapproval of a specific governmental policy, action or omission. | Unlike a no-confidence motion, it is tied to stated grounds and is not the same as the direct constitutional test of whether the ministry still commands Lok Sabha majority. |
| Confidence Motion | The government itself seeks the support of the House to show that it still enjoys a majority. | It is the reverse of a no-confidence motion in direction, but it still operates in the same Lok Sabha framework of collective responsibility. |
| Short Duration Discussion | Allows discussion on a matter of urgent public importance without a formal motion before the House. | Under this procedure, no voting takes place at the end of the discussion. |
| Half-an-Hour Discussion | Provides further discussion on a matter of sufficient public importance arising out of an answer to a recent question. | It is narrower than a general debate and is meant for further factual elucidation. |
The distinction is straightforward: a starred question expects an oral answer and allows supplementary questions. An unstarred question gets a written answer. A short notice question is used where the matter is urgent enough that the ordinary notice period is not suitable.
No-confidence, censure and confidence motions should not be mixed up. A no-confidence motion is directed against the Council of Ministers as a body and tests whether it still commands Lok Sabha majority. A censure motion is a more specific expression of disapproval of a particular policy or action. A confidence motion is moved to affirm rather than challenge majority support.
Discussion on Demands for Grants and Cut Motions
Cut motions belong to the budget-control side of Parliament, especially to the stage when Lok Sabha discusses and votes on Demands for Grants. Rajya Sabha may discuss the Budget, but it does not vote on Demands for Grants. That is why cut motions are linked to Lok Sabha's financial control over the executive.
A cut motion is a motion to reduce the amount of a demand for grant. It is a device through which members draw the attention of the House to a policy objection, an economy proposal, or a specific grievance connected with the demand under discussion.
1. Disapproval of Policy Cut
Form: that the amount of the demand be reduced to Re. 1.
Purpose: to express disapproval of the policy underlying the demand.
Scope of discussion: discussion is confined to the precise policy points mentioned in the notice, and members may advocate an alternative policy.
2. Economy Cut
Form: that the amount of the demand be reduced by a specified amount.
Purpose: to suggest that economy can be effected in expenditure.
Scope of discussion: the reduction may be a lump sum cut or omission or reduction of a particular item, and the discussion is confined to how economy can actually be achieved.
3. Token Cut
Form: that the amount of the demand be reduced by Rs. 100.
Purpose: to ventilate a specific grievance within the sphere of responsibility of the Government of India.
Scope of discussion: discussion is confined to the specific grievance mentioned in the motion.
Institutional significance: cut motions show that voting on Demands for Grants is not merely a bookkeeping exercise. It is a constitutional method through which Lok Sabha may challenge executive policy, press for economy, or raise focused grievances in financial discussion.
Whip, Party Discipline and Anti-Defection
Parliamentary voting is not only a matter of individual preference. In party government, political parties also issue directions to their members. This is the idea behind the whip.
Whip in simple terms: it is a direction issued by the political party to its legislators regarding attendance and voting in the House. In ordinary usage, the same word is also used for the party functionary who communicates and enforces that direction.
The constitutional significance begins with the Tenth Schedule. A member may be disqualified on the ground of defection if he voluntarily gives up membership of his political party, or if he votes or abstains from voting in the House contrary to a party direction without prior permission and the conduct is not condoned by the party within fifteen days.
Additional rules: an independent member is disqualified if he joins a political party after the election. A nominated member is disqualified if he joins a political party after the expiry of six months from the date on which he takes his seat.
Merger point: the old protection for a split no longer exists. The surviving constitutional protection is merger, and even that requires not less than two-thirds of the members of the legislature party to agree to such merger.
Decision-maker: in Parliament, questions of disqualification under the Tenth Schedule are decided in the first instance by the Speaker of Lok Sabha or the Chairman of Rajya Sabha, depending on the House concerned.
Committee System of Parliament
Parliament cannot be understood only in terms of what happens on the floor of the House. A large part of serious parliamentary scrutiny happens in the committee system.
The House floor is suitable for speeches, motions and final voting. But it is not the best place for long, technical, subject-wise examination. Committees make that possible. They work in a smaller setting, can call officers, study documents in detail, and examine administration more closely than the full House usually can.
Broad Classification of Parliamentary Committees
| Type | Nature | Examples | Main purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standing committees | Continuing committees, though many are reconstituted periodically | Financial Committees, Department-related Standing Committees, Rules Committee, Committee on Government Assurances | Regular scrutiny, control and subject-wise examination |
| Ad hoc committees | Created for a specific purpose and cease after the work is over | Select Committee on a Bill, Joint Committee on a Bill, inquiry committees | Special investigation or examination of a particular matter |
Why committees matter: Parliament does not control the executive only through speeches and voting on the floor. Much of the careful work is done in committees, where members can study accounts, rules, delegated legislation, ministerial assurances, departmental demands and subject-specific policy questions in a more detailed manner.
Structural point: do not treat every named committee as one common committee of the whole Parliament. Some are joint committees of both Houses, some are Lok Sabha committees, and some exist separately in each House under the Speaker or the Chairman. The house character of a committee often explains its composition, chairperson and constitutional importance.
