Parliament

Parliament (Articles 79-122, Part V) is the legislative organ of the Union government. Below is a structured summary, mnemonic aids, and a comprehensive set of practice questions based on M. Laxmikanth’s Indian Polity.

I. Chapter Summary: The Parliament

1. Organisation of Parliament

Three Parts: The Parliament consists of the President, the Council of States (Rajya Sabha), and the House of the People (Lok Sabha).
Role of President: Though not a member of either House, the President is an integral part because no bill can become law without their assent.

2. Composition of the Two Houses

Rajya Sabha (RS): Maximum strength is 250 (238 elected from States/UTs + 12 nominated by the President for excellence in Art, Literature, Science, and Social Service).
Lok Sabha (LS): Maximum strength is 550 (530 from States + 20 from UTs). Direct elections are based on Universal Adult Franchise (age 18+).

3. Duration of the Houses

Rajya Sabha: A permanent body; not subject to dissolution. Members serve 6 years, with 1/3rd retiring every second year.
Lok Sabha: Normal term is 5 years from its first meeting. It can be dissolved earlier by the President.

4. Membership and Presiding Officers

Qualifications: Citizen of India, age 30 for RS and 25 for LS.
Presiding Officers: LS has a Speaker and Deputy Speaker; RS has a Chairman (Vice-President of India) and Deputy Chairman.

5. Legislative Procedure

Ordinary Bills: Can be introduced in either House.
Money Bills: Defined under Article 110, can only be introduced in LS with the President’s recommendation.
Joint Sitting: Summoned by the President to resolve deadlocks on ordinary/financial bills (not money or constitutional amendment bills).

II. Mnemonics for Retention

PARLIAMENT COMPONENTS (P-R-L):
- President, Rajya Sabha, Lok Sabha.
NOMINATED FIELDS (LASS): Fields for RS nominations:
- Literature, Art, Science, Social Service.
QUORUM (1/10 Rule):
- Think of a “Dime” (1/10th of a dollar). You need a Dime of the House to start the “show” (proceedings).
MONEY BILLS (President’s PRIORITY):
- President’s recommendation, Rejected by RS? No, Introduced in LS only.

This summary covers the key structural and functional aspects of the Parliament (Part V, Articles 79–122) as detailed in M. Laxmikanth’s Indian Polity.

I. Organisation of Parliament

Three Parts: Consists of the President, Rajya Sabha (Council of States), and Lok Sabha (House of the People).
The President’s Role: Though not a member of either House, the President is an integral part because no Bill becomes law without their assent. They also summon/prorogue sessions and dissolve the Lok Sabha.
Mnemonic for Parts: PRL (President, Rajya sabha, Lok sabha) – The “Pearl” of Indian Democracy.

II. Composition and Duration

Rajya Sabha (Upper House):
- Strength: Max 250 (238 elected, 12 nominated by President for expertise in art, science, etc.).
- Nature: A permanent body; one-third of members retire every second year. Each member has a 6-year term.
Lok Sabha (Lower House):
- Strength: Max 550 (originally 552; Anglo-Indian nomination ended in 2020).
- Nature: Not permanent; usual term is 5 years but can be dissolved earlier by the President.

III. Membership and Disqualification

Qualifications: Must be a citizen of India; age ≥30 for Rajya Sabha and ≥25 for Lok Sabha.
Disqualifications (Art 102): Holding an office of profit, being of unsound mind, undischarged insolvent, or not being a citizen.
Anti-Defection Law (10th Schedule): Members are disqualified if they voluntarily give up party membership or vote against party whips.

IV. Presiding Officers

Speaker (Lok Sabha): Elected by members. Decides if a bill is a Money Bill, presides over Joint Sittings, and maintains house decorum.
Chairman (Rajya Sabha): The Vice-President of India is the ex-officio Chairman.

