📑 Topics on this page (Jump to Topic):
📌 1. Composition
- Art. 79: Parliament = President + Rajya Sabha + Lok Sabha.
| Point | Lok Sabha (Art. 81) | Rajya Sabha (Art. 80) |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum strength | 550 (530 states + 20 UTs); present 543 | 250 (238 + 12 nominated); present 245 |
| Election | Direct, adult franchise | Elected MLAs, single transferable vote |
| Term | 5 years (extendable 1 year at a time in emergency) | Permanent; 1/3 retire every 2 years; member's term 6 years |
| Minimum age | 25 | 30 |
| Presiding officer | Speaker | Chairman = Vice-President |
- Most RS seats: Uttar Pradesh (31); also most LS seats (80).
- Seat allocation frozen on the 1971 Census until the first census after 2026 (84th Amendment 2001).
- Quorum (Art. 100): 1/10 of total membership.
- Disqualification: Art. 102; defection — 10th Schedule (decided by Speaker/Chairman, subject to judicial review — Kihoto Hollohan 1992).
📌 2. Speaker & Sessions
- Speaker (Art. 93) elected from members; resigns to the Deputy Speaker; removed by effective majority of LS, 14 days' notice. Votes only to break a tie (casting vote).
- Speaker certifies money bills (final); presides over joint sitting (Art. 108). First Speaker: G.V. Mavalankar; first woman: Meira Kumar; present: Om Birla (since 2019, re-elected 2024).
- Pro-tem Speaker: temporary Speaker to swear in a new LS (usually senior-most), appointed by the President.
- Maximum gap of 6 months between sessions (Art. 85); convention: Budget, Monsoon, Winter sessions.
- Zero Hour — Indian innovation (1962), right after Question Hour; not in the rules. Questions: starred (oral, supplementaries), unstarred (written), short-notice.
📌 3. Bills, Budget & Committees
| Bill | Feature |
|---|---|
| Ordinary | Either House; deadlock → joint sitting (Art. 108) |
| Money bill (Art. 110) | Only in LS, on President's recommendation; RS must return within 14 days, only recommendations; no joint sitting |
| Financial bill (Art. 117) | Some money matters + others; Category I only in LS |
| Amendment (Art. 368) | Special majority; no joint sitting |
- Joint sittings held 3 times: Dowry Prohibition 1961, Banking Service Commission (Repeal) 1978, POTA 2002.
- Budget = Annual Financial Statement (Art. 112); the word "budget" is not in the Constitution. Demands for grants (113), Appropriation Bill (114), vote on account (116). Rail budget merged since 2017; presented on 1 Feb.
- Cut motions: policy cut (to ₹1), economy cut, token cut (₹100).
- Public Accounts Committee: 22 (15 LS + 7 RS), chairman by convention from the Opposition, examines CAG reports. Estimates Committee: 30, all from LS — largest. Committee on Public Undertakings: 22.
- Special powers of RS: Art. 249 (legislate on State List, 2/3), Art. 312 (new All-India Service).
⚠️ Exam Traps:
- Whether a bill is a money bill — Speaker's decision is final.
- The Speaker presides over a joint sitting, not the President — the President only summons it.
📌 4. Practice MCQs
📝 Practice MCQs (prepared by SF Prep — not PYQs)
Q1. Indian Parliament consists of: Practice
Correct answer: (A)
Art. 79.
Art. 79.
Q2. What is the minimum age to become a Lok Sabha member? Practice
Correct answer: (C)
LS 25, RS 30 years.
LS 25, RS 30 years.
Q3. What fraction of Rajya Sabha members retire every two years? Practice
Correct answer: (D)
RS is permanent; 1/3 retire every 2 years.
RS is permanent; 1/3 retire every 2 years.
Q4. A money bill is defined in which Article? Practice
Correct answer: (B)
Art. 110.
Art. 110.
Q5. Who decides whether a bill is a money bill? Practice
Correct answer: (B)
The Speaker's decision is final.
The Speaker's decision is final.
Q6. For how many days at most can Rajya Sabha hold a money bill? Practice
Correct answer: (C)
It must return within 14 days or it is deemed passed.
It must return within 14 days or it is deemed passed.
Q7. Who presides over a joint sitting of Parliament? Practice
Correct answer: (D)
The President summons it under Art. 108; the Speaker presides.
The President summons it under Art. 108; the Speaker presides.
Q8. A joint sitting cannot be called for which bill? Practice
Correct answer: (A)
No joint sitting on money bills and amendment bills.
No joint sitting on money bills and amendment bills.
Q9. A joint sitting was held on which of these bills? Practice
Correct answer: (D)
Three joint sittings: Dowry Prohibition (1961), Banking Service Commission Repeal (1978), POTA (2002).
Three joint sittings: Dowry Prohibition (1961), Banking Service Commission Repeal (1978), POTA (2002).
Q10. What is the "budget" called in the Constitution? Practice
Correct answer: (A)
Art. 112 — Annual Financial Statement.
Art. 112 — Annual Financial Statement.
Q11. Which is the largest committee of Parliament? Practice
Correct answer: (B)
Estimates Committee — 30 members, all from LS.
Estimates Committee — 30 members, all from LS.
Q12. By convention, the chairman of the PAC comes from: Practice
Correct answer: (C)
Convention since 1967 — an Opposition member chairs it.
Convention since 1967 — an Opposition member chairs it.
Q13. What is the maximum gap between two sessions of Parliament? Practice
Correct answer: (C)
Art. 85.
Art. 85.
Q14. Which is true about "Zero Hour"? Practice
Correct answer: (D)
In practice since 1962, after Question Hour.
In practice since 1962, after Question Hour.
Q15. How is a starred question answered? Practice
Correct answer: (A)
Starred = oral; unstarred = written.
Starred = oral; unstarred = written.
Q16. Who was the first Speaker of Lok Sabha? Practice
Correct answer: (B)
G.V. Mavalankar (1952–56).
G.V. Mavalankar (1952–56).
Q17. What is the quorum of a House of Parliament? Practice
Correct answer: (A)
Art. 100 — 1/10.
Art. 100 — 1/10.
Q18. Who passes the resolution under Art. 249 allowing Parliament to legislate on a State List subject? Practice
Correct answer: (C)
Rajya Sabha by 2/3 of members present and voting — in national interest.
Rajya Sabha by 2/3 of members present and voting — in national interest.
Q19. Which state has the most seats in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha? Practice
Correct answer: (D)
UP — 80 LS, 31 RS.
UP — 80 LS, 31 RS.
Q20. Which amendment froze state-wise allocation of LS seats until the first census after 2026? Practice
Correct answer: (B)
The 42nd froze till 2000; the 84th extended it to the first census after 2026.
The 42nd froze till 2000; the 84th extended it to the first census after 2026.