UPSC GS Paper II: Parliament, Parliament Structure, Sessions, Powers, Committees

Must?Know

• Article 79 – Parliament consists of President, Lok Sabha, and Rajya Sabha; President’s role is integral but not a member of either House.
• Article 81 – Lok Sabha maximum strength 552 (530 general, 20 Anglo?Indian, 2 nominated from Anglo?Indian community by President; latter abolished via 104th Amendment, 2019).
• Article 80 – Rajya Sabha maximum strength 250 (238 states/UTs, 12 nominated by President for expertise in literature, science, art, social service).
• 104th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2019 – abolished Anglo?Indian reserved seats in Lok Sabha and state assemblies; last members ceased in 2020.
• Lok Sabha normal term 5 years; dissolved earlier by President on PM’s advice; extended only during national emergency (Article 83(2)).
• Rajya Sabha is permanent body; one?third members retire every 2 years; term 6 years.
• Sessions of Parliament: summoning by President; minimum three sessions per year (Budget, Monsoon, Winter); gap not exceed 6 months (Article 85(1)).
• Prorogation – ends a session; terminates pending business except bills passed by one House.
• Dissolution – only Lok Sabha; ends its existence; all pending business lapses.
• Adjournment sine die – Speaker ends session; business resumes next session unless prorogued.
• President can summon joint sitting of both Houses under Article 108 to resolve deadlock on ordinary or financial bills (except money bills and constitutional amendment bills).
• First joint sitting – 1961 (Dowry Prohibition Bill); since then held in 1978 (Banking Service Commission Repeal), 1979 (Prevention of Terrorism), 2002 (POTA), 2010 (Lokpal search committee).
• Money Bill – defined under Article 110; certified by Speaker; Rajya Sabha can recommend amendments but Lok Sabha may accept or reject; must be returned within 14 days.
• Financial Bill (I) – contains money bill provisions + other matters; introduced only in Lok Sabha; Rajya Sabha has full powers after 14 days.
• Financial Bill (II) – contains expenditure from Consolidated Fund but not exclusively money bill items; treated as ordinary bill; can be introduced in either House.
• Council of Ministers responsible to Lok Sabha (Article 75(3)); confidence motion, no?confidence motion only in Lok Sabha.
• Question Hour – first hour of sitting; starred (oral answer), unstarred (written), short notice (less than 10 days); zero hour follows but not mentioned in rules.
• Parliamentary Committees – classified as Standing (permanent) and Ad hoc (temporary); enhance legislative scrutiny.
• Departmentally Related Standing Committees (DRSCs) – 24 committees (16 Lok Sabha, 8 Rajya Sabha); examine budgets, bills, policy issues; formed in 1993.
• Public Accounts Committee (PAC) – 22 members (15 LS, 7 RS); examines CAG reports; chaired by opposition member since 1967 (except 1970s).
• Estimates Committee – 30 LS members; examines budget estimates; suggests economies; no RS representation.
• Committee on Public Undertakings (COPU) – 22 members (15 LS, 7 RS); examines CAG reports on PSUs; performance evaluation.
• Business Advisory Committee – allocates time for government business; includes Speaker/Chairman and party leaders.
• Rules Committee – frames rules of procedure; Lok Sabha chaired by Speaker; Rajya Sabha by Chairman.
• Lok Sabha Speaker – elected from among members; presides over joint sitting; casts tie?breaking vote; appointed ad hoc Speaker during vacancy.

Difficulty Level

Intermediate – requires understanding of constitutional provisions, procedural nuances, and inter?House dynamics; application?based questions common.

Common UPSC Traps

Trap: Joint sitting can be called for constitutional amendment bills – Fact: Joint sitting under Article 108 applies only to ordinary and financial bills; constitutional amendments require separate majority in each House (Article 368).

Trap: Rajya Sabha can amend or reject a Money Bill – Fact: Rajya Sabha can only recommend amendments to a Money Bill; Lok Sabha may accept or reject them; no power to amend or reject (Article 110).

Trap: President can dissolve Rajya Sabha – Fact: Rajya Sabha is a permanent body and cannot be dissolved; only Lok Sabha is subject to dissolution (Article 83(1)).

Trap: Zero Hour is mentioned in the Constitution – Fact: Zero Hour is a parliamentary convention, not mentioned in Constitution or Rules of Procedure; starts after Question Hour.

Trap: PAC examines budget before it is passed – Fact: PAC examines expenditure after it has occurred, based on CAG audit reports; budget scrutiny pre?passage is done by Estimates Committee.