V. Sessions and Procedures

Summoning: Gap between two sessions cannot exceed 6 months.
Quorum: Minimum 1/10th of the total membership required to conduct business.
Devices:
- Question Hour: First hour of a sitting for asking questions.
- Zero Hour: Time immediately following Question Hour for raising matters without prior notice.
- Motions: Tools like No-Confidence Motion (only in Lok Sabha) to test the government’s majority.

VI. Legislative Procedure

Ordinary Bills: Can be introduced in either House; require simple majority.
Money Bills (Art 110): Only introduced in Lok Sabha with President’s recommendation. Rajya Sabha has only 14 days to recommend changes.
Joint Sitting (Art 108): Summoned by President to resolve deadlocks between Houses; presided over by the Speaker.

VII. Parliamentary Committees

Financial Committees:
1. Public Accounts Committee: Scrutinizes CAG reports.
2. Estimates Committee: Largest committee (30 members, all from Lok Sabha); examines budget estimates.
3. Public Undertakings Committee: Reviews performance of public sector units.

Retention Mnemonics & Q&A

Mnemonic for Money Bill: “M” for Money, “M” for Majority in Lok Sabha (exclusive power).
Mnemonic for Rajya Sabha members: “S-A-L-T” (Science, Art, Literature, Social Service) – criteria for nominated members.

Sample Q&A (Top 5 for Revision)

Q: Who decides if a Bill is a Money Bill? A: The Speaker of Lok Sabha.
Q: What is the maximum gap between two sessions? A: 6 months.
Q: Is the President a member of Parliament? A: No, but they are an integral part.
Q: Which committee has no members from Rajya Sabha? A: Estimates Committee.
Q: Minimum age for Rajya Sabha membership? A: 30 years.

VIII. Parliamentary Privileges (Article 105)

Privileges are special rights, immunities, and exemptions enjoyed by the two Houses, their committees, and their members to ensure effective discharge of functions.

Collective Privileges:
- Right to publish reports/debates and prohibit others from doing so.
- Right to exclude strangers from galleries.
- Right to punish members or outsiders for breach of privilege or contempt of the House.
Individual Privileges:
- Freedom of Speech: Members cannot be sued in court for anything said or any vote given in Parliament.
- Freedom from Arrest: Members cannot be arrested in civil cases 40 days before, during, and 40 days after a session. (Note: No immunity in criminal cases or preventive detention).
Mnemonic: “S-A-P” (Speech, Arrest-free, Publishing) – The core of Member rights.

IX. Financial Powers & Budgetary Process

The Parliament exercises “power of the purse” through the following mechanisms:

The Budget (Annual Financial Statement – Art 112):
1. Presentation: Done by the Finance Minister on behalf of the President.
2. General Discussion: Houses discuss the budget as a whole.
3. Scrutiny by Departmental Committees: Committees examine the demands for grants.
4. Voting on Demands for Grants: Exclusive to Lok Sabha. Members can move Cut Motions (Policy Cut, Economy Cut, Token Cut).
5. Passing of Appropriation Bill: No money can be withdrawn from the Consolidated Fund of India without this Bill.
6. Passing of Finance Bill: Legalizes the income/taxation side of the budget.
Funds:
- Consolidated Fund of India (Art 266): All revenue and loans; requires Parliamentary law for withdrawal.
- Public Account of India (Art 266): Bank deposits, provident funds; handled by executive action.
- Contingency Fund of India (Art 267): Placed at the disposal of the President for unforeseen expenses; later recouped by Parliament.

X. 100-Point Rapid Revision (Selected High-Yield Q&A)

Structure & Composition

Q: Is the Indian Parliament “Sovereign”? A: No, it is limited by a written Constitution and Judicial Review.
Q: Who represents UTs in Rajya Sabha? A: Indirectly elected by members of an electoral college specially constituted.
Q: Total nominated members in Parliament currently? A: 12 (All in Rajya Sabha; LS nominations abolished).
Q: Who fixes the salaries of MPs? A: Parliament by law.

