ACC-COACHING
CENTRE – 9894113727
|
Question
1. |
No.
of MPs in Seventeenth Lok Sabha |
|
Answer. |
540
(5 Seats vacant) |
|
Question
3. |
No.
of male MPs |
|
Answer. |
459 |
|
Question
4. |
No.
of woman MPs |
|
Answer. |
81 |
|
Question
5. |
Oldest
MP |
|
Answer. |
Shri Shafiqur Rahman Barq, Age- 91 (D.O.B. -
11-07-1930) |
|
Question
6. |
Youngest
MP |
|
Answer. |
Ms. Chandrani Murmu, Age- 28 (D.O.B. - 16-06-1993) |
ABOUT
LOK SABHA AND ITS HISTORY
Question 7. When was
the Lok Sabha (the House of the People) first constituted?
Answer.
The Lok Sabha (House of the People) was duly constituted for the first time on
17 April 1952 after the first General Elections held from 25 October 1951 to
21 February 1952.
Question 8. When
was the first Session of the Lok Sabha held?
Answer. The
first Session of the First Lok Sabha commenced on 13 May 1952.
Question 9. Why is the Lok Sabha called
the popular chamber?
Answer. The
Lok Sabha is composed of representatives of the people chosen by direct
election on the basis of adult suffrage. That is why it is called
the popular chamber.
Question 10. How many General Elections to
the Lok Sabha have been held till date?
Answer. As
many as seventeen General Elections[1][1] to
the Lok Sabha have been
held till date. The first General Elections were held from 25
October 1951 to 21 February 1952; the second from 24 February to 14 March 1957;
the third from 19 to 25 February 1962; the fourth
from 17 to 21 February 1967; the fifth from 1 to 10 March 1971; the sixth from
16 to 20 March 1977; the seventh from 3 to 6 January
1980; the eighth from 24 to 28 December 1984; the ninth from 22 to 26 November
1989; the tenth from 20 May to 15 June 1991; the eleventh
from 27 April to 30 May 1996; the twelfth from 16 to 23 February 1998; the
thirteenth from 5 September to 6 October 1999; the
fourteenth from 20 April to 10 May 2004; the fifteenth from 16 April
to 13 May 2009 and the sixteenth General Elections from 7 April 2014 to 12 May
2014; and the seventeenth General Elections from 11 April to 19 May 2019.
Question 11.Who was the first Speaker of Lok Sabha
Answer. Shri G.V. Mavalankar was
the first Speaker of Lok Sabha (15 May 1952- 27 February 1956).
Question 12.Who was the first Deputy Speaker of Lok
Sabha?
Answer. Shri M. Ananthasayanam Ayyangar was
the first Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha (30 May 1952-7 March 1956).
QUESTIONS ON THE COMPOSITION OF LOK SABHA
Question 13.What is the strength of the
Lok Sabha as prescribed in the Constitution?
Answer. The
Lok Sabha, as per the Constitution, consists of not more than five hundred and
thirty Members chosen by direct election from territorial constituencies in the
States, not more than twenty Members to represent the Union Territories
[Article 81] and not more than two Members of the Anglo-Indian Community to be
nominated by the President, if he/she is of the opinion that the Anglo-Indian
Community is not adequately represented in the Lok Sabha [Article
331]. The limit on the maximum number of Members chosen directly
from territorial constituencies in States may be exceeded if such an increase
is incidental to the reorganisation of States by an Act of Parliament.
Question 14.What is the life of the Lok Sabha?
Answer. Unless
sooner dissolved by the President, the Lok Sabha continues for five years from
the date appointed for its first meeting and no longer, as the expiration of
the period of five years operates as a
dissolution of
the House. However, while a Proclamation of Emergency is in
operation, this period may be extended by Parliament by law for a period not
exceeding one year at a time and not exceeding in any case beyond a period of
six months after the Proclamation has ceased to operate.
Question 15. What
is the quorum to constitute a sitting of the Lok Sabha?
Answer. The
quorum to constitute a sitting of the House is one-tenth of the total number of
Members of the House under article 100(3) of the Constitution.
Question 16. Which is the party having the
the largest number of Members in the Seventeenth Lok Sabha?
Answer. The Bharatiya Janata
Party having 301 Members is the largest party in the Seventeenth Lok Sabha
followed by the Indian National Congress having 53 Members.
QUESTIONS
ON THE OFFICERS OF LOK SABHA
Question 17. Who
is the Presiding Officer of the Lok Sabha?
Answer. The
Speaker and the Deputy Speaker are the Presiding Officers of the Lok Sabha.
(Art.93 of Indian Constitution)
Question 18. What
is the term of Office of the Speaker?
Answer. The
Speaker continues in office till immediately before the first meeting of Lok Sabha after
dissolution of the one to which he/she was elected, unless he/she ceases to be
a Member by any of the reasons specified in articles 94, 101 and 102 of the
Constitution.
Question 19. Who presides over the Lok
Sabha when the Speaker is absent from the sitting of the House?
