The Lok Sabha and Parliamentary Procedures — MCQs with Answers (Set 2)

Under the Rules of Procedure, a No-Confidence Motion requires the support of at least 50 members before it can be admitted for discussion.

Although collective responsibility to the Lok Sabha is a constitutional principle, the specific procedure of a No-Confidence Motion is not explicitly mentioned in the Constitution’s text.

A No-Confidence Motion, though not explicitly mentioned in the Constitution, can be moved only in the Lok Sabha, since the Council of Ministers is responsible only to that House.

The three recognised categories of Cut Motion are Disapproval of Policy Cut, Economy Cut, and Token Cut; ‘Confidence Cut’ is not a recognised category.

A Cut Motion is used during the Demands for Grants discussion to propose a reduction in the amount of a specific demand.

An Adjournment Motion allows Parliament to set aside its normal business to discuss a definite matter of urgent public importance.

A Privilege Motion is moved against a Minister who is alleged to have committed a breach of the privileges of the House, such as withholding facts.

Zero Hour, an Indian parliamentary innovation, is the period immediately following Question Hour when members can raise urgent matters without prior notice.

The Speaker of the Lok Sabha holds a high position in the Warrant of Precedence, ranking above all Union Cabinet Ministers except the Prime Minister.

The Speaker of the Lok Sabha decides whether a Question raised by a member is admissible under the rules of procedure.

The Protem Speaker, appointed to administer the oath to newly elected members and conduct the election of the new Speaker, is usually one of the senior-most members of the new Lok Sabha.

The Speaker may be removed by a resolution passed by a majority of all the then members of the Lok Sabha, not merely those present and voting.

M Ananthasayanam Ayyangar was appointed as the first Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha, later going on to become Speaker himself.

The Lok Sabha, being directly elected by the people, is popularly known as the ‘Popular Chamber’ or the Lower House.

The first Lok Sabha was constituted in 1952, after India’s first general elections held under the new Constitution.

The Lok Sabha has a normal term of five years from the date of its first sitting, unless dissolved earlier.

India’s Parliament typically holds a Budget session, a Monsoon session, and a Winter session over the course of a year.

There are normally three sessions of Parliament in a year: the Budget session, the Monsoon session, and the Winter session.

A person must have completed 25 years of age to be eligible for election as a member of the Lok Sabha.

MPLADS was introduced in December 1993, enabling Members of Parliament to recommend developmental works to be funded from their allocated funds.

Article 80 fixes the maximum strength of the Rajya Sabha at 250 members, of whom up to 238 represent States and Union Territories and 12 are nominated.

Article 100(3) fixes the quorum for a sitting of either House of Parliament at one-tenth of the total membership of that House.