Motions & Devices
5. Q: Does a Prorogation affect pending bills? A: No.
6. Q: Does Dissolution of Lok Sabha lapse bills pending in Rajya Sabha but not passed by LS? A: No.
7. Q: Difference between Adjournment and Adjournment Sine Die? A: Adjournment specifies a time to reassemble; Sine Die does not.
8. Q: Who admits a No-Confidence Motion? A: The Speaker (requires support of 50 members).

Legislative Control
9. Q: Can Rajya Sabha vote on Demands for Grants? A: No, only discussion is allowed.
10. Q: What is Guillotine? A: Putting all remaining demands for grants to vote without discussion due to lack of time.

Retention Mnemonics for Parliamentary Terms

Cut Motions (P-E-T):
- Policy Cut: Reduce demand to ₹1 (Strongest disapproval).
- Economy Cut: Reduce by a Specific Amount.
- Token Cut: Reduce by ₹100 (To air a specific grievance).
Lapse of Bills (The “S-T-A-Y” Rule):
- Bills Started in LS always die on dissolution.
- Bills passed by LS and Transmitted to RS always die.
- Bills Awaiting President’s assent do not die.
- Yet to be settled via Joint Sitting do not die.

Parliament: 100 Rapid-Fire Q&A

I. Composition & Basics (1-15)

Q: Which Articles deal with Parliament? A: Articles 79 to 122.
Q: What are the three components of Parliament? A: President, Rajya Sabha, Lok Sabha.
Q: Is the President a member of either House? A: No.
Q: Why is the President part of Parliament? A: Because Bills require Presidential assent to become Acts.
Q: Max strength of Rajya Sabha? A: 250.
Q: How many RS members are nominated? A: 12.
Q: On what grounds are RS members nominated? A: Art, Literature, Science, Social Service (Mnemonic: LASS).
Q: Max strength of Lok Sabha? A: 550 (formerly 552).
Q: Which amendment abolished Anglo-Indian nomination? A: 104th Amendment Act, 2019.
Q: What is the 4th Schedule related to? A: Allocation of seats in Rajya Sabha.
Q: Who represents Union Territories in RS? A: Indirectly elected members.
Q: What is the “Territorial Constituencies” basis? A: Population (Census 2001 currently).
Q: Duration of Rajya Sabha? A: Permanent body (not subject to dissolution).
Q: Term of an RS member? A: 6 years.
Q: Normal term of Lok Sabha? A: 5 years.

II. Qualifications & Disqualifications (16-30)

Q: Min age for Lok Sabha? A: 25 years.
Q: Min age for Rajya Sabha? A: 30 years.
Q: Who decides on “Office of Profit” disqualification? A: President (on advice of Election Commission).
Q: Under which Schedule is Anti-Defection handled? A: 10th Schedule.
Q: Who decides disqualification under 10th Schedule? A: Presiding Officer (Speaker/Chairman).
Q: Can a person be a member of both Houses? A: No.
Q: If elected to both Houses, which seat is vacated if no choice is made? A: RS seat becomes vacant.
Q: If an MP is absent for how many days does the seat become vacant? A: 60 days (without permission).
Q: Can a non-member become a Minister? A: Yes, for max 6 months.
Q: Who administers the oath to MPs? A: President or person appointed by him.
Q: Penalty for sitting/voting without oath? A: ₹500 per day.
Q: Is a “Leader of Opposition” a statutory post? A: Yes (Salaries and Allowances of Leaders of Opposition in Parliament Act, 1977).
Q: Who is the “Leader of the House” in Lok Sabha? A: Prime Minister (or a minister nominated by him).
Q: What is a “Whip”? A: An officer of a political party ensuring discipline.
Q: Is the office of Whip mentioned in the Constitution? A: No.