1. Financial Committees of Parliament
The three major financial committees are the Public Accounts Committee, the Estimates Committee and the Committee on Public Undertakings. Their differences matter because each committee examines a different stage or aspect of public finance.
1.1 Public Accounts Committee (PAC)
House character: joint committee of Parliament.
Member strength: 22 members: 15 from Lok Sabha and 7 from Rajya Sabha. The Chairperson is appointed by the Speaker from among the Lok Sabha members of the Committee. A Minister cannot be a member.
Main work: it examines appropriation accounts, annual Finance Accounts and CAG reports. It checks whether public money was spent for the purpose Parliament authorised, in the amount Parliament authorised, and under the legal authority governing that expenditure.
Institutional significance: PAC is Parliament's classic post-expenditure financial scrutiny committee. It does not prepare the budget. It checks whether the executive spent public money properly after Parliament had already granted it.
1.2 Estimates Committee
House character: Lok Sabha committee.
Member strength: 30 members, all from Lok Sabha. The Chairperson is appointed by the Speaker. A Minister cannot be a member.
Main work: it examines budget estimates and suggests economy, efficiency, administrative reform, alternative policies and better presentation of estimates. It asks how proposed expenditure can be organised more intelligently before money is spent.
Institutional significance: this is the major financial committee with only Lok Sabha members. It is the most clearly forward-looking of the three financial committees.
1.3 Committee on Public Undertakings (COPU)
House character: joint committee of Parliament.
Member strength: 22 members: 15 from Lok Sabha and 7 from Rajya Sabha. The Chairperson is appointed by the Speaker from among the members of the Committee. A Minister cannot be a member.
Main work: it examines reports and accounts of public undertakings and CAG reports relating to public undertakings. Its focus is on how public sector enterprises are functioning from the viewpoint of parliamentary control and accountability.
Institutional significance: it is the specialised parliamentary committee for public sector undertakings. It does not ordinarily go into their day-to-day administration.
The distinction is straightforward: PAC asks whether money already spent was spent properly. Estimates Committee asks how proposed spending and administration can be improved. COPU asks how public undertakings are functioning and whether they are being run on sound lines.
2. Department-related Standing Committees (DRSCs)
The modern committee system of Parliament cannot be understood without the DRSCs. They were created in 1993 as 17 committees and restructured in 2004 into 24 committees. They are joint committees of both Houses and now cover the ministries and departments of the Union Government in a subject-wise manner.
2.1 DRSC Key Facts
Number: 24 committees.
House character: joint committees of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.
Composition: each DRSC has 31 members: 21 from Lok Sabha and 10 from Rajya Sabha.
Membership rule: a Minister cannot be nominated to a DRSC. If a member becomes a Minister, the membership ceases.
Term: one year from the date of constitution.
Main functions: DRSCs examine Demands for Grants, Bills referred to them, annual reports and long-term policy documents of the concerned ministries or departments.
Important limit: while examining Demands for Grants, they cannot suggest cut motions.
Secretariat split: 8 function under the Rajya Sabha Secretariat and 16 under the Lok Sabha Secretariat.
Chairperson appointment: for the 8 Rajya Sabha-serviced DRSCs, the Chairperson is appointed by the Chairman, Rajya Sabha. For the 16 Lok Sabha-serviced DRSCs, the Chairperson is appointed by the Speaker, Lok Sabha.
Institutional significance: DRSCs are the ministry-wise scrutiny mechanism of Parliament. They allow sustained subject examination that is usually impossible in a short floor discussion.
Why these committees matter: they bring subject continuity and subject expertise into parliamentary work. A ministry dealing with defence, finance, external affairs or agriculture can be examined in much greater detail in a committee room than in a short floor debate.
2.2 DRSCs Functioning Under the Rajya Sabha Secretariat
- Committee on Commerce
- Committee on Home Affairs
- Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth and Sports
- Committee on Industry
- Committee on Science and Technology, Environment, Forests and Climate Change
- Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture
- Committee on Health and Family Welfare
- Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice
2.3 DRSCs Functioning Under the Lok Sabha Secretariat
- Committee on Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Food Processing
- Committee on Communications and Information Technology
- Committee on Defence
- Committee on Energy
- Committee on External Affairs
- Committee on Finance
- Committee on Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution
- Committee on Labour, Textiles and Skill Development
- Committee on Petroleum and Natural Gas
- Committee on Railways
- Committee on Housing and Urban Affairs
- Committee on Water Resources
- Committee on Chemicals and Fertilizers
- Committee on Rural Development and Panchayati Raj
- Committee on Coal, Mines and Steel
- Committee on Social Justice and Empowerment
The distinction is straightforward: financial committees focus on financial control. DRSCs are broader. They combine budget scrutiny with legislative and policy examination of particular ministries.
3. Other Important Standing Committees You Should Know
Beyond PAC and DRSCs, Parliament operates through many standing committees with sharply defined roles. These committees are important because they show how parliamentary control is divided across scheduling, privileges, delegated legislation, ministerial follow-up, welfare oversight, internal procedure and member facilities.
