Questions from Crash Course

1. Consider the following statements:

1. A Finance Bill under Article 117 (1) does not need prior recommendation of President before introduction.
2. Constitutional Amendment Bills need to have prior recommendation of President before introduction in the Parliament.

Which of the above statements is/are incorrect?

A. 1 only

B. 2 only 

C. Both 1 and 2 

D. Neither 1 nor 2

2. Consider the following with regard to Budget in the parliament 

1. Charged expenditure cannot be discussed and voted upon.
2. A bill to amend the strength of Supreme Court does not lie within the ambit of Article 368.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

A. 1 only

B. 2 only

C. Both 1 and 2

D. Neither 1 nor 2

Questions from Test Series 

(Polity and Governance)

3. Consider the following statements with reference to the Parliament of India:

1. Bills passed by Lok Sabha and pending before Rajya Sabha do not lapse after dissolution of Lok Sabha.
2. Bills originating in Rajya Sabha and pending before Lok Sabha lapse after dissolution of Lok Sabha.

Which of the above statements given above is/are correct?

A. Only 1

B. Only 2

C. Both 1 & 2

D. Neither 1 nor 2

4. What is the importance of whips in our political system?

1. Whips summon Parliamentary sittings once they have been adjourned by the Speaker.
2. Whips are ‘Floor managers’ of the parties within the legislatures.
3. Private member bills can be introduced only through Whips.

Select the Solution using the codes below:

A. 1 only

B. 2 and 3 only

C. 2 only

D. 1 and 3 only

UPSC Previous Year Question 2015

5. Consider the following statements: (UPSC 2015)

1. The Rajya Sabha has no power either to reject or to amend a Money Bill.
2. The Rajya Sabha cannot vote on the Demands for Grants.
3. The Rajya Sabha cannot discuss the Annual Financial Statement.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

A. 1 only

B. 1 and 2 only

C. 2 and 3 only

D. 1, 2 and 3

Answers with Explanation

Questions from Crash Course

1. Consider the following statements:

1. A Finance Bill under Article 117 (1) does not need prior recommendation of President before introduction.
2. Constitutional Amendment Bills need to have prior recommendation of President before introduction in the Parliament.

Which of the above statements is/are incorrect?

A. 1 only

B. 2 only 

C. Both 1 and 2 

D. Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: C

Explanation

Financial Bills (I) 

• It is a bill that contains not only any or all the matters mentioned in Article 110, but also other matters of general legislation. For instance, a bill that contains a borrowing clause, but does not exclusively deal with borrowing. 
• In two respects, a financial bill (I) is similar to a money bill—(a) both of them can be introduced only in the Lok Sabha and not in the Rajya Sabha, and (b) both of them can be introduced only on the recommendation of the President. 
• In all other respects, a financial bill (I) is governed by the same legislative procedure applicable to an ordinary bill. 

Financial Bills (II) 

• It contains provisions involving expenditure from the Consolidated Fund of India, but does not include any of the matters mentioned in Article 110. 
• It is treated as an ordinary bill and in all respects, it is governed by the same legislative procedure which is applicable to an ordinary bill. The only special feature of this bill is that it cannot be passed by either House of Parliament unless the President has recommended to that House the consideration of the bill.
• An amendment of the Constitution can be initiated only by the introduction of a bill for the purpose in either House of Parliament either by a minister or by a private member and does not require prior permission of the President. .  
• The House in which the Bill is introduced must pass it by by a special majority, that is, a majority (that is, more than 50 per cent) of the total membership of the House and a majority of two-thirds of the members of the House present and voting.. It is then sent to second House. 
• The second House also needs to pass the bill by special majority. Both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha enjoy equal powers in this regard and there is no provision for joint sitting for constitution amendment bill.
• If the bill seeks to amend the federal provisions of the Constitution, it must also be ratified by the legislatures of half of the states by a simple majority. It is presented to the President for assent. 
• The President must give his assent to the bill. He can neither withhold his assent nor return the bill for reconsideration. After the assent, bill becomes an Act (i.e., a constitutional amendment act) .
• Election of the President and its manner.
• Extent of the executive and legislative powers of the Union and the states.
• Lists in VII Schedule
• Supreme Court and High Courts.
• Extent of the executive power of the Union and the states.
• Article 368 itself.  
• GST Council 

2. Consider the following with regard to Budget in the parliament 

1. Charged expenditure cannot be discussed and voted upon.
2. A bill to amend the strength of Supreme Court does not lie within the ambit of Article 368.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

A. 1 only

B. 2 only

C. Both 1 and 2

D. Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: B

Explanation

What is Charged Expenditure?

• 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. The list of the charged expenditure is as follows: 
  • Emoluments and allowances of the President and other expenditure relating to his office. 
  • Salaries and allowances of the Chairman and the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha and the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha. 
  • Salaries, allowances and pensions of the judges of the Supreme Court.
  • Pensions of the judges of high courts.
  • Salary, allowances and pension of the Comptroller and Auditor General, chair and members of UPSC. 
  • Administrative expenses of the Supreme Court, the office of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India and the Union Public Service Commission including the salaries, allowances and pensions of the persons serving in these offices. 
  • The debt charges for which the Government of India is liable, including interest, sinking fund charges and redemption charges and other expenditure relating to the raising of loans and the service and redemption of debt. 
  • Any sum required to satisfy any judgement, decree or award of any court or arbitral tribunal. 
  • Any other expenditure declared by the Parliament to be so charged. 