III. Presiding Officers (31-45)

Q: Who elects the Speaker? A: Lok Sabha members from among themselves.
Q: Does the Speaker vacate office on LS dissolution? A: No, remains until new Speaker is elected.
Q: To whom does the Speaker resign? A: Deputy Speaker.
Q: Who presides over a Joint Sitting? A: Speaker.
Q: Can the Speaker vote in the first instance? A: No, only a casting vote in case of a tie.
Q: Who decides if a bill is a Money Bill? A: Speaker.
Q: Who is the ex-officio Chairman of RS? A: Vice-President.
Q: Is the Chairman a member of RS? A: No.
Q: Can the Chairman preside during his removal resolution? A: No.
Q: Who is the “Panel of Chairpersons”? A: Nominated by Speaker to preside in absence of Speaker/Deputy.
Q: Who is the “Speaker Pro Tem”? A: Appointed by President to preside over the first sitting of a new LS.
Q: Main duty of Speaker Pro Tem? A: To administer oaths to new members.
Q: Is the Deputy Speaker subordinate to the Speaker? A: No, directly responsible to the House.
Q: Who appoints the Secretary-General? A: Presiding Officer.
Q: Is Secretary-General an elected post? A: No, a permanent civil servant.

IV. Sessions & Procedures (46-65)

Q: Who summons Parliament? A: President.
Q: Max gap between two sessions? A: 6 months.
Q: Define “Adjournment”. A: Suspends sitting for a specific time.
Q: Define “Prorogation”. A: Ends a session of the House.
Q: Who prorogues the House? A: President.
Q: Does dissolution lapse a bill passed by both houses but pending President’s assent? A: No.
Q: Quorum for either House? A: 1/10th of total members.
Q: Language of Parliament? A: Hindi and English.
Q: Can a member speak in mother tongue? A: Yes, with permission of Presiding Officer.
Q: What is “Question Hour”? A: First hour of every sitting.
Q: What is a “Starred Question”? A: Requires oral answer; supplementary questions allowed.
Q: What is an “Unstarred Question”? A: Requires written answer; no supplementaries.
Q: What is “Zero Hour”? A: Informal time to raise matters without notice.
Q: Does “Zero Hour” exist in Rules of Procedure? A: No, it’s an Indian innovation.
Q: What is a “Closure Motion”? A: To cut short the debate on a matter.
Q: What is “Guillotine”? A: Putting all remaining clauses to vote without further discussion.
Q: Member count for No-Confidence Motion? A: 50 members.
Q: Where can No-Confidence Motion be moved? A: Lok Sabha only.
Q: What is “Censure Motion”? A: To scold the government for specific policies (does not require resignation).
Q: What is “Motion of Thanks”? A: Vote on President’s address; its defeat means Govt falls.

V. Legislative Process (66-80)

Q: Article for Ordinary Bills? A: Art 107.
Q: Article for Money Bills? A: Art 110.
Q: Can Money Bills be introduced in RS? A: No.
Q: RS time limit for Money Bills? A: 14 days.
Q: Can RS amend a Money Bill? A: No, only recommend.
Q: Article for Joint Sitting? A: Art 108.
Q: Can a Joint Sitting happen for Constitution Amendment Bills? A: No.
Q: Can a Joint Sitting happen for Money Bills? A: No.
Q: Article for Annual Financial Statement (Budget)? A: Art 112.
Q: Who causes the Budget to be laid? A: President.
Q: What is “Appropriation Bill”? A: Authorizes withdrawal from Consolidated Fund.
Q: What is “Vote on Account”? A: Grant for meeting expenditure for a short period before budget is passed.
Q: What is “Supplementary Grant”? A: Granted when the authorized amount is insufficient.
Q: What is “Excess Grant”? A: Money spent in excess of the amount granted (requires PAC approval).
Q: Can tax be levied without Parliament’s law? A: No (Art 265).