Reading tip: several of the following committees exist separately in each House. So note not only the function of the committee, but also whether it is a Lok Sabha committee, a Rajya Sabha committee, or a joint committee of both Houses.
3.1 Business Advisory Committee
House character: committee of each House separately.
Member strength: Lok Sabha has 15 members and the Speaker is the ex officio Chairperson; Rajya Sabha currently has 11 members including the Chairman.
Main role: recommends allocation of time for Bills and other business and helps structure the working timetable of the House.
Distinctive feature: this is the committee through which the presiding officer and floor leaders convert the agenda of the House into an actual schedule.
3.2 Committee on Private Members' Bills and Resolutions
House character: Lok Sabha committee.
Member strength: 15 Lok Sabha members. Deputy Speaker is the ex officio Chairperson.
Main role: allots time for private members' business and examines certain private members' Bills before they move ahead in Lok Sabha.
Distinctive feature: it also examines private members' Constitution amendment Bills before their introduction in Lok Sabha.
3.3 Committee on Petitions
House character: committee of each House separately.
Member strength: Lok Sabha has 15 members nominated by the Speaker; the Rajya Sabha counterpart currently has 10 members.
Main role: examines petitions and related complaints or representations received in parliamentary form.
Institutional significance: it is one of the formal channels through which petitions and structured public representations enter the parliamentary process.
3.4 Committee of Privileges
House character: committee of each House separately.
Member strength: Lok Sabha has 15 members; the Rajya Sabha counterpart currently has 10 members.
Main role: examines questions of breach of privilege and contempt of the House or its members.
Distinctive feature: this committee is concerned with the rights, immunities and authority of the House. It is different from the Ethics Committee, which deals more directly with standards of member conduct.
3.5 Committee on Ethics
House character: committee of each House separately.
Member strength: in Lok Sabha it can have up to 15 members nominated by the Speaker; the Rajya Sabha Ethics Committee currently has 10 members.
Main role: examines complaints of unethical conduct and works on the code of conduct for members.
Distinctive feature: it focuses on standards of conduct and ethical propriety. That is why it should not be confused with the Committee of Privileges, even though both concern discipline within the House.
3.6 Committee on Subordinate Legislation
House character: committee of each House separately.
Member strength: Lok Sabha has 15 members; the Rajya Sabha counterpart currently has a 15-member strength.
Main role: examines whether delegated legislation such as rules and regulations stays within the authority given by Parliament or the Constitution.
Institutional significance: this is the core committee through which Parliament checks that the executive, while making detailed rules under an Act, does not travel beyond the limits set by the parent law.
3.7 Committee on Government Assurances
House character: committee of each House separately.
Member strength: Lok Sabha has 15 members nominated by the Speaker; the Rajya Sabha counterpart currently has 10 members.
Main role: tracks assurances, promises and undertakings given by Ministers on the floor of the House.
Distinctive feature: it generally expects implementation within three months, and pending assurances do not lapse on dissolution of Lok Sabha.
3.8 Rules Committee
House character: committee of each House separately.
Member strength: Lok Sabha has 15 members including the Speaker, who is ex officio Chairperson; the Rajya Sabha Rules Committee currently has 16 members including the Chairman.
Main role: considers procedure and conduct of business and recommends amendments to the rules.
Institutional significance: when the procedure of the House itself has to be revised, clarified or modernised, this committee becomes central.
3.9 Committee on Papers Laid on the Table
House character: committee of each House separately.
Member strength: Lok Sabha has 15 members; the Rajya Sabha counterpart currently has 10 members.
Main role: examines whether papers were laid properly, in time and in both language versions where required.
Distinctive feature: it is a compliance committee. It checks delay, defective laying and related lapses concerning reports, notifications and similar papers.
3.10 Library Committee
House character: joint committee of both Houses.
Member strength: 9 members: 6 from Lok Sabha and 3 from Rajya Sabha.
Main role: advises on matters concerning the Parliament Library.
Distinctive feature: if the Deputy Speaker is a member, the Deputy Speaker is appointed as Chairperson.
3.11 Joint Committee on Offices of Profit
House character: joint committee of both Houses.
Member strength: 15 members: 10 from Lok Sabha and 5 from Rajya Sabha.
Main role: examines which offices should or should not attract disqualification.
Institutional significance: it is directly linked to the disqualification issue under Articles 102 and 191.
3.12 Committee on the Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes
House character: joint committee of both Houses.
Member strength: 30 members: 20 from Lok Sabha and 10 from Rajya Sabha.
Main role: examines representation and welfare measures concerning Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
Institutional significance: it studies both service representation and the working of welfare and safeguard measures concerning Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
3.13 Committee on Empowerment of Women
House character: joint committee of both Houses.
Member strength: 30 members: 20 from Lok Sabha and 10 from Rajya Sabha.
Main role: examines measures relating to equality, dignity, representation and welfare of women.
Institutional significance: it studies both policy design and implementation relating to the status and welfare of women.
3.14 General Purposes Committee
House character: committee of each House separately.
