Polity · X-Factor Notes
The Parliament revision notes for UPPCS Prelims.
49 revision facts
| Concept | What to remember | Asked in UPPCS |
|---|---|---|
| Constitution of Parliament (Art 79) | Consists of the President, the Council of States (Rajya Sabha), and the House of the People (Lok Sabha). | U.P. Lower Sub. Pre 2002; UPPCS Mains 2004, 2011, 2013; UPPCS Pre 2012, 2014, 2015, 2017; UPPSC Prelims 2023, 2024 |
| Integral Parts | The President, Lok Sabha, and Rajya Sabha are integral parts. The Vice-President is not an integral part of Parliament. | UPPCS Mains 2013 |
| Parliament Sessions | Parliament must meet at least twice a year. The interval between two consecutive sessions cannot be more than six months. | UPPCS Pre 1995; BPSC Pre 1994; IAS Pre 2020 |
| Quorum for Meeting (Art 100(3)) | The quorum to constitute a meeting of either House is 1/10th of the total number of members. For example, in the Lok Sabha with a total of 543 members, the quorum is 55 members. In the Rajya Sabha with a total strength of 245 members, the quorum is 25 members. Vacant seats are not counted in total membership for quorum calculation. Members who are disqualified or have ceased to be members are excluded. | UPPCS Mains 2004, 2006; U.P. Lower Sub. Pre 2008; UPPCS Pre 2017 |
| Termination of Lok Sabha Session | A sitting of the House of the People may be terminated by Adjournment, Prorogation, or Dissolution. | UPPCS Pre 2000 |
| Disqualification for Absence | A Member of Parliament (MP) can be disqualified if absent for 60 days without informing the respective house. | UPPCS Pre 2018 |
| Parliamentary Sovereignty Restriction | Sovereignty of Indian Parliament is restricted by Judicial Review. | UPPCS Mains 2004 |
| Power to Amend Constitution (Art 368) | Parliament has the right to amend the Constitution. An amendment bill can be initiated in Either House of the Parliament (Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha). | UPPCS Pre 2015; UPPCS Mains 2008; U.P.P.S.C. GIC 2010; |
| Legislation on State Subjects | Parliament can legislate on a State List subject in national interest if Rajya Sabha passes a resolution by 2/3 majority (Art 249). Parliament can also legislate on State List subjects to implement international agreements (Art 253). | UPPCS Mains 2005, 2012, 2016, 2017; UPPCS Pre 2012, 2016, 2017; IAS Pre 2016 |
| Duration of Legislation on State List (Art 249) | A resolution passed under Article 249 remains in force for a period not exceeding one year. | UPPCS Pre 2017, 2016 |
| Prohibition of Court Inquiry | Courts have been prohibited from inquiring into the proceedings of the Parliament under Article 122. |
| Concept | What to remember | Asked in UPPCS |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum Strength | The maximum strength is 550 (530 members from states + 20 from Union Territories). | UPPCS Pre 2018 |
| Current Strength | The current strength is 543 members (524 States, 19 UTs). | |
| UT Representation | Maximum representation from UTs to the Lok Sabha is 20. Union Territories get representation in both Houses of Parliament. | UPPCS Pre 2018; UPPCS Mains 2015 |
| Allocation of Seats | Allocation is based on the 1971 Census, frozen until the year 2026. Amendments related to increasing Lok Sabha seats: 7th and 31st Constitutional Amendment Acts. | I.A.S. Pre 2003 |
| State with Highest Seats | Uttar Pradesh has the most number of Lok Sabha seats (80), followed by Maharashtra (48). | U.P.P.S.C. GIC 2008; UPPSC Prelims 2023 |
| Anglo-Indian Nomination (Art 331) | President could nominate 2 members (Arrangement ended by 104th Amendment, 2019). | UPPCS Pre 2014, 2013; U.P. U.D.A./L.D.A. Pre 2007; UPPCS Mains 2015, UPPCS Pre 2015, Mains 2017, U.P. U.D.A./L.D.A. Spl Mains 2010, U.P. P.C.S. Mains 2017 |
| Speaker of Lok Sabha | The Speaker is chosen (elected) by members of the Lok Sabha. Resigns to the Deputy Speaker. Removal requires a resolution passed by a majority of all the members of the House. | I.A.S. Pre 2009; UPPCS Mains 2008, 2014; MPPCS Mains 1994 |
| Casting Vote | The Speaker exercises a casting vote only in case of a tie (Art 100). | UPPCS Pre 2015 |
| Lok Sabha Secretariat | Functions directly under the Speaker of the Lok Sabha. | Uttarakhand P.C.S. Pre 2012 |
| First Speaker of Lok Sabha | G.V. Mavalankar. | MPPCS Pre 2012; UPPCS Mains 2011; Uttarakhand U.D.A./L.D.A. Pre 2007; UPPCS RO-ARO 2023 Re-Exam |
| First Woman Speaker | Meira Kumar. | UPPSC Prelims 2023 |
| Concept | What to remember | Asked in UPPCS |
|---|---|---|
| Nature of House | It is a Permanent house and is not subject to dissolution. | |
| Formation | Rajya Sabha was constituted on 3 April, 1952. | UPPCS Pre 2017 |
| Terms of Members | Terms are 6 years; 1/3rd members retire at the end of every second year. | |
| Representation | Representation of States is based on the ratio of their Population (Fourth Schedule). | BPSC Pre 1992 |