VI. Funds & Committees (81-95)

Q: Article for Consolidated Fund of India? A: Art 266.
Q: Who audits Parliamentary accounts? A: CAG.
Q: Public Accounts Committee (PAC) strength? A: 22 (15 LS, 7 RS).
Q: Who is the Chairman of PAC? A: Usually from Opposition.
Q: Largest Parliamentary Committee? A: Estimates Committee (30 members).
Q: Members of Estimates Committee are from? A: Lok Sabha only.
Q: Committee on Public Undertakings strength? A: 22 (15 LS, 7 RS).
Q: Can a Minister be a member of Financial Committees? A: No.
Q: Article for Contingency Fund? A: Art 267.
Q: Who holds the Contingency Fund? A: President (Secretary to Govt on his behalf).
Q: What are “Departmentally Related Standing Committees”? A: 24 committees to supervise ministries.
Q: Term of Standing Committee members? A: 1 year.
Q: Committee on Private Members’ Bills is found only in? A: Lok Sabha.
Q: Ethics Committee was first constituted in? A: Rajya Sabha (1997).
Q: Committee on Petitions strength in LS? A: 15.

VII. Miscellaneous (96-100)

Q: What is “Lame-Duck Session”? A: Last session of existing LS after new LS is elected.
Q: Who can dissolve Rajya Sabha? A: No one (Permanent).
Q: Special power of RS under Art 249? A: To authorize Parliament to make law on State List.
Q: Special power of RS under Art 312? A: Creation of New All-India Services.
Q: What is the “Sovereignty of Parliament” in India? A: It is limited by the Constitution, unlike British Parliament.

Retention Mnemonics

Budget Steps: P-G-S-V-A-F
1. Presentation
2. General Discussion
3. Scrutiny by Committees
4. Voting on Demands
5. Appropriation Bill
6. Finance Bill
Joint Sitting presiding order: S-D-D
1. Speaker
2. Deputy Speaker
3. Deputy Chairman of RS (Note: Chairman of RS never presides).

This comparative table highlights the power dynamics between the two Houses, which is a frequent source of “Statement-based” questions in UPSC and State PSC exams.

Comparative Power Dynamics: Lok Sabha vs. Rajya Sabha

Feature	Lok Sabha (Lower House)	Rajya Sabha (Upper House)
Money Bills	Exclusive introduction and voting power.	Only 14-day delay power; cannot reject/amend.
Budget (Demands for Grants)	Can vote on and reduce demands (Cut Motions).	Can only discuss; no power to vote on grants.
Council of Ministers	Collectively responsible to LS only (Govt falls if LS loses confidence).	No power to pass No-Confidence Motion.
Joint Sitting	Usually wins due to greater numerical strength.	Less influence due to smaller numbers.
Constitutional Amendment	Equal Power.	Equal Power (No provision for Joint Sitting).
All-India Services	No special power.	Special Power (Art 312): Can authorize new services.
State List Legislation	No special power.	Special Power (Art 249): Can authorize law-making.
Emergency Proclamations	Equal Power for approval.	Equal Power.
Impeachment of President	Equal Power.	Equal Power.

Final Mnemonics & Concepts for High-Retention

1. The “Only RS” Powers (Mnemonic: S-A-S)

These are the areas where the Rajya Sabha is more powerful or has exclusive rights:

State List (Art 249): Power to shift subjects from State to Union list temporarily.
All-India Services (Art 312): Power to create new services like IAS/IPS.
Standing by when LS is Dissolved: RS acts as the sole legislative body if a national emergency needs approval while LS is dissolved.

2. The “Lapse of Bills” Logic (Mnemonic: The “Source-Destination” Rule)

Rule A: If a bill is currently in Lok Sabha (either started there or sent there), it DIES when LS dissolves.
Rule B: If a bill has never touched Lok Sabha (started in RS and still in RS), it LIVES.
Rule C: If the President already has the bill (passed by both) or has called for a Joint Sitting, it LIVES.

3. The “Financial Committee” Composition (Mnemonic: E-P-C)

Estimates: Exclusively Lok Sabha (30 members).
Public Accounts: Partial RS (15 LS + 7 RS).
Committee on Public Undertakings: Common (15 LS + 7 RS).