Member strength: Lok Sabha does not have a fixed numerical strength here. It includes the Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Panel of Chairpersons, Chairpersons of Standing Committees, Leaders of Parties and such other members as may be nominated by the Speaker. The current Rajya Sabha General Purposes Committee has 25 members including the Chairman.
Main role: advises on matters concerning the affairs of the House referred by the presiding officer.
Distinctive feature: its composition itself is important because Lok Sabha does not prescribe a fixed numerical strength for it.
3.15 House Committee
House character: committee of each House separately.
Member strength: Lok Sabha has 12 members; the Rajya Sabha House Committee currently has a 10-member strength.
Main role: deals mainly with residential accommodation and amenities for members.
Distinctive feature: Rajya Sabha also has its own House Committee as part of the internal accommodation and amenities structure of the House.
4. Ad Hoc Committees
Ad hoc committees are different. They are created for a specific purpose, such as detailed examination of a particular Bill or an inquiry into a particular matter. A Select Committee is of one House, while a Joint Committee on a Bill includes members from both Houses. After the assigned work is completed and the report is submitted, these committees normally cease to exist.
4.1 Select Committee vs Joint Committee on a Bill
Select Committee: this is a committee of the House to which the Bill is referred. Its members come only from that House.
Joint Committee on a Bill: this draws members from both Houses. The motion referring the Bill fixes the strength of the Committee and the division of seats between Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.
Common function: both types examine the Bill clause by clause, may take evidence from officials, associations, public bodies or experts, and then report the Bill back with recommendations and suggested amendments.
Practical significance: this is often the stage at which technical drafting issues, stakeholder objections and detailed improvements are examined more carefully than on the floor of the House. The House later considers the Bill in the light of that report, but is not automatically bound by every recommendation.
This is why Parliament is not only a debating chamber. It is also a system of financial scrutiny, delegated legislation control, ministerial follow-up, welfare oversight and subject-wise examination through committees.
Legislative Procedure and Types of Bills
This section explains the legislative stages of Bills and the constitutional differences among ordinary Bills, Money Bills, Financial Bills and Constitution Amendment Bills. The most important distinction in this area is between a Money Bill and a Financial Bill.
How a Bill Moves Through Parliament: First Reading, Second Reading and Third Reading
A Bill while being considered normally passes through three readings in each House. But that sentence alone is not enough. The real understanding lies in what happens inside the second reading, because that is where the House may choose detailed consideration, committee scrutiny or public-opinion circulation.
1. First Reading
What happens: the Bill is introduced in the House. At this stage the Bill formally enters the parliamentary process, but the House is not yet discussing each clause in detail.
Core idea: first reading is mainly the stage of introduction.
2. Second Reading: General Discussion Stage
What happens: the member in charge explains the principles and major provisions of the Bill, and the House discusses the Bill at the level of policy and broad design.
Important limit: clause-wise amendments are not moved at this first sub-stage of the second reading.
Possible motions at this stage: the House may take the Bill into consideration, refer it to a Select Committee, refer it to a Joint Committee, or circulate it for eliciting public opinion.
3. Committee or Public-Opinion Route Within the Second Reading
If referred to a Select Committee or Joint Committee: the Bill is examined clause by clause. The Committee may also hear associations, public bodies or experts interested in the measure, and then reports the Bill back to the House with its recommendations and accepted amendments.
If circulated for public opinion: opinions are ordinarily obtained through the agency of State Governments. After that, the usual next step is reference to a Select or Joint Committee, unless the Chair permits direct consideration.
Why this matters: this is why the second reading is not a single short event. It can open multiple procedural routes before the Bill returns for detailed consideration.
4. Second Reading: Clause-by-Clause Consideration
What happens: once the Bill is taken up for consideration, the House examines it clause by clause. Amendments are moved and voted upon at this stage. After that, the clauses as amended, the schedules, the enacting formula and the title are disposed of.
Core idea: this is the true detailed legislative scrutiny stage on the floor of the House.
5. Third Reading
What happens: after the consideration stage, the member in charge moves that the Bill be passed. Debate at this stage is confined mainly to arguments in support of the Bill or for its rejection.
Important limit: only formal, verbal or consequential amendments are ordinarily allowed at this stage. In the case of a Money Bill before Rajya Sabha, the motion is that the Bill be returned.
6. Passage in the Other House and Presidential Assent
What happens next: after one House passes the Bill, it goes to the other House, where the corresponding parliamentary stages follow again, subject to constitutional limits applicable to Money Bills and Constitution Amendment Bills. After passage in the required form, the Bill goes for the President's assent.
Important caution: do not confuse the type of Bill with the stage of a Bill. A strong UPSC answer usually distinguishes both.
| Type of Bill | Where it can be introduced | President's recommendation | Role of Rajya Sabha | Joint sitting? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ordinary Bill | Either House | Not as a general rule, though special constitutional cases may require it | Equal ordinary legislative role | Yes, if Article 108 conditions are satisfied |
| Money Bill | Only Lok Sabha | Yes | Can only recommend; must return within 14 days | No |
| Financial Bill I (Article 117, clause 1) |
Only Lok Sabha | Yes | Rajya Sabha has fuller power than in a Money Bill; it can reject or amend like an ordinary Bill | Yes |
| Financial Bill II (Article 117, clause 3) |
Either House | Cannot be passed without President's recommendation | Ordinary legislative role | Yes |
| Constitution Amendment Bill | Either House | No prior recommendation as a general rule under Article 368 procedure | Each House must separately pass it with the required special majority | No |
Core constitutional point: every Money Bill is a financial Bill in a broad sense, but every financial Bill is not a Money Bill. The Rajya Sabha is weakest only in the case of a true Money Bill under Article 109 and Article 110.
