Parliamentary Proceedings NDA Examination Sample MCQs Author: Raghav Grover

N.D.A. Examination

POLITY

Sample Multiple Choice Questions on Parliamentary Proceedings

PART-I

Q1) The maximum permissible strength of the Rajya Sabha is?

a) 250
b) 240
c) 300
d) 280

Answer: A

Explanation:
 The maximum permissible strength of the Rajya Sabha is 250
 As per Article 80 of the Indian Constitution, the maximum permissible strength of the Rajya
Sabha i.e. the upper house of the parliament is 250
 Out of the 250 members, 238 are elected from the states and union territories while the
remaining 12 are nominated by the President.

Q2) The joint sitting of the parliament is presided by?

a) The President of India

b) The Vice President of India
c) The Prime Minister of India
d) The Speaker of the Lok Sabha

Answer: D

Explanation:
 The joint sitting of the parliament is called upon by the President as per Article 108
 It is presided over by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha.
 In the absence of the Speaker, the joint session is presided over by the Deputy Speaker of the
Lok Sabha, and in his absence, it is presided over by Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha

Q3) After how many days of absence from the Parliament can a member of parliament by expelled or
disqualified?

a) 30 days
b) 45 days
c) 60 days
d) 90 days

Answer: C

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Explanation:

Article 101(4) provides that if for a period of sixty days a member of either house of the parliament is
absent from all the proceedings of the parliament without prior permission, the house thereupon may
declare his seat vacant.

Q4) What is zero hour?

a) When matters of utmost importance are discussed

b) When money bill is introduced in the Lok Sabha
c) When proposals of the opposition are considered
d) Interval between morning and evening sessions

Answer: A

Explanation:

Zero Hour:

 It is the time when Members of the Parliament (MPs) raise issues of urgent importance.
 During the question hour, the members can raise matters without prior notice
 It starts at 12 Noon immediately after the question hour and can proceed till the affairs of the
day don’t halt.

Q5) Which house is better placed with regard to control over the executive?

a) Lok Sabha
b) Rajya Sabha
c) Both are equally placed
d) It depends on which house the Prime Minister is a member of

Answer: A

Explanation:
 Lok Sabha is better placed with regard to control over the executive
 Lok Sabha exercises control over the executive more effectively than Rajya Sabha because it is a
directly elected body. Lok Sabha has the power to make laws, ask questions and amend the
Constitution.
 Lok Sabha can remove the government by passing a no-confidence motion

Q6) A member of the Lok Sabha submits his resignation to:

a) The President
b) The Prime Minister of India
c) The Speaker of the Lok Sabha
d) The Vice President

Answer: C

Explanation:

 A member of the Lok Sabha can submit his resignation to the Speaker of the Lok Sabha

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 A speaker is the presiding officer of the Lok Sabha

 However, he can resign earlier by writing to the Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha

Q7) Select which of the following statements are correct:

1) When Vice-President acts as President of India, he ceases to perform the function of the Chairman
of Rajya Sabha
2) The President of India can promulgate Ordinances at any time except when both Houses of
Parliament are in session.

a) Only 1
b) Only 2
c) Both 1 & 2
d) Neither 1 & 2

Answer: C

Explanation:

Article 65 of the Indian constitution states that:

 In the event of the occurrence of any vacancy in the office of the President by reason of this
death, resignation or removal, or otherwise, the Vice-President shall act as President until the
date on which a new President elected in accordance with the provisions of this Chapter to fill
such vacancy enters upon his office.
 When the President is unable to discharge his functions owing to absence, illness or any other
cause, the Vice-President shall discharge his functions until the date on which the President
resumes his duties.
 The Vice-President shall, during, and in respect of, the period while he is so acting as, or
discharging the functions of, President has all the powers and immunities of the President and
be entitled to such emoluments, allowances and privileges as may be determined by Parliament
by law and, until provision in that behalf is so made, such emoluments, allowances and
privileges as are specified in the Second Schedule.

Q8) When can a joint-sitting of both the houses of the parliament be called upon?

1) When one of the houses rejects a bill which is to be passed

2) Any disagreement between the two houses with respect to passing of a money bill
3) More than 3 months have passed or elapsed since the bill had been received by one of the houses
and not passed.

a) Only 1
b) 1 & 2 only
c) 1 & 3 only
d) 1,2 & 3

Answer: A

Explanation:

Article 108 of the Indian Constitution provides for a joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament.
Accordingly, a joint session can be summoned when:

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 If after a bill is passed by one House and transmitted to the other House –

 The other House rejects this bill, or

 The Houses do not agree on the amendments made to the bill, or
 More than six months elapse with the bill being received by the other House without it being
passed.