Practice MCQs

Question: Which of the following statements about the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) is correct?
A) It consists of members from both Houses in equal proportion
B) It examines the budget estimates before they are passed by Parliament
C) It is chaired by a member of the ruling party
D) It examines the audit reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG)
Answer: D
Explanation: PAC examines CAG’s audit reports on appropriation and finance accounts; ensures public money is spent as per legislative grants.
Why others fail: A is wrong because LS has 15, RS has 7; B is wrong because budget scrutiny pre?passage is Estimates Committee’s role; C is wrong as chair is from opposition.

Question: Under which Article can a joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament be convened?
A) Article 108
B) Article 110
C) Article 117
D) Article 368
Answer: A
Explanation: Article 108 empowers President to summon joint sitting to resolve deadlock on ordinary or financial bills.
Why others fail: B defines Money Bill; C deals with Financial Bills; D is for constitutional amendments.

Question: Which of the following is NOT a feature of the Rajya Sabha?
A) One?third members retire every two years
B) Maximum strength is 250 members
C) Can be dissolved by the President
D) Represents states and union territories
Answer: C
Explanation: Rajya Sabha is a permanent body and cannot be dissolved; only Lok Sabha is subject to dissolution.
Why others fail: C is incorrect per Article 83(1); others are factual features of Rajya Sabha.

Question: The certification of a bill as a Money Bill is done by:
A) President
B) Finance Minister
C) Speaker of Lok Sabha
D) Chairman of Rajya Sabha
Answer: C
Explanation: Speaker of Lok Sabha certifies a bill as Money Bill under Article 110(3); decision is final and not subject to judicial review (per 2018 Aadhaar judgment).
Why others fail: A is incorrect; President gives assent but does not certify; certification is Speaker’s constitutional role.

Question: Which committee was constituted for the first time in 1993 to strengthen departmental scrutiny of ministries?
A) Public Accounts Committee
B) Estimates Committee
C) Departmentally Related Standing Committees
D) Committee on Public Undertakings
Answer: C
Explanation: 24 DRSCs were formed in 1993 on recommendation of the Rules Committee to improve legislative oversight.
Why others fail: A formed in 1921 (British era); B in 1950; C in 1964; only DRSCs began in 1993.

Question: The 104th Constitutional Amendment Act is primarily associated with:
A) GST implementation
B) Abolition of domicile requirement for Jammu & Kashmir
C) Removal of Anglo?Indian reserved seats in legislatures
D) Extension of reservation to economically weaker sections
Answer: C
Explanation: 104th Amendment (2019) removed President’s power to nominate Anglo?Indian members to Lok Sabha and state assemblies.
Why others fail: A is 101st; B is 103rd (via J&K Reorganisation Act); D is 103rd Amendment (10% EWS).

Question: Which of the following statements about the Estimates Committee is correct?
A) It includes members from both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha
B) It examines the annual financial statements before budget passage
C) It suggests alternative policies and economies in expenditure
D) It is chaired by the Speaker of Lok Sabha
Answer: C
Explanation: Estimates Committee reviews budget estimates and recommends economies in spending; functions during budget session.
Why others fail: A is wrong – only LS members; D – chair is elected from among members; B – correct but C is more precise objective.

Last?Minute Revision

• Article 79 – Parliament composition (President, LS, RS)
• Article 81 – LS max 552 members
• Article 80 – RS max 250 members
• 104th Amendment – abolished Anglo?Indian nomination (2019)
• LS term – 5 years; extendable during emergency
• RS – permanent; 1/3 members retire biennially
• Minimum 3 sessions/year; gap-6 months (Article 85)
• Prorogation – ends session; pending bills not lapsed
• Dissolution – only LS; all pending bills lapse
• Adjournment sine die – Speaker ends session
• Joint sitting – Article 108; 5 times held (1961, 1978, 1979, 2002, 2010)
• Money Bill – Article 110; Speaker certifies; RS has 14 days to recommend
• Financial Bill (I) – mix of money and other provisions; RS has full powers after 14 days
• Financial Bill (II) – ordinary bill with expenditure clause
• Council of Ministers responsible to LS (Article 75(3))
• Question Hour – first hour; starred (oral), unstarred (written)
• Zero Hour – informal; no constitutional basis
• DRSCs – 24 committees; formed 1993
• PAC – 22 members; examines CAG reports; opposition chair since 1967
• Estimates Committee – 30 LS members; no RS
• COPU – examines PSUs; 15 LS, 7 RS
• Business Advisory Committee – allocates time for government business
• Rules Committee – frames procedure; Speaker chairs LS version
• Speaker – casts tie vote; presides joint sitting
• Speaker’s certification of Money Bill is final (Article 110(3))
• Joint sitting not allowed for constitutional amendment bills (Article 368)