The distinction is as follows: a Financial Bill I contains one or more matters from Article 110 but also contains other provisions, so it is broader than a Money Bill. A Financial Bill II is not built on Article 110 subject-matter, but it involves expenditure from the Consolidated Fund and therefore carries its own constitutional requirement about presidential recommendation.
Money Bill Under Article 110
The Constitution defines a Money Bill by subject-matter. A Bill is a Money Bill only if it contains provisions dealing only with matters such as taxation, borrowing of money by the Government of India, custody or withdrawal from the Consolidated Fund or Contingency Fund, appropriation of money, charged expenditure, receipt or audit of public money, or matters incidental to these.
Speaker's role: If a question arises whether a Bill is a Money Bill, the decision of the Speaker of Lok Sabha is constitutionally important. This is why Money Bill classification is a very serious matter in Indian parliamentary law.
Joint Sitting of Both Houses Under Article 108
Joint sitting is not a routine mechanism. It is a constitutional method to break a deadlock between the two Houses in relation to an ordinary legislative Bill.
- If one House rejects the Bill
- If the Houses finally disagree as to the amendments to be made
- If more than six months pass without the other House passing the Bill
The six-month period here is itself a constitutional trap. While calculating it, no account is taken of periods during which the House is prorogued or adjourned for more than four consecutive days.
Important limits: there is no joint sitting for a Money Bill, and there is no joint sitting for a Constitution Amendment Bill. In a joint sitting, the Speaker of Lok Sabha ordinarily presides.
When Bills Lapse and When They Do Not
Bill lapsing on dissolution follows specific constitutional rules. It is incorrect to assume that all pending Bills lapse on dissolution.
| Situation | Does the Bill lapse? | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Bill pending in Parliament when Parliament is prorogued | No | Prorogation ends the session, not the life of the House or the Bill. |
| Bill pending in Lok Sabha at the time of dissolution | Yes | Lok Sabha itself comes to an end. |
| Bill passed by Lok Sabha and pending in Rajya Sabha when Lok Sabha is dissolved | Yes | The Constitution expressly treats this as lapse, subject to the Article 108 exception. |
| Bill pending in Rajya Sabha but not passed by Lok Sabha when Lok Sabha is dissolved | No | This is the main exception in the bill-lapsing rules. |
| Bill in relation to which the President has notified intention to summon joint sitting | Special Article 108 protection applies | Dissolution does not end the Bill in every deadlock situation. |
Related point: dissolution does not affect only Bills. In parliamentary practice, other pending business before the dissolved House and its committees is also wiped out. But for Bills, you should always apply the separate constitutional rules stated above instead of using a loose general formula.
Parliamentary Privileges and Judicial Non-Interference
Parliamentary privilege refers to the rights and immunities enjoyed by each House of Parliament and its committees collectively, and by members individually, without which they cannot discharge their functions with freedom, authority and dignity.
Article 105 gives the core constitutional protection. It protects freedom of speech in Parliament and protects members from court proceedings for anything said or any vote given in Parliament or its committees. Some privileges belong to the House as a collective body. Others protect members individually.
Breach of privilege and contempt are not identical. When a privilege of the House collectively or of a member individually is disregarded or attacked, it is called a breach of privilege. Contempt of the House is wider. It covers acts or omissions that obstruct or impede the House, its members or its officers in the discharge of their functions. All breaches of privilege are contempts of the House, but not every contempt is necessarily a breach of a specific privilege.
Codification point: parliamentary privileges in India are not fully codified by a comprehensive statute under Article 105, clause 3. A question of privilege may be dealt with by the House itself or may be referred by the Speaker or by the House to the Committee of Privileges for examination and report.
Article 122 is equally important. Courts do not inquire into parliamentary proceedings on the ground of alleged procedural irregularity. The key constitutional word here is irregularity. Article 122 therefore does not mean that every parliamentary action is beyond all constitutional scrutiny. It means that courts do not sit as procedural supervisors over every internal parliamentary step.
Important Parliamentary Terms You Should Know
Parliamentary procedure uses a number of technical expressions that often appear in polity writing and budget discussion. These terms are easier to retain when read as part of one compact glossary.
1. Guillotine
Meaning: on the last day allotted for discussion on Demands for Grants, at the time fixed in advance, the Speaker puts all outstanding Demands for Grants to the vote of Lok Sabha.
Why it matters: outstanding demands are voted without further discussion. It is a time management device in financial business.
2. Charged Expenditure
Meaning: expenditure charged on the Consolidated Fund of India is not submitted to the vote of Lok Sabha.