Answer. The
Deputy Speaker presides over the Lok Sabha when the Speaker is absent from the
sitting of the House.
Question 20. Who presides over the Lok
Sabha when both the Speaker's and the Deputy Speaker's offices fall vacant?
Answer. When
the Offices of both the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker fall vacant, the duties
of the Office of the Speaker are performed by such Member of the Lok Sabha as
the President may appoint for the purpose. The person so appointed is known as
the Speaker pro tem.
Question 21. Who presides over the House
in the absence of both the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker?
Answer. The Rules
of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha provide that at the
commencement of the House or from time to time, as the case may be, the Speaker
shall nominate from amongst the Members a Panel of not more than ten
Chairpersons, any one of whom may preside over the House in the absence of the
Speaker and the Deputy Speaker when so requested by the Speaker or, in the
absence of the Speaker, by the Deputy Speaker. A Chairperson so
nominated, holds office until a new Panel of Chairpersons is nominated, unless
he/she resigns earlier from the Panel or is appointed a Minister or elected as
Deputy Speaker.
Question 22. Who
is the present Speaker of the Lok Sabha?
Answer. Shri Om Birla.
Question 23. Who
is the present Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha?
Answer. Nil
Question 24. Who is the Leader of the
House in the Seventeenth Lok Sabha?
Answer. Shri Narendra Damodardas Modi.
Question 25. Who
is the Leader of the Opposition in the Seventeenth Lok Sabha?
Answer. No
Leader of the Opposition has been recognised by the Hon’ble Speaker
in the 17th Lok Sabha.
QUESTIONS ON MEMBERS
OF LOK SABHA
Question 27. How
are the Members of the Lok Sabha elected?
Answer. The
Members of the Lok Sabha are
elected through General Elections, held on the basis of universal adult
suffrage. Parliament, from time to time, by law makes provision with
respect to all matters relating to, or in connection with, elections to the Lok
Sabha, including the preparation of electoral rolls, the delimitation of
constituencies and all other matters necessary for securing the due
constitution of the Lok Sabha. When the seat of a Member elected to
the House becomes vacant or is declared vacant, or his/her election is declared
void, the same is filled through bye-election.
Question 28.What are the
qualifications to become a Member of the Lok Sabha?
Answer. To
become a member of the Lok Sabha, a person should be a citizen of India, not
less than 25 years of age and possess such other qualifications as may be
prescribed by or under any law made by Parliament [Art. 84]
Question 29. Who are the nominated Members
of the Seventeenth Lok Sabha?
Answer. As
on date, no one has been nominated by the President of India under Article 331
of the Constitution of India.
Question 30. Who is the longest serving
Member in the Seventeenth Lok Sabha?
Answer. Shri
Santosh Kumar Gangwar and Smt. Maneka Sanjay Gandhi are the longest serving
Members in the Seventeenth Lok Sabha.
QUESTIONS ON ROLE AND FUNCTIONS OF LOK SABHA
Question 32. What
are the powers of Lok Sabha relating to Money Bills?
Answer. A
Bill is deemed to be a 'Money Bill' if it contains only provisions dealing with
all or any of the following matters: (a) the imposition, abolition, remission,
alteration or regulation of any tax; (b) the regulation of the borrowing of
money or giving of any guarantee by the Government of India, or the
amendment of the law with respect to any financial obligations undertaken or to
be undertaken by the Government of India; (c) the custody of the Consolidated
Fund or the Contingency Fund of India, the payment of moneys into or the
withdrawal of moneys from any such Fund; (d) the appropriation of moneys out of
the Consolidated Fund of India; (e) the declaring of any expenditure to be
expenditure charged on the Consolidated Fund of India or the increasing of the
amount of any such expenditure; (f) the receipt of money on account of the
Consolidated Fund of India or the public account of India or the custody or
issue of such money or the audit of the accounts of the Union or of
a State; or (g) any matter incidental to any of the matters specified in
sub-clauses (a) to (f) [Art.110].
A
Money Bill can be introduced only in the Lok Sabha. The Rajya Sabha cannot
make amendments in a Money Bill passed by the Lok Sabha and transmitted to
it. It can, however, recommend amendments in a Money
Bill. It is open to the Lok Sabha to accept or reject any or all of
the recommendations of the Rajya Sabha with
regard to a Money Bill. If the Lok Sabha accepts any of the
recommendations of the Rajya Sabha,
the Money Bill is deemed to have been passed by both Houses with amendments
recommended by the Rajya Sabha and
accepted by the Lok Sabha and if the Lok Sabha does not accept any of the
recommendations of the Rajya Sabha,
the Money Bill is deemed to have been passed by both Houses in the form in
which it was passed by the Lok Sabha without any of the amendments
recommended by the Rajya Sabha. If
a Money Bill passed by the
Lok Sabha and transmitted to the Rajya Sabha is
not returned to the Lok Sabha within
the period of fourteen days, it is deemed to have been passed by both Houses at
the expiration of the said period
in the form in which it was passed by the Lok Sabha.