Then, the President can summon a joint sitting unless the bill had elapsed because of the Lok Sabha’s
dissolution.

Q9) Who is the ex-officio chairman of the Rajya Sabha?

(a) President

(b) Vice-President

(c) Minister of Parliamentary Affairs

(d) Leader of Opposition

Answer: B

Explanation:

Article 64 of the Indian Constitution states that:

 The Vice-President shall be ex-officio Chairman of the Council of States and shall not hold any
other office of profit.
 Provided that during any period when the Vice-President acts as President or discharges the
functions of the President under Article 65, he shall not perform the duties of the office of
Chairman of the Council of States and shall not be entitled to any salary or allowance payable to
the Chairman of the Council of States under Article 97.

Q10) The Rajya Sabha can be dissolved by:

a) Lok Sabha
b) By a constitutional amendment
c) The President
d) None of the above

Answer: D

Explanation:
 The Rajya Sabha is a permanent body and unlike the Lok Sabha, it cannot be dissolved at any
time
 Each member of the Rajya Sabha serves for a term of six years
 One-third of its members retire at the expiration of every two years

Q11) Which of the following arguments is not in favour of a second chamber of the legislature?

a) It safeguards against the domination of the lower house

b) It provides for representation of the special interests and the minorities
c) It helps in correcting hasty decisions/legislations

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d) It gives representation to the units in the federation

Answer: C
Explanation:
The importance of a second chamber can be enumerated as below:
1. It acts as a check on the majoritarian tendencies of the other house.
2. It is an effective means of co-opting eminent members of the society who would never win an
election on their own.
3. It represents the interests of the units in the federation.

Q12) Which of the following statements regarding Rajya Sabha is incorrect?

a) It is also called ‘House of States’

b) Members are elected by Universal Adult Franchise
c) It is a permanent house
d) None of these

Answer: B

Explanation:

 The Rajya Sabha or Council of States is the upper house of the Parliament of India.
 Membership of Rajya Sabha is restricted by the Constitution to a maximum of 250 members,
and current laws have provision for 245 members.
 Members of the House are indirectly elected by state and territorial legislatures using votes.

Q13) No-confidence motion can be initiated against the Union Council of Ministers:

a) In the state assemblies

b) Both in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha
c) In the Rajya Sabha only
d) In the Lok Sabha only

Answer: D

Explanation:

 Motions of no confidence against the government can only be introduced and passed in the Lok
Sabha
 If passed by a majority vote, the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers resigns
collectively
 The Rajya Sabha has no power over such a motion, and hence no real power over the executive

Q14) When the Lok Sabha is dissolved, the speaker continues in his/her office till a new:

a) Lok Sabha is constituted

b) Speaker is appointed by the President
c) Speaker is elected when the new house meets
d) Government is formed

Answer: C

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Explanation:

The Speaker continues in his office till a new speaker is elected when the newly elected Lok Sabha or
house meets.

Q15) Which of the following motion is bring out in the parliament on the breach of parliamentary
privileges by a member.

(a) Privileges motion

(b) Calling-attention motion
(c) Censure Motion
(d) Substantive Motion

Answer: A

Explanation:

 Members of parliament are granted privileges or advantages under Articles 105 and 194 so that
they can carry out their responsibilities and functions without impediment
 Privileges like this are provided because they are necessary for democratic functioning. From
time to time, the law should specify these authorities, privileges, and immunities.
 Violation of these privileges calls for a Privileges motion

Q16) The Annual Financial Statement is caused to be laid before both Houses of Parliament by the:

a) President
b) Vice-President
c) Speaker
d) Finance Minister

Answer: A

Explanation:

Article 112(1) of the Indian Constitution states that:

The President shall in respect of every financial year cause to be laid before both the Houses of
Parliament a statement of the estimated receipts and expenditure of the Government of India for that
year, in this Part referred to as the “annual financial statement”.

Q17) What are the basic functions of Public Accounts Committee (PAC)?

a) To examine the statement of accounts of autonomous bodies

b) To examine the accounts of stores and stocks.
c) To examine the statement of accounts showing the income and expenditure of state corporations,
trading and manufacturing schemes and projects.
d) All of the Above

Answer: C

Explanation:

 The Public Accounts Committee scrutinises appropriation and finance accounts of Government
and reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General

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 It ensures that public money is spent in accordance with Parliament’s decision and calls
attention to cases of waste, extravagance, loss or nugatory expenditure

Q18) Which of the following is not correct about the No-confidence Motion?

a) It is mentioned in Article 75 of the Constitution

b) It can be brought about in the upper house of the Parliament
c) The motion needs a support of atleast 50 members to be admitted
d) If passed, then the whole cabinet has to resign

Answer: B

Explanation:

 Article 75 of the Constitution says that the council of ministers shall be collectively responsible
to the Lok Sabha
 It can only be passed in the Lok Sabha
 The motion needs the support of 50 members to be admitted.

