UPSC CSE Prelims
Parliament Previous Year Questions (PYQs)
Showing solved Previous Year Questions for Chapter: Parliament
Topic Breakdown: Scroll →
Which of the following special powers have been conferred on the Rajya Sabha by the Constitution of India?
Detailed Explanation:
✅ Option 2 – Correct: Article 249 empowers the Rajya Sabha to pass a resolution (by 2/3rd majority of members present and voting) enabling Parliament to legislate on State List subjects in national interest. Article 312 empowers the Rajya Sabha to pass a resolution (by 2/3rd majority) authorizing Parliament to create All India Services.
❌ Option 1 – Incorrect: Article 3 grants power to Parliament (both Houses) to alter boundaries/names of states, not an exclusive power of Rajya Sabha.
❌ Option 3 – Incorrect: Presidential election procedure amendment requires Constitutional Amendment (Article 368) by both Houses; President's pension is determined by Parliament (both Houses) under Article 59(3).
❌ Option 4 – Incorrect: Article 324(2) empowers the President (not Rajya Sabha) to determine the number of Election Commissioners; their conditions of service are regulated by Parliament (both Houses).
A deadlock between the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha calls for a joint sitting of the Parliament during the passage of:
- Ordinary Legislation
- Money Bill
- Constitution Amendment Bill
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
Detailed Explanation:
✅ Statement 1 – Correct: Article 108 provides for a joint sitting to resolve deadlocks on Ordinary Bills if a bill is rejected by the other House, amendments are not agreed upon, or more than six months elapse without passage.
❌ Statement 2 – Incorrect: Money Bills (Article 110) cannot have a joint sitting. The Lok Sabha has overriding powers; the Rajya Sabha can only recommend within 14 days, after which the bill is deemed passed.
❌ Statement 3 – Incorrect: Constitution Amendment Bills (Article 368) require passage by special majority in each House separately. No provision exists for a joint sitting in case of disagreement.
In the Parliament of India, the purpose of an adjournment motion is:
Detailed Explanation:
Adjournment Motion is an extraordinary parliamentary device used in the Lok Sabha only (not in Rajya Sabha) to discuss a definite matter of urgent public importance. It interrupts the normal business of the House and is considered a tool of censure against the government, requiring support of at least 50 members for admission.
❌ Option 2 – Incorrect: Question Hour and other devices are used for collecting information from ministers, not adjournment motion.
❌ Option 3 – Incorrect: This describes Cut Motion, which is used to reduce specific amounts in demand for grants during Budget discussion.
❌ Option 4 – Incorrect: This describes Adjournment of the House, a power exercised by the Presiding Officer to suspend sitting due to disorder or lack of quorum, not a motion moved by members.
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Consider the following statements:
- Union Territories are not represented in the Rajya Sabha.
- It is within the purview of the Chief Election Commissioner to adjudicate the election disputes.
- According to the Constitution of India, the Parliament consists of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha only.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Detailed Explanation:
❌ Statement 1 – Incorrect: Article 80 provides that Union Territories are represented in Rajya Sabha. Currently, Delhi, Puducherry, and Jammu & Kashmir send representatives to Rajya Sabha.
❌ Statement 2 – Incorrect: Election disputes are adjudicated by High Courts under the Representation of the People Act, 1951, not by the Chief Election Commissioner. The Election Commission conducts elections but does not have judicial powers.
❌ Statement 3 – Incorrect: Article 79 states that Parliament consists of the President, Lok Sabha, and Rajya Sabha. The President is an integral part of Parliament as no bill becomes law without Presidential assent.
Which of the following are the methods of Parliamentary control over public finance in India?
- Placing Annual Financial Statement before the Parliament
- Withdrawal of money from Consolidated Fund of India only after passing the Appropriation Bill
- Provisions of supplementary grants and vote-on-account
- A periodic or at least a mid-year review of the programme of the Government against macroeconomic forecasts and expenditure by a Parliamentary Budget Office
- Introducing Finance Bill in the Parliament
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
Detailed Explanation:
✅ Statement 1 – Correct: Article 112 mandates placing the Annual Financial Statement (Budget) before Parliament, enabling financial scrutiny and control.
✅ Statement 2 – Correct: Article 114 requires Appropriation Bill passage before any withdrawal from the Consolidated Fund of India, ensuring Parliamentary authorization.
✅ Statement 3 – Correct: Supplementary grants (Article 115) and vote-on-account (Article 116) provide mechanisms for Parliament to control additional or interim expenditure.
❌ Statement 4 – Incorrect: India does not have a Parliamentary Budget Office for mid-year macroeconomic reviews; such institutional mechanisms are absent.
✅ Statement 5 – Correct: Finance Bill (Article 110) introduction in Parliament is mandatory for taxation proposals, enabling control over revenue measures.