Parliament — Set 2
Indian Polity · संसद · Questions 11–20 of 120
A member of Parliament can resign his seat by writing to whom?
Correct Answer: B. Chairman or Speaker of the House
• **MP resignation** = addressed to the Presiding Officer of the House. • **Speaker/Chairman** — Lok Sabha MP writes to Speaker; Rajya Sabha MP to Chairman. • 💡 Chief Justice of India handles judicial oaths, not MP resignations; President accepts Ministerial/Governor resignations; Prime Minister has no constitutional role here.
If an MP is absent from all meetings of the House for a certain period without permission, his seat may be declared vacant. What is this period?
Correct Answer: D. 60 days
• **60-day rule** = MP seat vacated if absent 60 consecutive days without permission. • **Article 101(4)** — prorogation or adjournment beyond 4 days excluded from count. • 💡 90/120 days are not constitutional thresholds; 30 days is too short — doesn't match Art 101(4).
The oath or affirmation for members of Parliament is mentioned in which Schedule?
Correct Answer: B. Third Schedule
• **Third Schedule** = forms of oaths/affirmations for MPs, ministers, judges, etc. • **Article 99** — MP must take oath before President or his nominee before sitting. • 💡 First Schedule lists states/UTs, Fourth allocates Rajya Sabha seats, Second details salaries — none contain oath forms.
Who decides the salaries and allowances of the members of Parliament?
Correct Answer: A. Parliament
• **MP salary authority** = Parliament decides its own salaries/allowances by law. • **Article 106** — salaries charged on Consolidated Fund of India. • 💡 Ministry of Finance only processes payments, President assents to the law, no independent Pay Commission governs MP pay.
Who is the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha?
Correct Answer: B. Vice-President
• **Ex-officio Chairman** = Vice-President of India. • **Article 64** — VP chairs Rajya Sabha but is not a member of it. • 💡 PM sits in Lok Sabha usually, Speaker is Lok Sabha presiding officer, President is not a member of either House.
The Speaker of the Lok Sabha submits his resignation to whom?
Correct Answer: B. Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha
• **Speaker's resignation** = addressed to the Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha. • **Article 94** — Deputy Speaker resigns to Speaker; mutual reciprocal arrangement. • 💡 PM and CJI have no role; President receives resignation of VP but not Speaker.
Who presides over the joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament?
Correct Answer: B. Speaker of Lok Sabha
• **Joint Sitting** = presided by Speaker of Lok Sabha. • **Article 108** — Deputy Speaker presides if Speaker absent; Deputy Chairman (RS) if both absent. • 💡 Rajya Sabha Chairman (VP) never presides joint sittings; President summons but does not preside; PM has no presiding role.
Which officer of the Parliament is appointed by the President as the 'Pro Tem Speaker'?
Correct Answer: C. The senior-most member
• **Pro Tem Speaker** = senior-most member of newly elected Lok Sabha. • **Oath administration** — President appoints him to swear in new MPs. • 💡 Leader of Opposition and ministers are partisan picks; youngest member is not the custom — seniority prevails.
The institution of 'Whip' in the Indian Parliament is based on?
Correct Answer: C. Parliamentary Convention
• **Whip** = based on parliamentary convention, not law. • **No statutory status** — absent from Constitution and Rules of Procedure. • 💡 Parliamentary Statute is wrong (no law creates it); Rules of the House don't mention whip; Constitution is silent on it.
Which session of Parliament is generally the longest?
Correct Answer: D. Budget Session
• **Budget Session** = longest session of Parliament annually. • **February to May** — spans budget presentation, discussion, and passing of Appropriation Bill. • 💡 Winter and Monsoon sessions are shorter; Special Session is ad-hoc and brief.