Q19) After a no-confidence motion is admitted to the Lok Sabha, who decides the date for the
debate?

a) President
b) Vice-President
c) Lok Sabha Speaker
d) Prime Minister

Answer: C

Explanation:

The Lok Sabha speaker is the one who decides the date on which the debate shall take place in the
parliament

Q20) The expenditure made on which of the following does not require budgetary approval every
year in India?

a) Contingency Fund
b) Consolidated Fund
c) Defence
d) Natural Calamities

Answer: D

Explanation:

 Natural Calamities are sudden “acts of God,” which cannot be anticipated and planned. So
budgetary approvals are not needed in this case.
 A budget is normally a statement of revenue receipts and expenditure. An appropriation bill or
running bill is a legislative motion (bill) that authorizes the government to spend money.

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PART II

Q21) The authority to prorogue the two houses of Parliament rests with the:

a) Speaker
b) Prime Minister
c) President
d) Vice-President

Answer: C

Explanation:

 Article 85(2) of the Indian Constitution states that the President from time to time prorogue
either house of parliament
 Prorogation terminates both the sitting and the session of the house
 Usually, within a few days after the house is adjourned sine die by the presiding officer, the
President issues a notification for the prorogation of the session

Q22) The Speaker’s vote in the Lok Sabha is termed as?

a) Indirect Vote
b) Direct Vote
c) Casting Vote
d) Sound Vote

Answer: C

Explanation:

Normally, the Speaker does not take part in voting in the House. But in case of a tie, he exercises his
right of casting vote. His casting vote would decide the issue. In such a case his vote would normally go
in favour of the party to which he belongs. Further, when a resolution for the removal of the Speaker is
put to vote in the House, he has the right to cast his vote.

Q23) From which fund can the unanticipated expenditure be met without the prior approval of the
Parliament?
a) Treasury
b) Vote-on-account
c) Consolidated Fund of India
d) Contingency Fund of India

Answer: D

Explanation:

 A contingencies fund or contingency fund is a fund for emergencies or unexpected outflows,

mainly economic crises
 The Contingency Fund of India established under Article 267 of the Indian Constitution

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 The Contingency Fund is in the nature of an imprest (money maintained for a specific purpose)
which is placed at the disposal of the President to enable him/her to make advances to meet
urgent unforeseen expenditure, pending authorization by the Parliament. Approval of the
legislature for such expenditure and for withdrawal of an equivalent amount from the
Consolidated Fund is subsequently obtained to ensure that the corpus of the Contingency Fund
remains intact.

Q24) Which of the following motion is related to the Union Budget?

a) Censure
b) Cut
c) Adjournment
d) None of the above

Answer: B

Explanation:

 The cut motion is a veto power given to the members of the Lok Sabha to oppose a demand in
the financial bill discussed by the government.
 This can turn into an effective tool to test the strength of the government. If a cut motion is
adopted by the House and the government does not have the numbers, it is obliged to resign.

Q25) Which of the following statements about a parliamentary committee in India is correct?

1. It is appointed or elected by the house or appointed by the speaker/chairman.

2. It works under the direction of the speaker/chairman of the house.
3. It presents its report to the president.

a) 2 & 3 only
b) 1 & 2 only
c) 1 & 3 only
d) 1,2 & 3

Answer: C

Explanation:

The Parliamentary Committees is India is usually appointed by either the Speaker of the Lok Sabha or
the Ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha and presents its report directly to the President of India.

Q26) Which of the following are true regarding ordinary and money bills?

1. Money bills cannot be sent back for reconsideration by the President.

2. Money bills have no provision for joint sittings
3. Rajya Sabha can detain an ordinary bill for a maximum period of 3 months
4. Defeat of ordinary bill when introduced by a minister may lead to the resignation of the
government
a) 1 & 2 only
b) 2 & 3 only
c) 1,2 & 4 only
d) All of the above

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Answer: C

Explanation:

A money bill can only be passed and introduced in the Lok Sabha. After it is passed in the Lok Sabha, the
Rajya Sabha has just 14 days’ time limit to give assent to a money bill. Money Bills once sent to the
President have to be given assent to by the President. He/she does not have the privilege to sent the
bill back for reconsideration.