As per M. Laxmikanth’s Indian Polity, the sessions and procedures of Parliament are the “engine” of Indian democracy. Here is a detailed summary:

I. Parliamentary Sessions (Article 85)

A “session” is the period between the first sitting of a House and its Prorogation.

Three Standard Sessions:
1. Budget Session (Feb–May): Longest; focuses on financial business.
2. Monsoon Session (July–Sept): Primarily for legislative business.
3. Winter Session (Nov–Dec): Shortest; wraps up pending items.
Constitutional Limit: Maximum gap between two sessions cannot exceed 6 months. Parliament must meet at least twice a year.
Lame Duck Session: The last session of an existing Lok Sabha after a new one is elected. “Lame ducks” are those who didn’t get re-elected.

II. Termination of Sittings & Sessions

Adjournment: Terminated by the Presiding Officer (Speaker/Chairman). Suspends work for a specified time (hours/days).
Adjournment Sine Die: Terminated indefinitely without a fixed date for reassembly.
Prorogation: Done by the President. It terminates the session itself, not just a sitting.
Dissolution: Ends the life of the Lok Sabha. Rajya Sabha is never dissolved.

III. Parliamentary Devices (Accountability Tools)

Question Hour: First hour of every sitting.
- Starred: Oral answer + Supplementary questions.
- Unstarred: Written answer only.
- Short Notice: Asked with <10 days notice; answered orally.
Zero Hour: Starts at 12 noon (immediately after Question Hour). Informal Indian innovation (since 1962) to raise urgent matters without notice.
Motions: No discussion can happen without a motion.
- Closure Motion: To stop a debate and put a matter to vote.
- Adjournment Motion: To discuss a matter of urgent public importance; requires support of 50 members (only in Lok Sabha).
- No-Confidence Motion: Expresses lack of faith in the Council of Ministers (needs 50 members; only in Lok Sabha).
Point of Order: Raised by an MP when House rules are broken. It immediately halts proceedings.

IV. Legislative Procedure (Passing of Bills)

Every bill (except Money Bills) goes through Three Readings in each House:

First Reading: Introduction and publication in Gazette.
Second Reading: Detailed scrutiny, clause-by-clause discussion, and possible reference to a Select Committee.
Third Reading: Final voting (Accepted or Rejected).

Joint Sitting (Art 108): If Houses disagree for 6 months, the President calls a joint sitting presided by the Speaker.

V. Financial Procedures

Cut Motions: Tools in Lok Sabha to reduce budget demands.
- Policy Cut: Reduce to ₹1.
- Economy Cut: Reduce by specified amount.
- Token Cut: Reduce by ₹100.
Guillotine: On the last day of budget discussion, all remaining demands for grants are put to vote together without debate.

Retention Mnemonics

The “Lapse” Logic: A bill Starting or Pending in Lok Sabha always Dies (S.P.D.) on dissolution.
Presiding Power: Speaker Adjourns (S.A.), while President Prorogues (P.P.).

The Speaker of the Lok Sabha is the constitutional and ceremonial head of the House, ranking 6th in the Order of Precedence (alongside the Chief Justice of India). As the “guardian of parliamentary democracy,” the Speaker exercises immense power derived from the Constitution, House Rules, and conventions.

I. Primary Powers & Functions

Maintenance of Order: The Speaker’s primary duty is to maintain decorum and discipline. They can adjourn the House or suspend sittings if there is no Quorum (1/10th of total membership).
Final Interpreter: Within the House, the Speaker is the final authority for interpreting the Constitution of India, the Rules of Procedure, and parliamentary precedents.
Casting Vote (Art 100): The Speaker does not vote in the first instance but exercises a casting vote to break a deadlock in case of a tie, thereby maintaining an impartial stance.
Money Bill Certification (Art 110): The Speaker has the sole authority to decide if a bill is a Money Bill. Their decision is final and cannot be challenged in any House, by the President, or in court (though the “Money Bill route” is currently under judicial scrutiny).
Presiding over Joint Sittings (Art 108): The Speaker presides over joint sittings of both Houses to resolve deadlocks on ordinary bills.