Why it matters: it can still be discussed in Parliament, but not voted upon like ordinary Demands for Grants.
3. Voted Expenditure
Meaning: expenditure that is submitted to Lok Sabha in the form of Demands for Grants for voting.
Why it matters: cut motions and voting on Demands for Grants belong to this side of the budget process.
4. Vote on Account
Meaning: a grant in advance by Parliament to meet expenditure for part of the financial year, pending completion of the full budget process.
Why it matters: it allows the government to continue spending for a short period before the Appropriation Bill based on the full budget is passed.
5. Vote of Credit
Meaning: a grant for an unexpected demand of an indefinite character where the details cannot be stated with the usual precision in the budget.
Why it matters: it is designed for exceptional situations requiring financial flexibility.
6. Exceptional Grant
Meaning: a grant made for a special purpose which does not form part of the current service of any financial year.
Why it matters: it is separate from the ordinary annual pattern of expenditure.
7. Supplementary Grant
Meaning: when the amount authorised for a service is found insufficient during the current financial year, or when a need arises for a new service, an additional grant is sought.
Why it matters: Parliament continues to control expenditure even after the original budget has been passed.
8. Excess Grant
Meaning: when more money has been spent on a service than the amount granted for that service during the financial year, the excess has to be brought before Parliament for regularisation.
Why it matters: it reflects retrospective parliamentary control over excess expenditure.
9. Closure
Meaning: a procedural device to bring a debate to an end so that the matter before the House may be put to decision.
Why it matters: it prevents indefinite discussion once the House decides that debate should conclude.
10. Point of Order
Meaning: a point relating to the interpretation or enforcement of the Rules of Procedure or the constitutional provisions that regulate the business of the House, raised for the decision of the Chair.
Why it matters: it is about procedure, not a general interruption for argument or political comment.
11. Division
Meaning: a formal vote in which the numerical strength on each side is ascertained instead of relying only on the voice vote.
Why it matters: it becomes important when an exact count is needed.
12. Adjournment Sine Die
Meaning: termination of a sitting of the House without fixing a definite date for the next sitting.
Why it matters: it is different from prorogation, which is done later by the President to end the session.
13. Speaker Pro Tem
Meaning: when the offices of Speaker and Deputy Speaker are vacant in a newly constituted Lok Sabha, a member may be appointed to perform the duties of the Speaker until the House elects its Speaker.
Why it matters: in practice, this office is associated with administering oath to newly elected members and presiding over the election of the Speaker.
14. Lame-Duck Session
Meaning: a parliamentary expression used for a session of an outgoing Lok Sabha held after elections to the next Lok Sabha have taken place but before the earlier Lok Sabha is dissolved.
Why it matters: this is a historical parliamentary usage, not a constitutional term. In India it is mainly discussed in connection with the earlier practice of maintaining continuity before the incoming Lok Sabha met.
15. Effective Majority
Meaning: majority of all the then members of the House.
Why it matters: this is the majority relevant for removal of the Speaker, Deputy Speaker and Deputy Chairman, and for the Rajya Sabha resolution to remove the Vice-President from the office of Chairman.
16. Voice Vote
Meaning: a method of decision in which the Chair judges the sense of the House from oral responses such as "Aye" and "No".
Why it matters: when the result is challenged and an exact count is required, the House may move to a division.
17. No-Day-Yet-Named Motion
Meaning: an admitted motion for which no date has yet been fixed for discussion.
Why it matters: such motions may later be taken up after time is allotted according to the urgency and importance of the subject.
18. Short Duration Discussion
Meaning: a discussion on a matter of urgent public importance without a formal motion before the House.
Why it matters: no voting takes place at the end of this discussion.
19. Half-an-Hour Discussion
Meaning: a device used for further elucidation of a matter of fact arising out of an answer to a recent question.
Why it matters: it is focused, question-linked, and narrower than a general debate.
20. Motion of Thanks
Meaning: the motion moved on the President's Address to both Houses at the commencement of the first session after each general election to Lok Sabha and at the commencement of the first session of each year.
Why it matters: its scope is wide because it opens discussion on the policies and working of the government reflected in the Address.
21. Whip
Meaning: a party direction regarding attendance and voting in the House; the same word is also used for the party functionary who communicates that direction.
Why it matters: disobedience may become constitutionally serious under the anti-defection law when the conditions of the Tenth Schedule are attracted.
For UPSC Prelims and Mains
For UPSC Prelims
- Parliament means President + Rajya Sabha + Lok Sabha.
- Rajya Sabha is permanent; Lok Sabha is not.
- Six months is the maximum gap between sessions under Article 85.
- Quorum is one-tenth of total membership of the House.
- Chairman of Rajya Sabha is the Vice-President ex officio; Speaker of Lok Sabha is elected by Lok Sabha from among its members.
- PAC = post-expenditure scrutiny; Estimates Committee = economy and efficiency in estimates; COPU = public undertakings.
- Each DRSC has 31 members: 21 from Lok Sabha and 10 from Rajya Sabha.
- Guillotine means the outstanding Demands for Grants are put to vote without further discussion at the fixed time on the last allotted day.