| Nominated Members | 12 members are nominated by the President (from literature, science, art, and social service). | UPPCS Pre 1990, 2001, 2002, 2015 |
| Chairman | The Vice-President of India is the ex-officio Chairman. | UPPCS Pre 1990, 1993; BPSC Pre 1997; U.P. U.D.A./L.D.A. Mains 2010 |
| Presiding Officer Status | Rajya Sabha is presided over by one who is not its member (the Vice-President). | UPPCS Mains 2004; U.P. U.D.A./L.D.A. Mains 2010 |
| Exclusive Powers of RS | Rajya Sabha has exclusive power to initiate the recommendation for the creation of a new All India Service (under Article 312). | UPPCS Pre 2018 |
| Consequence of Government Failure in RS | If the Council of Ministers fails in the Rajya Sabha, there is no consequence (as they are collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha, Art 75(3)). |
| Concept | What to remember | Asked in UPPCS |
|---|---|---|
| Money Bill Introduction (Art 109) | A Money Bill can only be introduced in the Lok Sabha and only on the recommendation of the President. | UPPCS Pre 1992; UPPCS Mains 2015; U.P. U.D.A./L.D.A. Pre 2006 |
| Rajya Sabha and Money Bills | Rajya Sabha cannot reject or amend a Money Bill; it must return it within 14 days. | UPPCS Pre 1992, 2016; U.P. Lower Pre 2009; U.P. Lower Sub. Mains 2013; U.P. R.O./A.R.O. Mains 2014; |
| Annual Financial Statement (Art 112) | The term "Budget" does not appear in the Constitution; it uses the term "Annual Financial Statement". | UPPCS Mains 2011 |
| Withdrawal of Funds | To withdraw funds from the Consolidated Fund of India, the Government needs to pass the Appropriation Bill. If the Appropriation Bill is delayed, the Lok Sabha can withdraw funds through Vote on Account (Art 116). | I.A.S. Pre 2012 |
| Cut Motion | A proposal related to the Union Budget; a power given to Lok Sabha members to oppose/reduce demands for grants. | U.P. Lower Sub. Pre 2002 |
| Joint Sitting (Art 108) | Summoned by the President to resolve a deadlock over an Ordinary Bill or a Financial Bill (not Money Bill or Constitutional Amendment Bill). The Speaker of the Lok Sabha presides over a joint sitting (Art 118(4)). | UPPCS Mains 2006, 2013; U.P. Lower Sub. Mains 2013; U.P. R.O./A.R.O. Mains 2013; UPPSC Prelims 2023 |
| First Joint Sitting | Held in connection with the Dowry Abolition Bill (1961). | U.P. Lower Sub. Spl Pre 2004 |
| Presidential Address (Art 87) | The President addresses the joint meeting of both houses at the commencement of the first session after each general election and at the first session of each year. | UPPCS Pre 2021 |
| Question Hour (12:00 PM to 1:00 PM) | The Question Hour is the first hour of every sitting of the Indian Parliament. | |
| Zero Hour (1 PM to 1:30 PM ) | An Indian innovation. It is the time immediately following the Question Hour. The maximum time limit is one hour. It refers to the Question-answer session. | UPPCS Spl Mains 2004; UPPCS Mains 2007, 2015; UPPCS Pre 2015, 2021; |
| Parliamentary Control over Executive | Exercised through: Adjournment motion, Question hour, and Supplementary questions. | I.A.S. Pre 2017 |
| Concept | What to remember | Asked in UPPCS |
|---|---|---|
| Largest Committee | Estimates Committee (30 members, all from Lok Sabha). Members hold office for one year. No representation from Rajya Sabha. | I.A.S. Pre 2014; UPPCS Mains 2010, 2016, 2017, Pre 2020, 2010; UPPCS Spl Mains 2008 |
| Financial Committees | Include the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Estimates Committee, and Committee on Public Undertakings (COPU). | UPPCS Mains 2007 |
| Public Accounts Committee (PAC) | Total 22 members (15 from Lok Sabha, 7 from Rajya Sabha). Scrutinizes the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG). Submits its report to the Speaker of the Lok Sabha. The Chairman is nominated by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha. CAG is the 'Friend, Philosopher and Guide' of PAC. | UPPCS Pre 2021; IAS Pre 2013; UPPCS Mains 2006, 2007, 2015; U.P. Lower Sub. Pre 2002, 2004; U.P. R.O./A.R.O. Mains 2014; UPPCS Prelims 2022 |
| Committee on Subordinate Legislation | Scrutinizes and reports if delegated legislative powers are being properly exercised by the Executive. | I.A.S. Pre 2018 |
| CAG (Art 148) | Constitutional body. Appointed by the President. Tenure is 6 years or up to the age of 65 years. Submit audit reports to the President (for Centre accounts). Separation of accounts from audit occurred in 1976. | UPPCS Pre 2012; UPPCS Mains 2008; UPPCS Mains 2015 |
| Attorney General of India (Art 76) | The Chief Legal Advisor to the Government of India. Has the right to take part/speak in the proceedings of both Houses of Parliament even though he is not a member. Cannot vote in Parliament. | UPPCS Mains 2005, 2008, 2015, Pre 1995, 2003 |
| Vice-President (Chairman of RS) | Can participate in proceedings as a non-member, but is excluded when a resolution for his removal is considered. Election involves members of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha only. | UPPCS Pre 2012; |