Q27) Which of the following are the financial committees of the Parliament of India?

I. Public Accounts Committee

II. Estimates Committee
III. Committee on Public Undertakings
a) II & III only
b) I & II only
c) I & III only
d) I, II & III

Answer: D

Explanation:

All of the above-mentioned committees are committees of the Indian Parliament.

Q28) Which of the following is not charged on the Consolidated Fund of India?

a) Salary of CAG
b) Grant for Railways
c) Administrative expenses of the Supreme Court
d) Pensions of the judges of the Supreme Court

Answer: B

Explanation:

 The Budget consists of two types of expenditure – the expenditure “charged” upon the
Consolidated Fund of India and the expenditure “made” from the Consolidated Fund of India
 The charged expenditure is non-votable by the Parliament, that is, it can only be discussed by
the Parliament, while the other type has to be voted by the Parliament.
 Some of the expenses that are charged on the Consolidated Fund of India are – emoluments,
salaries and allowances of the President, Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha,
judges of the Supreme Court etc.

Q29) Which of the following are true statements?

I. The term “Budget” has no-where been used in the Indian Constitution
II. Article 112 deals with the Budget

a) Only I
b) Only II
c) Both I & II
d) Neither I & II

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Answer: C

Explanation:
 The Constitution refers to the budget as the “annual financial statement” in Article 112
 The term “budget” has nowhere been used in the Constitution
 The budget is a statement of the estimated receipts and expenditure of the Government of
India in a financial year, which begins on 1st April and ends on 31st March of the following year

Q30) Which of the following statements is/are true?

I. Article 117 deals with 3 types of financial bills

II. Financial Bill(I) can be amended or rejected by the Rajya Sabha
III. All financial bills are not money bills
a) I & III only
b) I & II only
c) II & III only
d) All of the Above

Answer: C

Explanation:

 Financial bills are those bills that deal with fiscal matters, that is, revenue or expenditure.
 However, the Constitution uses the term ‘financial bill’ in a technical sense.
 Financial Bills are of three kinds – Money Bills [Article 110], Financial Bills (I) [Article 117(1)] and
Financial Bills (II) [Article 117(3)]
 Money Bills are simply a species of Financial Bills
 All Money Bills are Financial Bills but not vice versa
 Money Bills are mentioned Article 110

Q31) Which of the following is true regarding money bills?

I. They can only be introduced on the President’s recommendation

II. Money Bills can only be introduced by a minister
III. Speaker’s decision on whether a bill is a money bill or not is final and cannot be questioned in
courts
IV. Rajya Sabha needs to return the bill within 10 days
a) I, II & III
b) II, III & IV
c) III & IV
d) All of the above

Answer: A

Explanation:

 Article 110 of the Constitution deals with the definition of money bills.
 Money Bill relates with matters such as imposition, abolition, remission, alteration or
regulation of any tax, regulation on the government on borrowing of money, withdrawal from
the consolidated fund of India

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 If any question arises whether a bill is a money bill or not, the decision of the Speaker of the
Lok Sabha is final.
 A money bill can only be introduced in the Lok Sabha and that too on the recommendation of
the president
 The Rajya Sabha cannot reject or amend a money bill. It can only make the recommendations
and must return the bill within 14 days. If the Rajya Sabha does not return the bill to the Lok
Sabha within 14 days, the bill is deemed to have been passed by both the Houses in the form
originally passed by the Lok Sabha

Q32) Which of the following are true regarding resolutions?

I. All resolutions are motions

II. Not all resolutions are to be voted
a) Only I
b) Only II
c) Both I & II
d) Neither I & II
Answer: A

Explanation:

 The members can move resolutions to draw the attention of the House or the government to
matters of general public interest.
 The discussion on a resolution is strictly relevant to and within the scope of the resolution.
 A member who has moved a resolution or amendment to a resolution cannot withdraw the
same except by leave of the House.
 Resolutions are classified into three categories: Private Member’s resolutions, Government
resolutions and statutory resolutions
Q33) Which of the following is/are true regarding Question Hour and Zero Hour?
I. Zero hour is not mentioned in the Rules of Procedure
II. Unstarred Questions can have supplementary questions
a) Only I
b) Only II
c) Both I & II
d) All of the above

Answer: A

Explanation:

Question Hour:

 The first hour of every parliamentary sitting is kept for this.

 During this time, the members ask questions and the ministers usually give answers

 The questions are of three kinds, namely, starred, unstarred and short notice.