- Rajya Sabha cannot reject a Money Bill; it can only recommend changes within 14 days.
- Joint sitting is not available for Money Bills and Constitution Amendment Bills.
- Remember the bill-lapsing exception: a Bill pending in Rajya Sabha but not passed by Lok Sabha does not lapse on Lok Sabha dissolution.
For UPSC Mains
- Present Parliament as a balance of democracy, federalism and executive accountability.
- Use Rajya Sabha not as a weak-house example, but as a revising and federal chamber.
- Explain Lok Sabha primacy in financial control and ministry survival.
- Use Article 249 and Article 312 to show why Rajya Sabha has a distinct constitutional purpose.
- Use the committee system to show that Parliament controls the executive not only on the floor of the House but also through detailed institutional scrutiny.
- Differentiate clearly between Money Bill and Financial Bill if the question touches legislative procedure.
- Connect Parliament to the President, Fundamental Rights, DPSP and the Supreme Court where the answer demands broader constitutional context.
UPSC Previous Year Questions (Selected)
Q1. A Money Bill can be introduced in Parliament only with the prior recommendation of:
A. Prime Minister
B. President
C. Speaker of Lok Sabha
D. Finance Commission
Answer: B. A Money Bill can be introduced only in Lok Sabha and only on the prior recommendation of the President.
Q2. The quorum to constitute a meeting of either House of Parliament is:
A. One-third of the total membership
B. One-fifth of the total membership
C. One-tenth of the total
membership
D. Fifty members
Answer: C. Under Article 100, quorum is one-tenth of the total number of members of the House.
Q3. Which of the following is a special power of Rajya Sabha?
A. Introduction of Money Bills
B. Moving no-confidence motion against the Council of Ministers
C.
Authorising Parliament to legislate on a State List subject in the national interest
D. Final
certification of a Money Bill
Answer: C. That is the special power under Article 249.
Practice MCQs
- Which statement is correct?
A. Parliament consists only of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha
B. President is not connected with Parliament in the constitutional sense
C. Parliament consists of the President, Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha
D. Rajya Sabha alone is Parliament - Which of the following correctly matches the House with a special constitutional power?
A. Lok Sabha - Article 249 resolution on State List in national interest
B. Rajya Sabha - Article 312 resolution for creation of All India Services
C. Rajya Sabha - no-confidence motion against Council of Ministers
D. Lok Sabha - removal motion of Vice-President originates only here - A Bill pending in Rajya Sabha but not passed by Lok Sabha when Lok Sabha is dissolved:
A. Automatically lapses
B. Becomes a Money Bill
C. Does not lapse
D. Must be sent to a joint sitting - Which of the following is true about a Financial Bill of the first category?
A. It is exactly the same as a Money Bill
B. It can be introduced in either House
C. Rajya Sabha has no power over it
D. It can be introduced only in Lok Sabha on the President's recommendation - Which term correctly means the end of the life of Lok Sabha?
A. Adjournment
B. Adjournment sine die
C. Prorogation
D. Dissolution - Which of the following is correctly matched?
A. Public Accounts Committee - examines only future budget estimates
B. Estimates Committee - consists of 30 members, all from Lok Sabha
C. Committee on Public Undertakings - consists only of Rajya Sabha members
D. Committee on Government Assurances - chaired ex officio by the Deputy Speaker - Which statement about the Department-related Standing Committees is correct?
A. There are 17 DRSCs at present
B. Each DRSC has 45 members
C. Ministers can be members of DRSCs
D. Each DRSC has 31 members, 21 from Lok Sabha and 10 from Rajya Sabha - Which of the following is not a joint committee of both Houses?
A. Public Accounts Committee
B. Committee on Public Undertakings
C. Estimates Committee
D. Committee on Empowerment of Women
View Answer Key
1. C | 2. B | 3. C | 4. D | 5. D | 6. B | 7. D | 8. C
Related Topics
- President of India
- Preamble of the Constitution
- Fundamental Rights
- Directive Principles of State Policy
- Fundamental Duties
- Supreme Court of India
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the President a member of Parliament?
The President is not a member of either House, but the President is a part of Parliament in the constitutional sense under Article 79.
Why is Rajya Sabha called a permanent House?
Because it is not subject to dissolution. Instead, as nearly as possible, one-third of its members retire every second year.
Can Rajya Sabha reject a Money Bill?
No. It cannot reject or finally block a Money Bill. It can only recommend changes and must return the Bill within fourteen days.
Can a Minister speak in a House of which he is not a member?
Yes. Under Article 88, a Minister may speak in either House and take part in its proceedings, but cannot vote there unless he is a member of that House.
What is the difference between adjournment and prorogation?
Adjournment suspends a sitting of the House and is done by the presiding officer. Prorogation ends a session and is done by the President.
What is the difference between a Money Bill and a Financial Bill?
A Money Bill is a narrowly defined category under Article 110. A Financial Bill may deal with financial matters but is not automatically a Money Bill. Rajya Sabha is weakest only in the case of a true Money Bill.
How is the Chairman of Rajya Sabha different from the Speaker of Lok Sabha?