Question 33.What is the legislative
relationship between the Lok Sabha and
the Rajya Sabha?
Answer. In
legislative matters, both the Houses enjoy almost equal powers except in the
case of Money Bills. The main function of both the Houses is
to pass laws. Every Bill has to be passed by both the Houses and
assented to by the President before it becomes law. In case of Money
Bills, the Lok Sabha has overriding powers.
Question 34. Is
any deadlock between the two Houses possible?
Answer. Yes.
In the case of Bills other than Money Bills and Constitution Amendment Bills, a
disagreement between the two Houses may arise when a Bill passed by one House
is rejected by the other House; or the Houses have finally disagreed as to the
amendments to be made in the Bill; or more than six months have elapsed from
the date of receipt of the
Bill by the other House without the Bill being passed by it.
Question 35. What is the mechanism for
resolving such a deadlock between the two Houses?
Answer. A
joint sitting of both Houses is convened by the President for
this purpose. [Article 108]
Question 36. How many joint sittings of
the Houses have been convened so far?
Answer. So
far, joint sittings of the two Houses have taken place on three
occasions. The first joint sitting was held on 6 May 1961 following
a disagreement between the two Houses over certain amendments to the Dowry
Prohibition Bill, 1959. This was followed by another sitting on 9
May 1961 when the Bill, as amended, was finally passed.
The
second joint sitting was held on 16 May 1978, following the rejection by
the Rajya Sabha of
the Banking Service Commission (Repeal) Bill, 1977 and the Bill was
passed.
The
third joint sitting was held on 26 March 2002 when the motion to consider
the Prevention of Terrorism Bill, 2002, seeking to replace the
Prevention of Terrorism Ordinance (POTO) as passed by the Lok Sabha was
rejected by the Rajya Sabha. At
this sitting held for the purpose of deliberating and voting on the Prevention
of Terrorism Bill, 2002, the Bill was passed.
Question 37. Who
presides over the joint sitting of the two Houses?
Answer. The
Speaker of the Lok Sabha presides over the joint sitting of the two Houses.
[Article 118(4)]
Question 38. Does
the Speaker have the right to vote?
Answer. The
Speaker has a casting vote in the event of a tie. It is customary
for the Presiding Officer to exercise the casting vote in such a manner as to
maintain the status quo.
Question 39. How
many Sessions of the Lok Sabha are held in a year?
Answer. Normally
three Sessions of the Lok Sabha are held in a year, viz.,
· Budget
Session - January
- May
· Autumn
or Monsoon Session -
July - August
· Winter
Session - November
- December
Question 40.What is meant by Adjournment,
Prorogation and Dissolution of the Lok Sabha?
Answer. "Adjournment"
is a postponement of the sitting or proceedings of the House from one time to
another specified for the reassembling of the House. During the
course of a Session, the Lok Sabha may be adjourned from day to day or for more
than a day. It may also be adjourned sine
die which means the termination of a sitting of the House without any
definite date being fixed for its next sitting.
"Prorogation"
means the termination of a Session of the House by an order made by the President under
article 85(2)(a) of the Constitution. The Prorogation of the House
may take place any time, even while the House is sitting. However,
usually, prorogation follows the adjournment of the sitting of the House sine
die.
"Dissolution"
of the House means the end of the life of the Lok Sabha either by an order made
by the President under
article 85 (2) (b) of the Constitution or on the expiration of the period of
five years from the date appointed for its first meeting. Dissolution puts an
end to the representative character of the individuals who at the time compose
the Lok Sabha.
On
adjournment of the Lok Sabha or its adjournment sine die, the
pending business does not lapse. Bills pending before either House
or Select/Joint Committee, Motions, Resolutions, and amendments which have
already been moved and pending in the House, and business pending before a
Parliamentary Committee do not lapse on prorogation whereas all business
pending before the House or any of its Committee lapse on
dissolution. Prorogation terminates a Session and does not constitute
an interruption in the continuity of life of the Lok Sabha which is brought to
an end only by dissolution.
Question 41. What
are the methods of voting in the Lok Sabha?
Answer. The
procedure regarding Voting and Divisions in the House is governed by article
100(1) of the Constitution and Rules 367, 367A, 367AA and 367B of the Rules
of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha. The various
methods adopted for voting in the Lok Sabha are:
(i) Voice
Vote: It is a simple method for deciding a question put by the
Chair on a motion made by a Member. Under
this method, the question before the House is determined by the `Ayes' or the `Noes',
as the case may be.
(ii) Division: There
are three methods of holding a Division, i.e. (a) by operating
the Automatic Vote Recording Equipment; (b) by distributing `Ayes' and `Noes'
slips in the House; and (c) by Members going into the Lobbies. However,
the method of recording of votes in the Lobbies has become obsolete ever since
the installation of the Automatic Vote Recording Machine.
