Q90. Consider:
1. Rajya Sabha may amend or reject a Finance Bill sent by Lok Sabha.
2. Rajya Sabha may only recommend changes to a Money Bill.
3. A disagreement on any Finance Bill necessarily requires a joint sitting.
How many are correct?
[UPSC CSE Prelims (2023)]
(A) None
(B) One
(C) Two
(D) Three
Answer: (C) Two
Explanation: The distinction is between Money Bills and Financial Bills that are not Money Bills. Rajya Sabha can amend or reject appropriate Financial Bills and only recommend changes to Money Bills. Joint sitting is possible for eligible Bills, not invariably required.
Q89. Which is an exclusive power of Lok Sabha:
1. Ratifying a National Emergency;
2. Passing a no-confidence motion against the Council of Ministers;
3. Impeaching the President?
[UPSC CSE Prelims (2022)]
(A) 1 only
(B) 2 only
(C) 1 and 3
(D) 2 and 3
Answer: (B) 2 only
Explanation: Only Lok Sabha can decide a no-confidence motion against the Union Council of Ministers, because the ministry is collectively responsible to it. Approval of Emergency proclamations and presidential impeachment involve both Houses as constitutionally specified.
Q88. Regarding the Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha, consider:
1. The Speaker fixes the date of election.
2. Election from a ruling or principal opposition party is mandatory.
3. While presiding, Deputy Speaker has the Speaker’s powers and rulings are final.
4. The Speaker moves the nomination, seconded by Prime Minister.
Which are correct?
[UPSC CSE Prelims (2022)]
(A) 1 and 3 only
(B) 1, 2 and 3
(C) 3 and 4 only
(D) 2 and 4 only
Answer: (A) 1 and 3 only
Explanation: The Speaker fixes the date for election of Deputy Speaker, who has equivalent authority when presiding. The Constitution does not reserve candidates by party, and the nomination motion is not required to be proposed by Speaker and Prime Minister.
Q87. Which statement about the Lok Sabha Speaker is INCORRECT?
[UPSC CDS I (10 April 2022)]
(A) Speaker may resign to the President of India
(B) Speaker is elected by Lok Sabha
(C) Speaker presides over Lok Sabha sittings
(D) Speaker can have a casting vote in a tie
Answer: (A) Speaker may resign to the President of India
Explanation: The Lok Sabha Speaker submits resignation to the Deputy Speaker, not the President. Article 94 sets out vacation, resignation and removal. The Speaker ordinarily votes only to break a tie, protecting the neutrality of the Chair.
Q86. How many parliamentary constituencies were there for the Lok Sabha as of 2022?
[SSC CGL (9 December 2022)]
(A) 540
(B) 542
(C) 543
(D) 545
Answer: (C) 543
Explanation: India had 543 directly elected Lok Sabha constituencies in 2022. Constituency boundaries and the allocation of reserved seats follow statutory delimitation arrangements. This number differs from the constitutional maximum permitted for elected membership.
Q85. What fraction of the total membership constitutes the quorum of either House of Parliament?
[SSC CGL (7 December 2022)]
(A) One-fifth
(B) One-tenth
(C) One-third
(D) One-half
Answer: (B) One-tenth
Explanation: Article 100(3) sets the quorum for a sitting of either House at one-tenth of total membership. If the required quorum is absent, the presiding officer must adjourn the House or suspend its meeting.
Q84. When did the Lok Sabha pass the Appropriation Bill, 2022?
[SSC CGL (2 December 2022)]
(A) 24 March 2022
(B) 1 February 2022
(C) 15 August 2022
(D) 26 January 2022
Answer: (A) 24 March 2022
Explanation: The Appropriation Bill, 2022 was passed by Lok Sabha on 24 March 2022. Such legislation authorises withdrawal of approved sums from the Consolidated Fund for government expenditure, following the parliamentary budget and grants process.
Q83. In which year was the Indian Parliamentary Group established?
[SSC CGL (5 December 2022)]
(A) 1947
(B) 1949
(C) 1952
(D) 1965
Answer: (B) 1949
Explanation: The Indian Parliamentary Group was founded in 1949 as an autonomous body of parliamentarians. It facilitates exchanges and cooperation with other legislatures and serves as the Indian branch of inter-parliamentary parliamentary associations.
Q82. The general election to Lok Sabha held in 2019 constituted which Lok Sabha?
[UPSC NDA I (10 April 2022)]
(A) 14th Lok Sabha
(B) 15th Lok Sabha
(C) 16th Lok Sabha
(D) 17th Lok Sabha
Answer: (D) 17th Lok Sabha
Explanation: The 2019 general election elected the Seventeenth Lok Sabha. Its first meeting was held in June 2019 following the completion of elections. Lok Sabha’s ordinal number reflects the successive national Houses constituted after Independence.
Q81. The Parliament of India is primarily based on the model of which legislature?
[UPSC NDA I (10 April 2022)]
(A) German Parliament
(B) British Parliament
(C) American Congress
(D) French Parliament
Answer: (B) British Parliament
Explanation: India adapted the Westminster parliamentary model of Britain, including the Prime Minister-led executive, collective ministerial responsibility and a presiding Speaker. These institutions operate within India’s written Constitution and are subject to judicial review.