The Chairman of Rajya Sabha is the Vice-President of India ex officio, so Rajya Sabha does not separately elect its Chairman in the same way. The Speaker of Lok Sabha, by contrast, is elected by Lok Sabha from among its own members.
How are the Speaker, Deputy Speaker and Deputy Chairman removed?
The Speaker and Deputy Speaker are removed by a resolution of Lok Sabha passed by a majority of all the then members of the House, after at least fourteen days' notice. The Deputy Chairman is removed by a resolution of Rajya Sabha passed by a majority of all the then members of the House, again with fourteen days' notice. The Chairman's case is different because removal of the Chairman is removal of the Vice-President under Article 67(b).
What is the difference between simple majority, effective majority and special majority?
Simple majority means more than half of the members present and voting. Effective majority means more than half of all the then members of the House, so vacancies are excluded from the total. Special majority is a higher constitutional formula, but it is not a single fixed rule: in some provisions it means two-thirds of members present and voting, while in Article 368 it means a majority of the total membership plus two-thirds of members present and voting.
What happens during the second reading of a Bill?
The second reading is the most important procedural stage. It begins with general discussion on the principles of the Bill. At that point the House may take the Bill into consideration, refer it to a Select Committee, refer it to a Joint Committee, or circulate it for eliciting public opinion. After that comes the clause-by-clause consideration stage, where amendments are moved and voted upon.
What are the three types of cut motions?
The three types are Disapproval of Policy Cut, Economy Cut and Token Cut. A Policy Cut seeks reduction of the demand to Re. 1, an Economy Cut seeks reduction by a specified amount, and a Token Cut seeks reduction by Rs. 100 to raise a specific grievance. These motions belong to Lok Sabha's discussion on Demands for Grants.
Can a Constitution Amendment Bill be referred to a joint sitting?
No. Joint sitting is not available for a Constitution Amendment Bill.
Which Bills lapse on dissolution of Lok Sabha?
A Bill pending in Lok Sabha lapses. A Bill passed by Lok Sabha but pending in Rajya Sabha also lapses. But a Bill pending in Rajya Sabha and not passed by Lok Sabha does not lapse.
Why is no-confidence motion linked to Lok Sabha and not Rajya Sabha?
Because the Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to Lok Sabha under Article 75(3). The ministry stays in office only so long as it enjoys the confidence of Lok Sabha.
What is the difference between no-confidence motion, censure motion and confidence motion?
A no-confidence motion tests whether the Council of Ministers commands Lok Sabha majority and need not state grounds. A censure motion is a specific expression of disapproval of governmental policy or action and is ordinarily tied to stated grounds. A confidence motion is moved to demonstrate that the ministry still enjoys Lok Sabha majority.
What is the difference between the Public Accounts Committee and the Estimates Committee?
The Public Accounts Committee mainly examines public money after expenditure, especially through appropriation accounts, Finance Accounts and CAG reports. The Estimates Committee is more forward-looking. It examines budget estimates and suggests economy, efficiency and administrative improvement.
How many Department-related Standing Committees are there in Parliament?
At present there are 24 Department-related Standing Committees. They are joint committees of both Houses. Each has 31 members, 21 from Lok Sabha and 10 from Rajya Sabha, and Ministers cannot be members of these committees.
Which committee checks delegated legislation made under parliamentary laws?
The Committee on Subordinate Legislation examines whether rules, regulations and similar delegated legislation stay within the authority given by Parliament or the Constitution.
Do government assurances lapse when Lok Sabha is dissolved?
No. Pending assurances do not lapse on dissolution. The Committee on Government Assurances continues to watch whether promises made by Ministers on the floor of the House are fulfilled.
Is the Estimates Committee a joint committee of Parliament?
No. The Estimates Committee is a Lok Sabha committee. It has 30 members, and all of them are from Lok Sabha.
Are all parliamentary committees joint committees of both Houses?
No. Some committees are joint committees of both Houses, some are Lok Sabha committees, and some exist separately in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. The house character of a committee should be learnt along with its function.
What is the difference between the Committee of Privileges and the Ethics Committee?
The Committee of Privileges deals with breach of privilege and contempt of the House or its members. The Ethics Committee deals more directly with standards of conduct and ethical propriety of members. The two can overlap in broad institutional discipline, but they are not the same.
What is the difference between breach of privilege and contempt of the House?
Breach of privilege means disregard or attack upon a specific privilege of the House collectively or of a member individually. Contempt is wider and includes acts or omissions that obstruct or impede the House, its members or its officers in the discharge of their functions. All breaches of privilege are contempts, but every contempt is not necessarily a breach of a specific privilege.
What is a whip and how is it connected with anti-defection?
A whip is a party direction regarding attendance and voting in the House. Under the Tenth Schedule, a member may face disqualification if he votes or abstains contrary to party direction without prior permission and the conduct is not condoned within fifteen days.
Which important committees are joint committees of both Houses?
Important joint committees include the Public Accounts Committee, the Committee on Public Undertakings, all 24 Department-related Standing Committees, the Library Committee, the Joint Committee on Offices of Profit, the Committee on the Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, and the Committee on Empowerment of Women.