 

Amendment Outside the Scope of Article 368

• Admission or establishment of new states.
• Formation of new states and alteration of areas, boundaries or names of existing states.
• Abolition or creation of legislative councils in states.
• Second Schedule–emoluments, allowances, privileges and so on of the president, the governors, the Speakers, judges, etc.
• Quorum in Parliament.
• Salaries and allowances of the members of Parliament.
• Rules of procedure in Parliament.
• Privileges of the Parliament, its members and its committees.
• Use of English language in Parliament.
• Number of puisne judges in the Supreme Court.
• Conferment of more jurisdiction on the Supreme Court.
• Use of official language.
• Citizenship–acquisition and termination.

Questions from Test Series 

(Polity and Governance)

3. Consider the following statements with reference to the Parliament of India:

1. Bills passed by Lok Sabha and pending before Rajya Sabha do not lapse after dissolution of Lok Sabha.
2. Bills originating in Rajya Sabha and pending before Lok Sabha lapse after dissolution of Lok Sabha.

Which of the above statements given above is/are correct?

A. Only 1

B. Only 2

C. Both 1 & 2

D. Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: B

Explanation

• Statement 1 is incorrect. Bill passed by Lok Sabha and pending before Rajya Sabha lapses on dissolution of Lok Sabha.
• Statement 2 is correct. Bill originating in Rajya Sabha and pending before Lok Sabha lapses after dissolution of Lok Sabha.
• When the Lok Sabha is dissolved, all business including bills, motions, resolutions, notices, petitions and so on pending before it or its committees lapse. However, some pending bills and all pending assurances that are to be examined by the Committee on Government Assurances do not lapse on the dissolution of the Lok Sabha. 

Bills that lapse: 

• 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.

Bills that don’t lapse:

• 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. 

Lame Duck Session refers to the last session of the existing Lok Sabha, after a new Lok Sabha has been elected. Those members of the existing Lok Sabha who could not get re-elected to the new Lok Sabha are called lame-ducks. 

4. What is the importance of whips in our political system?

1. Whips summon Parliamentary sittings once they have been adjourned by the Speaker.
2. Whips are ‘Floor managers’ of the parties within the legislatures.
3. Private member bills can be introduced only through Whips.

Select the Solution using the codes below:

A. 1 only

B. 2 and 3 only

C. 2 only

D. 1 and 3 only

Answer: C

Explanation

Statement 2 is correct: 

• In the parliamentary form of Government, Whips of various political parties are the vital links of the internal organization of parties, inside the legislatures. 
• A whip is an important member of a political party’s parliamentary body, having a central role in ‘Floor Management’ in both the Houses of Parliament and is responsible for discipline within the party. 
• Their main job is ensuring that their members in Parliament and legislature vote in line with the party’s official policy on important issues and make sure that the members turn out for important votes. 
• The efficient and smooth functioning of Parliament and State Legislatures depends, to a considerable extent, upon the office of the Whip. 
• The Whips can be rightly said to be the managers of the parties within the legislatures.
• Organizing the All India Whips Conference is one of the functions assigned to the Ministry of Parliamentary affairs, under Government of India (Allocation of Business) Rules, 1961 made under article 77(3) of the Constitution.

UPSC Previous Year Question 2015

5. Consider the following statements: (UPSC 2015)

1. The Rajya Sabha has no power either to reject or to amend a Money Bill.
2. The Rajya Sabha cannot vote on the Demands for Grants.
3. The Rajya Sabha cannot discuss the Annual Financial Statement.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

A. 1 only

B. 1 and 2 only

C. 2 and 3 only

D. 1, 2 and 3

Answer: B

Explanation

Equal Status of Rajya Sabha	Unequal Status of Rajya Sabha
Ordinary Bills, Constitutional Amendment Bills introduction	Money Bill
Election and impeachment of President , Election of Vice President	Finance bill Type 1
Removal of Judges of Supreme Court and High Court	Joint Sitting
Approval of ordinances	Discontinuance of National Emergency
Approval of declaration of emergency by President	No Confidence Motion, Censure Motion, Adjournment Motion
Selection of ministers and consideration of reports of Finance Commission, UPSC etc.	Parliamentary Law on state subject (249)
Enlargement of jurisdiction of Supreme Court	Creation of New All India Services (312)
Equal Status of Rajya Sabha	Unequal Status of Rajya Sabha
	Initiate removal of Vice President (67)
	Approval of National Emergency if Lok Sabha is dissolved

 

➡️UPSC 2023 General Studies Course: https://sleepyclasses.com/general-studies-for-upsc/

➡️Sociology Optional for UPSC : https://sleepyclasses.com/sociology-for-upsc/

➡️Political Science and IR for UPSC: https://sleepyclasses.com/psir-for-upsc/

➡️Signup here – https://sleepyclasses.com/

Have any query related to UPSC preparation:  📞Contact Us ► Toll-Free: 1800 890 3043 ► Mobile: 6280133177 ► Email: Sleepy.Classes@gmail.com ► WhatsApp: 6280133177