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 A starred question (distinguished by an asterisk) requires an oral answer and hence

supplementary questions can follow.
 An unstarred question, on the other hand, requires a written answer and hence,
supplementary questions cannot follow.
Zero Hour:
 Unlike the question hour, the zero hour is not mentioned in the Rules of Procedure.
 The zero hour starts immediately after the question hour and lasts until the agenda for the day
(ie, regular business of the House) is taken up.
 In other words, the time gap between the question hour and the agenda is known as zero hour.
 It is an Indian innovation in the field of parliamentary procedures and has been in existence
since 1962.

Q34) Until the year _____ a no-confidence motion was never moved in the Lok Sabha?
a) 1962
b) 1964
c) 1965
d) 1963
Answer: D
Explanation:
The first no-confidence motion was moved against the Jawaharlal Nehru government in 1963.
Q35) Under which article it is prescribed that all proceedings in the Supreme Court of India shall
be in English language?
a) The Supreme Court Rules,1966
b) A legislation made by the Parliament
c) Article 145 of the Constitution
d) Article 34B of the Constitution

Answer: Article 34B

Q36) Which statements are true regarding passage of ordinary bill in the Parliament?
I. The introduction of the bill and its publication in the Gazette form the first reading of the bill.
II. Even if a bill is published in the Gazette before its introduction, leave of the House to introduce the
bill is necessary.
III. In consideration stage, all clauses are voted together.
IV. No amendments are allowed during third reading.

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a) I, III & IV
b) I, II & III
c) II, III & IV
d) I, IV
Answer: D
Explanation:
Every Bill passes through five stages of reading in the parliament before it is passed.
First Reading:
 An ordinary bill can be introduced in either House of Parliament.
 Such a bill can be introduced either by a minister or by any other member.
 The member who wants to introduce the bill has to ask for the leave of the House.
 No discussion on the bill takes place at this stage.
 Later, the bill is published in the Gazette of India. If a bill is published in the Gazette before its
introduction, leave of the House to introduce the bill is not necessary.
 The introduction of the bill and its publication in the Gazette constitute the first reading of the
bill.
Second Reading
This stage is divided further into three sub-stages:
 Stage of General Discussion
 Committee Stage
 Consideration Stage

Third Reading

 At this stage, the debate is confined to the acceptance or rejection of the bill as a whole.
 No amendments are allowed, as the general principles underlying the bill have already been
scrutinized during the stage of second reading.
 If the majority of members present and voting accept the bill, the bill is regarded as passed by
the House.
 Thereafter, the bill is authenticated by the presiding officer of the House and transmitted to the
second House for consideration and approval.
Q37) If any of the members of the Parliament want to raise any matters during the Zero hour , he or
she must give the notice before ___ in the Parliament
a) 10 AM
b) 9 AM
c) 11 AM

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d) 12 PM
Answer: A
Explanation:
If any questions are to be raised, they must be apprised to the speaker before 10 AM by the relevant
member of parliament
Q38) Which of the following is the largest committee of the parliament?
a) The Committee on Public Accounts
b) The Committee on Estimates
c) The Committee on Public Undertakings
d) The Committee on Petitions
Answer: B
Explanation: The estimates committee comprises of 30 members and all the members are from the Lok
Sabha. The committee tries to report the economy and efficiency in expenditures.
Q39) The Chairman of which of the following parliamentary committees is invariably from the ruling
party?
a) Estimates Committee
b) Public Accounts Committee
c) Committee on Public Undertakings
d) Committee on Delegated Legislation
Answer: A
Q40) Which of the following is true regarding lapse of bills on dissolution of Lok Sabha?
I. Pending assurances that are to be examined by the Committee on Government
Assurances do not lapse
II. A bill passed by the Lok Sabha but pending in the Rajya Sabha does not lapse
III. A bill pending in the Rajya Sabha but not passed by the Lok Sabha lapse
IV. All pending assurances lapse on dissolution of Lok Sabha in the Lok Sabha does not
lapse
Answer: I
Explanation:
 A bill pending in the Lok Sabha lapses (whether originating in the Lok Sabha or transmitted
to it by the Rajya Sabha).
 A bill passed by the Lok Sabha but pending in the Rajya Sabha lapses.
 A bill not passed by the two Houses due to disagreement and if the president has notified
the holding of a joint sitting before the dissolution of Lok Sabha, does not lapse.
 A bill pending in the Rajya Sabha but not passed by the Lok Sabha does not lapse.
 A bill passed by both Houses but pending assent of the president does not lapse.
 A bill passed by both Houses but returned by the president for reconsideration of Houses
does not lapse.

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