90. Under which form of government is the executive drawn from the legislature?
[DSSSB PGT Political Science, 13 July 2025, Shift 1]
(A) Presidential government
(B) Parliamentary government
(C) Theocracy
(D) Military regime
Answer: (B) Parliamentary government
Explanation: Parliamentary government joins the executive and legislature through ministerial membership and responsibility. The Prime Minister and ministers are ordinarily parliamentarians, and the government must retain Lok Sabha confidence. Presidential systems usually maintain a more distinct institutional separation.
89. Regarding the Estimates Committee, assess:
(1) it was constituted following John Mathai’s recommendation;
(2) Rajya Sabha has no representation.
[BPSC District Statistical Officer, 3 August 2025]
(A) Only statement 2
(B) Only statement 1
(C) Both statements
(D) Neither statement
Answer: (C) Both statements
Explanation: The post-Independence Estimates Committee was created in 1950 following Finance Minister John Mathai’s recommendation. Its thirty members are elected exclusively from the Lok Sabha. It scrutinizes budget estimates and recommends economies and administrative improvements, without members from Rajya Sabha.
88. Which pairing of a 2024–25 parliamentary committee and its chairperson was incorrect?
[MPPSC State Service Prelims, 16 February 2025]
(A) Public Accounts Committee — K. C. Venugopal
(B) Estimates Committee — Baijayant Panda
(C) SC/ST Welfare Committee — Faggan Singh Kulaste
(D) OBC Welfare Committee — Ganesh Singh
Answer: (B) Estimates Committee — Baijayant Panda
Explanation: The Estimates Committee for 2024–25 was chaired by Sanjay Jaiswal, not Baijayant Panda. The other pairs corresponded to the specified committees and chairpersons. This question tested appointments for that committee year, rather than permanent features of Parliament.
87. How is the Prime Minister regarded in India’s parliamentary system?
[RPF Constable 2024 Cycle, held 17 March 2025, Shift 1]
(A) De facto executive authority
(B) Ceremonial head of state
(C) Nominal executive authority
(D) Head of judiciary
Answer: (A) De facto executive authority
Explanation: India distinguishes the constitutional head of state from the effective head of government. The President occupies the former position, while the Prime Minister exercises real executive leadership through the Council of Ministers, Cabinet decisions and accountability to the Lok Sabha.
86. What maximum membership of Rajya Sabha is permitted by the Constitution?
[RPF Constable 2024 Cycle, held 5 March 2025, Shift 1]
(A) 200
(B) 225
(C) 250
(D) 238
Answer: (C) 250
Explanation: Article 80 permits up to 250 Rajya Sabha members: no more than 238 representatives of states and Union territories, plus twelve presidential nominees. This is the constitutional ceiling, not necessarily the number of sitting members at any particular moment.
85. In March 2025, a parliamentary panel urged the establishment of the Lokpal’s inquiry and prosecution wings within what period?
[IB ACIO Grade-II Executive, 16 September 2025, Shift 2]
(A) One month
(B) Three months
(C) Two months
(D) Six months
Answer: (D) Six months
Explanation: The parliamentary panel recommended a six-month timeframe for operationalising the Lokpal’s inquiry and prosecution wings. Its concern was that delayed institutional capacity weakened anti-corruption investigations. Parliamentary oversight often involves committees assessing administrative implementation, staffing and statutory effectiveness.
84. Which amendment reduced the voting age for Lok Sabha and Assembly elections from 21 to 18?
[RRB NTPC Undergraduate CBT-I, 19 August 2025, Shift 1]
(A) 61st Amendment Act, 1988
(B) 52nd Amendment Act, 1985
(C) 86th Amendment Act, 2002
(D) 44th Amendment Act, 1978
Answer: (A) 61st Amendment Act, 1988
Explanation: The Sixty-first Constitutional Amendment modified Article 326 to lower the voting age to eighteen. It expanded participation in direct elections for Lok Sabha and state assemblies. This amendment did not lower the minimum age for contesting parliamentary elections.
83. Which statement about Parliament is correct?
[UPSC NDA-I General Ability Test, 13 April 2025]
(A) Most Rajya Sabha members are elected by proportional representation using a single transferable vote
(B) Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman is appointed by the President
(C) Lok Sabha cannot be dissolved before five years
(D) Lok Sabha MPs elect Rajya Sabha MPs
Answer: (A) Most Rajya Sabha members are elected by proportional representation using a single transferable vote
Explanation: Most elected Rajya Sabha members are chosen indirectly by state legislators through proportional representation using the single transferable vote. Rajya Sabha elects its own Deputy Chairman; Lok Sabha can be dissolved early; and its MPs do not elect Rajya Sabha representatives.
82. Which Article specifies the composition of Rajya Sabha?
[SSC CGL Tier-I, 13 September 2024, Shift 2]
(A) Article 76
(B) Article 80
(C) Article 84
(D) Article 92
Answer: (B) Article 80
Explanation: Article 80 defines the composition of the Council of States. It authorises up to twelve nominated members and representatives of states and Union territories. Article 84 instead specifies qualifications for membership of Parliament, including the minimum age for each House.
81. Which statement correctly describes Rajya Sabha?
[SSC MTS, 17 October 2024, Shift 3]
(A) Every member is directly elected
(B) It is called the Council of States
(C) It is Parliament’s lower House
(D) Its members have five-year terms
Answer: (B) It is called the Council of States
Explanation: Rajya Sabha is the Council of States and serves as the upper chamber of Parliament. Most members are chosen indirectly, and their regular tenure is six years. It represents states and certain Union territories rather than operating as a directly elected lower House.