(iii) Secret
Ballot: During an 'open' voting period, the individual results
are shown by the three Colours: Green for ‘Ayes’, Red for ‘Noes’
and Yellow for ‘Abstain’ on the Individual Result Display Panel. Secret voting,
if any, is held on similar lines except that the Light Emitting Diode (LED) on
the Individual Result Display Panel flashes only white light to show that the
vote has been recorded.
(iv) Recording
of votes by distribution of slips: The method of recording of
votes by Members on `Ayes' and `Noes'
slips is generally resorted to in the eventuality of (i)
sudden failure of the working of the Automatic Vote Recording Equipment; and
(ii) at the commencement of the new Lok Sabha, before the seats/division
numbers have been allotted to Members.
(v) Physical
count of Members in their places instead of a formal division: If
in the opinion of the Chair, a Division is unnecessarily claimed, he/she may
ask the Members who are for `Ayes' and those for `Noes',
respectively, to rise in their places and on a count being taken, he/she may
declare the determination of the House. In such a case, the
particulars of voting of the Members are not recorded.
(vi) Casting
Vote: If in a Division the number of `Ayes' and `Noes'
is equal, the question is decided by the casting vote of the
Chair. Under the Constitution, the Speaker or the person acting as
such cannot vote in a Division; he/she has only a casting vote which he/she
must exercise in the case of equality of votes.
Question
42: What is Question Hour?
Answer. Rule32 of the “Rules of
Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha” provides that unless the
Speaker otherwise directs, the first hour of every sitting of the House shall
be available for the asking and answering of Questions. Thus, it is taken up
from 1100hrs to 1200 hrs in every sitting. Normally, there is no Question Hour
during the first Session of the new Lok Sabha and also on the day when the
President addresses both houses assembled together or on the day when General
Budget is presented in Lok Sabha and on the sittings held during the extended
period of session or on Saturdays/Sundays and Holidays.
Question 43. What is a Parliamentary
Question?
Answer. Question is one of the
important Parliamentary devices available to the Members to seek information on
a matter of urgent public importance subject to conditions imposed by the Rules
of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha and the Directions by the
Speaker. A Member may ask question for the purpose of obtaining information on
a subject matter of public importance within the special cognizance of the
minister to whom it is addressed.
Question 44. What are the different
types of Questions?
Answer. There are basically four
types of Questions:-
Starred:
A Member who desires an oral answer to his question is required to distinguish
it by an asterix. Maximum 20 Questions are included in the
list of Starred Questions for a particular day. This is printed on green paper.
Minimum of 15 clear days notice is required for tabling Starred Questions. The
Questions not orally answered in the Starred list of questions are treated as
Unstarred Questions and their replies are laid on the Table of the House.
Unstarred:
These do not carry the asterix mark and are meant for obtaining
written reply. Not more than 230 Questions can be placed on the Unstarred list
for a particular sitting. This list is printed on white paper. Minimum 15 clear
days notice is required for tabling Unstarred Questions. Written answers given
by the Ministers are deemed to have been laid on the Table of the House at the
end of Question Hour.
Short
Notice Question: Question can also be asked on a matter of urgent public
importance at a notice of less than ten clear days. The list of admitted SNQ is
printed on a pink paper. The procedure of SNQ is regulated by Rule 54 and the
basic test for its admissibility is the urgency of matter. SNQ is asked and
answered soon after the Question Hour.
Question
to Private Members: A Question may also be addressed to a Private Member
under Rule 40 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha,
which provides that the subject matter of the question should be related to
some Bill, Resolution or other matter connected with the Business of the House
for which that Member is responsible. For instance, the Questions which relates
to matters under the purview of Parliamentary Committees can be addressed to
respective Chairperson. Similarly, Members piloting Private Members Bills and
Resolutions can be addressed questions, which are within cognizance of them
under this provision. The procedure in regard to such questions is the same as
that followed in the case of questions addressed to a Minister with such
variations as the Speaker may consider necessary.
Question 45. What is the maximum
number of Questions admitted for a particular day?
Answer. The maximum number of
Questions to be placed on the list of Questions for oral answers (Starred
Question) on a particular day is 20, while the maximum number of questions to
be placed on the list of Unstarred Question is 230. However, the number of
Unstarred Questions may exceed by a maximum of 25 Questions pertaining to
State/States under President’s Rule.
Question 46. Whether there is any
restriction regarding the number of notices
that each
Member may give with regard to Questions?
Answer. A Member is permitted to
give not more than 10 notices of Questions both Starred and Unstarred combined
for any day. But not more than five admitted questions, both Starred and
Unstarred combined, by one Member are placed on the list of questions for any
one day. Out of these 5 questions, not more than one Question distinguished by
the Member with asterisk* as Starred is placed on the list of Questions for
oral answer. This limit of one question for oral answer does not include any
Short Notice Question of the Member which may have been admitted for answer on
that day. However, a Member can have more than one Starred question in the list
in the event of transfer or postponement of Questions in the printed list from
one day to another.
