Q100. Concerning financial committees, consider:
A. Ministers cannot sit on the Public Accounts Committee.
B. Estimates Committee members are nominated by the Speaker.
C. Ministers can sit on Estimates Committee.
D. COPU members hold two-year terms.
Which is correct?
[SSC CGL (21 July 2023)]
(A) A only
(B) A and B
(C) B and C
(D) C and D
Answer: (A) A only
Explanation: Only A is correct. Ministers cannot serve on the Public Accounts Committee, Estimates Committee or Committee on Public Undertakings. Estimates members are elected by Lok Sabha, not nominated, and the Committee on Public Undertakings has annual membership.
Q99. Which Article says Parliament consists of the President and two Houses?
[SSC CGL (17 July 2023)]
(A) Article 75
(B) Article 79
(C) Article 110
(D) Article 123
Answer: (B) Article 79
Explanation: Article 79 establishes the Union Parliament comprising the President, Council of States and House of the People. Although the President does not sit in either House, presidential assent and other constitutional functions form part of parliamentary lawmaking.
Q98. Consider:
A. An Appropriation Bill authorises withdrawal from Consolidated Fund.
B. Demands for Grants cover only planned expenditure.
C. Short Duration Discussion requires support of fifty members.
Which statements are correct?
[SSC CGL (18 July 2023)]
(A) A only
(B) A and B
(C) B and C
(D) All three
Answer: (A) A only
Explanation: An Appropriation Act authorises withdrawal from the Consolidated Fund, so A is correct. The obsolete planned/non-planned distinction does not define all grants, and fifty members’ support is associated with another parliamentary device, not Short Duration Discussion.
Q97. Who was Speaker of the Lok Sabha in November 2022?
[SSC MTS 2022 (18 May 2023)]
(A) Om Birla
(B) Sumitra Mahajan
(C) Meira Kumar
(D) Manohar Joshi
Answer: (A) Om Birla
Explanation: Om Birla became Speaker of the Seventeenth Lok Sabha in June 2019 and held the post in November 2022. The Speaker presides over sittings, maintains order and certifies Money Bills under the Constitution.
Q96. Who normally presides over a sitting of the Lok Sabha?
[SSC MTS 2022 (9 May 2023)]
(A) Vice-President
(B) Lok Sabha Speaker
(C) President
(D) Prime Minister
Answer: (B) Lok Sabha Speaker
Explanation: The Speaker is the presiding officer of Lok Sabha, elected by members under Article 93. The Deputy Speaker presides when required. The Speaker manages proceedings, interprets House rules and maintains order during debate.
Q95. What is the normal term of the Lok Sabha?
[SSC MTS 2022 (8 May 2023)]
(A) Four years
(B) Five years
(C) Six years
(D) Seven years
Answer: (B) Five years
Explanation: Article 83(2) provides that Lok Sabha normally continues for five years from its first meeting unless dissolved earlier. Its term may be extended by law during a National Emergency within constitutional limits.
Q94. Who presents the annual Union Budget in the Lok Sabha?
[SSC MTS 2022 (20 June 2023)]
(A) President
(B) Finance Minister
(C) Speaker
(D) Chief Justice
Answer: (B) Finance Minister
Explanation: The Union Finance Minister traditionally presents the Union Budget in Lok Sabha. The Annual Financial Statement is laid under Article 112, followed by parliamentary scrutiny, demands for grants and necessary legislation authorising taxation and expenditure.
Q93. Which group is NOT part of the electoral college for electing the President of India?
[SSC MTS 2022 (8 May 2023)]
(A) Elected MPs
(B) Elected MLAs of States
(C) Elected MLAs of Delhi and Puducherry
(D) Members of State Legislative Councils
Answer: (D) Members of State Legislative Councils
Explanation: The presidential electoral college includes elected members of both Houses of Parliament and the Legislative Assemblies of States, Delhi and Puducherry. Members of Legislative Councils and nominated legislators do not participate in that election.
Q92. India’s bicameral parliamentary system was chiefly adopted from which country?
[SSC CHSL 2022 (26 June 2023)]
(A) United Kingdom
(B) China
(C) Switzerland
(D) France
Answer: (A) United Kingdom
Explanation: India drew extensively on British parliamentary practices, including bicameral legislative arrangements and ministerial responsibility. Its Council of States and House of the People operate, however, under a written Constitution rather than parliamentary sovereignty.
Q91. Consider:
1. If a presidential election is declared void, prior official acts become invalid.
2. Election can be postponed merely because some State Assemblies are dissolved.
3. The Constitution fixes a time limit for presidential assent to a Bill.
How many are correct?
[UPSC CSE Prelims (2023)]
(A) None
(B) One
(C) Two
(D) Three
Answer: (A) None
Explanation: All three are incorrect. Acts done by a President before an election is declared void remain valid. Vacancies in certain State Assemblies do not prevent a presidential election, and the Constitution fixes no general deadline for assenting to Bills.