Question 47. Who decides the admissibility
of Questions?
Answer Admissibility of
questions is governed by Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok
Sabha, Directions by the Speaker as also the past precedents. The Speaker, Lok
Sabha, decides whether a question or a part thereof, is or is not admissible
under the Rules, and may disallow any question, or a part thereof, when in
his/her opinion, it is an abuse of the right of questioning or is calculated to
obstruct or prejudicially affect the procedure of the House or is in
contravention of the Rules. The right to ask a question is governed by certain
conditions like it should be pointed, specific and confined to one issue only.
It should not contain arguments, inferences, ironical expressions, imputations,
epithets or defamatory statements.
Question 48. What
is an Half-an-Hour
Discussion?
Answer. Another instrument
available to the Members of Lok Sabha for raising issue
of public importance is the Half-an-Hour Discussion. Under this, a Member may
raise discussion on a matter of sufficient public importance which has been the
subject of a recent question, Starred, Unstarred or Short Notice Question and
the answer to which needs further elucidation on a matter of fact.
Question 49. What is the procedure
for Half-an-Hour Discussion?
Answer. The
procedure regarding Half-an-Hour Discussion is regulated by Rule 55 of the
‘Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha’ and Direction 19 of
the ‘Directions by the Speaker’. Under this, a Member may give notice to raise
a discussion on a matter of sufficient public importance and which has been the
subject of a recent question, Starred, Unstarred or Short Notice Question, and
the answer to which needs further elucidation on a matter of fact. A notice is
also required to be accompanied by an ‘Explanatory Note’ stating the reasons
for raising the discussion and should also be signed. Normally, only one notice
of Half-an-Hour Discussion is put down for a sitting and no formal motion is
moved in the House nor does
voting take place. The Member who has given notice makes a short statement and
the Members who have previously intimated the Speaker and have secured one of
the four places in the ballot are permitted to put a question each for the
purpose of further elucidating any matter of fact. Thereafter, the Minister
concerned replies briefly.
Question 50. When a Half-an-Hour
Discussion is taken up?
Answer. Half-an-Hour Discussions
are normally held on three sittings in a week namely, Monday, Wednesday and
Friday. Normally, Half-an-Hour Discussion is not held on the first sitting of
the session. Further, normally the Half-an-Hour Discussion is not held till the
passage of the Finance Bill by the House. As the name suggests, normally the
discussion is for half an hour on the said days and is taken
up during the last half an hour of the sitting.
QUESTIONS RELATING TO
LEGISLATION
Question 51. What
is a Bill?
Answer. A
Bill is the draft of a legislative proposal brought before the House for its
approval.
Question 52. What
are the different types of Bills?
Answer. Bills
initiated by Ministers are called Government Bills and those introduced by
Members who are not Ministers are known as Private Members' Bills. Depending on
their contents, Bills may further be classified broadly into
(a) Original Bills (Bills embodying new proposals, ideas or
policies); (b) Amending Bills (Bills which seek to modify, amend or revise the
existing Acts); (c) Consolidating Bills (Bills which seek to consolidate
existing laws on a particular subject; (d) Expiring Laws
(Continuance) Bills (Bills to continue an expiring Act); (e) Repealing Bills
(Bills seeking to repeal existing Acts); (f) Bills to replace Ordinances; (g)
Constitution (Amendment) Bills; and (h) Money and Financial Bills.
Question 53. Who decides whether a Bill is
an ordinary Bill or a Money Bill?
Answer. In
case any question arises whether a Bill is a Money Bill or not, the decision of
the Speaker, Lok Sabha, thereon, is final. When a Bill is held to be
a Money Bill, the Speaker endorses a certificate thereon duly signed by the
Speaker to that effect that it is a Money Bill before the Bill is sent to
the Rajya Sabha or
presented to the President for assent.
Question 54. What
is the difference between a Bill and an Act?
Answer A
Bill is a draft legislative proposal before the House. It becomes an
Act only when passed by both the Houses of Parliament and assented to by the
President.
Question 55. What are the various steps involved
in the passage of a Bill?
Answer. A
Bill while being considered has to undergo three stages in each House of
Parliament. The first stage consists of the introduction of
the Bill which is done on a motion moved by either a Minister or a Member.
During
the second stage, any of the following motions can be moved:
that the Bill be taken into
consideration; that it be referred to a Select Committee of the House; that it
be referred to a Joint Committee of the two Houses; or that it be circulated for
the purpose of eliciting opinion thereon. Thereafter, the Bill is taken up for
clause-by-clause consideration as introduced or as reported by the Select/Joint
Committee.
The third
stage is confined to the discussion on the motion that the Bill be
passed and the Bill is passed/rejected either by voting or voice vote (or
returned to the Lok Sabha by
the Rajya Sabha in
the case of a Money Bill).
Question 56. What
is Budget?
Answer. Budget
is the `Annual Financial Statement' or the
Statement of the Estimated Receipts and Expenditure of the Government of India
in respect of each financial year, presented to the Lok Sabha on such day as
the President may direct. A copy of the Budget is laid in the Rajya Sabha soon
after its presentation in the Lok Sabha. The preparation and
presentation of the Budget for the approval of the Legislature is a
constitutional obligation on the part of the Government, both at the Centre and
in the States.
Question 57. When
is the Budget Session of Parliament held?
Answer. The
Budget Session of Parliament is normally held during February to May of the
year. During this period, the Budget comes
before the Parliament for its deliberation, voting and approval; the
Departmentally related Standing Committees consider the Demands for Grants of
Ministries/Departments and report on the same to the Houses of Parliament.
Question 58. Who
presents the Budget in the House?
Answer. As
per tradition, the Budget Session usually begins in the last week of February
and continues till mid-May with a recess in between. However, for the first
time in the country’s legislative history, from 2017, the Budget Session was
advanced to 31 January. In a historic move, the Union Budget was presented on 1
February 2017, almost a month ahead of the usual date in the past, to enable
the Parliament to avoid a Vote on Account and pass a single Appropriation Bill
for the year, before the close of the financial year.
In yet another significant
development implemented from 2017 was the presentation of an integrated Budget,
that is, the merger of the Railways Budget with the General Budget, thereby
discontinuing a 92-year old practice of presentation of two separate budgets
PROCEDURAL DEVICES FOR RAISING
MATTERS OF PUBLIC INTEREST
Question 59. What is a Calling Attention ?
Answer. Under
this procedural device, a Member may, with the prior permission of the Speaker,
call the attention of a Minister to any matter of urgent public importance and
the Minister may make a brief statement thereon. There shall be no debate on
such a statement at the time it is made. After the statement, brief
clarifications can be sought from the Minister by the Member who has initiated
the Calling Attention and other Members whose names appear in the List of
Business are called by the Speaker. Only those matters which
are primarily the concern of the Union Government can be raised through a
Calling Attention notice. The Calling Attention procedure is an
Indian innovation which combines asking a question with supplementaries and
making brief comments; the Government also gets adequate opportunity to state
its case. The Calling Attention matter is not subject to the vote of
the House.
Question 60. What
is a Motion?
Answer. The
term `motion' in parliamentary parlance means any formal proposal made to
the House by a Member for the purpose of eliciting a decision of the
House. It is phrased in such a way that, if adopted, it will purport
to express the judgement or will of the House. Any matter of
importance can be the subject matter of a motion. The mover of a
motion frames it in a form in which he/she wishes it ultimately to be passed by
the House and on which a vote of the House can conveniently be taken.
Question 61. What are the different types
of Motions?
Answer. Motions
may be classified into three broad categories, namely, substantive motions,
substitute motions and subsidiary motions.
A
substantive motion is a self-contained, independent proposal made in reference
to a subject which the mover wishes to bring forward. All
Resolutions, Motions for
election of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker, and Motion of Thanks on the Address
by the President, etc. are examples of substantive motions.
A
substitute motion, as its name suggests, is moved in substitution of the
original motion for taking into consideration a policy
or situation or statement or any other matter. Amendments to
substitute motions are not permissible.
Subsidiary
motions depend upon or relate to other motions or follow up on some proceedings
in the House. By itself, a subsidiary motion has no meaning and is
not capable of stating the decision of the House without reference to the
original motion or the proceedings of the House.
Question 62. What
is an Adjournment Motion?
Answer. Adjournment
Motion is the procedure for adjournment of the business of the House
for the purpose of discussing a definite matter of urgent public importance,
which can be moved with the consent of the Speaker. The Adjournment
Motion, if admitted, leads to setting aside of the normal business of the House
for discussing the matter mentioned in the motion. To be in order,
an adjournment motion must raise a matter of sufficient public importance to
warrant interruption of normal business of the House and the question of public
importance is decided on merit in each individual case. The purpose
of an Adjournment Motion is to take the Government to task for a recent act of
omission or commission having serious consequences. Its adoption is
regarded as a sort of censure of the Government.
Question 63. What is a Motion of
No-confidence?
Answer. The
Government must always enjoy majority support in the popular House to remain in
power. If need be, it has to demonstrate its strength on the floor
of the House by moving a Motion of Confidence and winning the confidence of the
House. In view of the express Constitutional provision regarding
collective responsibility of the Council of Ministers to the Lok Sabha, a
motion expressing want of confidence in an individual Minister is out of order;
under the Rules, only a motion expressing want of confidence in the Council of
Ministers as a body is admissible. Rule 198 of the Rules of
Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha lays down the procedure
for moving a Motion of No-Confidence in the Council of
Ministers. The usual format of such a motion is that "this
House expresses its want of confidence in the Council of Ministers". A
Motion of No-confidence need not set out any grounds on which it is
based. Even when grounds are mentioned in the notice and read out in
the House, they do not form part of the No-confidence Motion.
Question 64. What is a
No-Day-Yet-Named Motion?
Answer If
the Speaker admits notice of a motion and no date is fixed for its discussion,
it is called a "No-Day-yet-Named Motion" and a copy of the admitted
motion is forwarded to the Minister concerned with the subject matter of the
motion.
Admitted
notices of such motions may be placed before the Business Advisory Committee
for selecting the motions for discussion in the House according to the urgency
and importance of the subject-matter thereof, and allotting time for the same.
Question 65. What is
meant by a Discussion under Rule 193?
Answer. Discussion
under Rule 193 does not involve a formal motion before the
House. Hence no voting can take place after discussion on matters
under this rule. The Member who
gives notice may make a short statement and such of the Members as have
previously intimated to the Speaker, may be permitted to take part in the
discussion. The Member who raises the discussion has no right of
reply. At the end of the discussion, the Minister concerned gives a
brief reply.
Question 66. What is a Short Duration
Discussion?
Answer. In
order to provide opportunities to Members to discuss matters of urgent public
importance, a convention was established in March 1953 which was incorporated
later into the Rules of Procedure and conduct of Business in Lok Sabha under
Rule 193 as Short Duration Discussion. Under this Rule, Members can
raise discussion for short durations without a formal motion or vote thereon.
Question 67. What is meant by matters
under Rule 377?
Matters,
which are not points of order can
be raised by way of Special Mentions under Rule 377. This procedural
device, framed in 1954, provides opportunity to the Members to raise matters of
general public interest. At present, the number of matters that can
be raised by Members under rule 377 on a single day is 20.
Question 68. What
is ‘Zero Hour’
?
Answer. The
time immediately following the Question Hour and laying
of papers and before any listed business is taken up in the House has come to
be popularly known as the `Zero Hour'. As it starts around 12 noon,
this period is euphemistically termed as `Zero Hour'. For raising
matters during the ‘Zero Hour’ in Lok Sabha,
Members give notice between 8.30 a.m. and 9.00 a.m. everyday to
the Speaker stating clearly the subject which they consider to be important and
wish to raise in the House. It is, of course, for the Speaker to
allow or not to allow for raising such matters
in the House. The term `Zero Hour' is not formally recognised in our
parliamentary procedure.
Question 69. How many matters are allowed
to be raised under ‘Zero Hour’
?
Answer. At
present, twenty matters per day as per their priority in the ballot are allowed
to be raised during "Zero Hour". The order in which the
matters will be raised is decided by the Speaker at his/her
discretion. In the first phase, 5 matters of urgent national and
international importance, as decided by the Chair, are taken up after Question
Hour and laying of papers, etc. In
the second phase, the remaining admitted matters of urgent public importance
are taken up after 6.00 P.M. or at the end of the regular business of the
House. However, since there is no provision in the rules regarding ‘Zero
Hour’, hence there is no maximum limit on the number of matters that can be
raised on any given day.
Question 70. What
is a Resolution?
Answer A
Resolution is a formal expression of the sense, will or action of the
Legislative Body. Resolutions may be broadly divided into three
categories:
· Resolutions
which are expression of opinion by the House: Since the purpose
of such a Resolution is merely to obtain an expression of opinion of the House,
the Government is not bound to give effect to the opinions expressed in these
Resolutions.
· Resolutions
which have statutory effect: The notice of a Statutory Resolution is
given in pursuance of a provision in the Constitution or an Act of
Parliament. Such a Resolution, if adopted, is binding on the
Government and has the force of law.
· Resolutions
which the House passes in the matter of control over its own proceedings: It
has the force of law and its validity cannot be challenged in any court of
law. The House, by such a Resolution, evolves, sometimes, its own
procedure to meet a situation not specifically provided for in the Rules.
Question 71. What is a Point of Order?
Answer: A
Point of Order relates to the interpretation or enforcement of the Rules
of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the House or convention or
such Articles of the Constitution as regulate the business of the House and
raises a question which is within the cognizance of the Speaker.
A
Point of Order may be raised only in relation to the business before the House
at the moment, provided that the Speaker may permit a Member to raise a Point
of Order during the interval between the termination of one item of business
and the commencement of another if it relates to maintenance of order in, or
arrangement of business before, the House. A Member may formulate a
Point of Order and the Speaker shall decide whether the point raised is a Point
of Order and if so give the decision thereon, which is final.
Question 72. Does the Speaker have the
power to adjourn the House or suspend the sitting?
Answer: Under
Rule 375, in the case of a grave disorder arising in the House, the Speaker
may, if thinks it necessary to do so, adjourn the House or suspend any sitting
for a time to be named by the Speaker.
Question 73. When
does the President address the Parliament?
Answer. The
Constitution provides for an Address by the President to either House or both Houses assembled
together [Article 86(1)]. The Constitution also makes
incumbent upon the President to address both Houses of Parliament assembled
together at the commencement of the first Session after each General
Election to the Lok Sabha and at the commencement of the first Session each
year and inform Parliament of the causes of its summons. [Article 87(1)]. The
matters referred to in the Address by the President to the Houses are discussed
on a Motion of Thanks moved by a Member and seconded by another Member.
Question 74. Can Members raise questions
on the Address by the President?
Answer. No
Member can raise questions on the Address by the President. Any action on the
part of a Member which mars the occasion or creates disturbance is
punishable by the House to which that Member belongs.
Discussion on matters referred to in the Address takes place on a Motion of
Thanks moved by a Member and seconded by another Member. The scope
of discussion on the Address is very wide and the functioning of the entire
administration is open for discussion; the limitations inter alia are
that Members should not refer to matters which are not the direct
responsibility of the Government of India, and the name of the President should
not be brought in during the debate since the Government, and not the
President, is responsible for the contents of the Address.
PARLIAMENTARY
PRIVILEGES/IMMUNITIES, SALARIES AND EMOLUMENTS
Question 75. What are parliamentary
privileges?
Answer The
term `parliamentary privilege' refers to certain rights and immunities enjoyed
by each House of Parliament and Committees of each House collectively, and
by Members of each
House individually, without which they cannot discharge their
functions efficiently and effectively. The object of
parliamentary privileges is to safeguard the freedom, the authority and the
dignity of Parliament. The powers, privileges and immunities of
either House of Parliament and of its Committees and Members have mainly been
laid down in article 105 of the Constitution. The House has the power to punish
any person who commits a contempt of the House or a breach of any
of its privileges.
Question 76. Are the parliamentary
privileges codified in India?
Answer. No
law has so far been enacted by Parliament in pursuance of article 105(3) of the
Constitution to define the powers, privileges and immunities available to each
House and its Members and the Committees thereof. In the
absence of any such law, the powers, privileges and immunities of the Houses of
Parliament, and of the Members and the Committees thereof, shall be those of
that House and of its Members and Committees immediately before the coming into
force of section 15 of the Constitution (Forty-fourth Amendment) Act, 1978.
Question 77. What is the difference
between breach of privilege and contempt of the House?
Answer. When
any of the privileges, either of the Members individually or of the House in
its collective capacity, is disregarded or attacked by any individual or
authority, the offence is called a `breach of privilege'.
Contempt
of the House may be defined generally as any act or omission which obstructs or
impedes either House of Parliament in the performance of its functions, or
which obstructs or impedes any Member or officers of such House in the
discharge of his or her duty, or which has a tendency, directly or indirectly,
to produce such results even though there is no precedent of the
offence. Whereas all breaches of privilege are contempts of the
House, a person may be guilty of a contempt of the House even though he does
not violate any of the privilege of the House, e.g. when he disobeys an order
to attend a Committee or publishes reflections on the character or conduct of a
Member in his capacity as a Member.
Question 78. What is the procedure for
addressing a question of privilege?
Answer. A
question of privilege may either be considered and decided by the House itself or
it may be referred by the House or by the Speaker to the Committee of
Privileges for examination, investigation and report.
Question 79. What is the rule relating to
'Automatic Suspension' of a Member?
Answer. Rule
374A of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha provides
that in the event of grave disorder occasioned by a Member coming into
the well of the House or abusing the rules of the House persistently and
wilfully obstructing its business by shouting slogans or otherwise,
such Member shall, on being named by the Speaker, stand automatically
suspended from the service of the House for five consecutive
sittings or the remainder of the Session, whichever is less.
Question 80. What is the MPLAD
Scheme?
Answer. Members
of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) was introduced in
December, 1993. Under this Scheme, a Member of Lok Sabha has the choice to
recommend to the Head of the District, development works with emphasis on the
creation of durable community assets based on the locally felt needs to the tune
of Rupees five crore per year, to be taken up in his/her Constituency. Detailed
information about the Scheme is available in the MPLAD Scheme website
"www.mplads.nic.in".
Question 81. What
is the current salary of a Member?
Answer. At
present, a Member of Parliament is entitled to Rs. 100,000/- per month as
salary, Rs. 70,000/- per month as Constituency Allowance, Rs.60,000/- per
month as Office Expense Allowance out of which Rs. 20,000/- is for
meeting expenses of stationery items and postage; and up to Rs. 40,000/- is
paid by the Lok Sabha Secretariat
to the person(s) as may be engaged by a member for obtaining secretarial
assistance. A Member also gets daily allowance of Rs. 2,000 for the period of
residence on duty. Daily allowance will be paid only when he/she
signs the register maintained for the purpose.
Question 82. Are Members of Parliament
entitled to any pension?
Answer. Every
person who has served as a Member of the Provisional Parliament or either House
of Parliament for any period is entitled to a pension of Rs.25,000/-
per month w.e.f. 1 April
2018. Where any person has served for a period exceeding five years,
he/she shall be paid an additional pension of Rs.2000/- per month for every
year in excess of five years. For the purpose of calculation of
years for determination of additional pension, the period of nine months or
more is treated as one complete year.