II. Disciplinary & Quasi-Judicial Powers

Anti-Defection Law (10th Schedule): The Speaker decides on the disqualification of members for defection.
- Judicial Review: Per the Kihoto Hollohan case (1992), this power is subject to judicial review.
- Recent Update: The Supreme Court recently ruled that the Speaker acting under the Tenth Schedule functions as a tribunal and does not enjoy constitutional immunity for inaction. Courts have directed Speakers to decide such cases within a “reasonable time” (typically 3 months).
Punishment: The Speaker can name and suspend members for unruly behaviour or disregard for the Chair’s authority.

III. Administrative & Committee Roles

Parliamentary Committees: The Speaker appoints chairmen for all House committees and supervises their work.
Ex-Officio Chairman: Directly chairs the Business Advisory Committee, the Rules Committee, and the General Purposes Committee.
Head of Secretariat: Controls the Lok Sabha Secretariat and its staff. No new structure can be built on the Parliament estate without their permission.

IV. Independence & Impartiality Safeguards

Charged Expenditure: Their salary and allowances are charged on the Consolidated Fund of India (not subject to annual vote).
Security of Tenure: Can only be removed by an effective majority (majority of then members) after a 14-day notice.
Substantive Motion: Their conduct can only be criticized or discussed through a formal substantive motion, not during routine debates.

Mnemonic for Speaker’s Powers: “J-M-A-D-C”

J – Joint Sitting presiding.
M – Money Bill certification.
A – Anti-defection decisions.
D – Decorum & Discipline maintenance.
C – Casting vote.

In M. Laxmikanth’s Indian Polity, the functioning of the Parliament is defined through specific timelines (sessions) and strict technical rules (procedures). Below is the comprehensive summary.

I. Parliamentary Sessions (Article 85)

A session is the active period between the first sitting of a House and its Prorogation (or dissolution).

Summoning: The President formalises the schedule based on the Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs’ recommendation.
Frequency: There is no fixed calendar, but the gap between two sessions cannot exceed 6 months.
The Three Sessions (By Convention):
1. Budget Session (Feb–May): The longest and most critical; involves the presentation and passing of the Union Budget.
2. Monsoon Session (July–Sept): Primarily for legislative business and national issues.
3. Winter Session (Nov–Dec): The shortest session; addresses pending legislation.
Recess: The interval between prorogation of one session and reassembly in the next.

II. Termination of Sittings & Sessions

Adjournment: Temporarily suspends a sitting for hours or days; done by the Presiding Officer.
Adjournment Sine Die: Terminates a sitting indefinitely without a return date.
Prorogation: Formally ends a session of the House; done by the President.
Dissolution: Ends the 5-year life of the Lok Sabha only. Rajya Sabha is permanent.

III. Parliamentary Devices (Accountability Tools)

Question Hour: The first hour of every sitting for members to question ministers.
- Starred: Oral answer required; supplementary questions allowed.
- Unstarred: Written answer required; no supplementaries.
Zero Hour: An informal Indian innovation where members raise urgent matters without prior notice (starts at 12 noon).
Quorum: Minimum 1/10th of total members required to conduct business (55 for LS, 25 for RS).

IV. Legislative Procedure (Stages of a Bill)

Every Ordinary Bill passes through Five Stages in the Parliament:

First Reading: Introduction and publication in the Gazette.
Second Reading: Detailed scrutiny via three sub-stages (General Discussion, Committee Stage, and Consideration Stage).
Third Reading: Debate limited to acceptance or rejection as a whole.
Bill in Second House: Must pass through the same three readings.
Presidential Assent: The President may give assent, withhold it, or return it for reconsideration.

V. Voting & Closures

Closure Motion: To cut short a debate and move to immediate voting.
- Guillotine: Putting all undiscussed clauses to vote together at the end of the allotted time.
Methods of Voting: Includes Voice Vote (Ayes/Noes) and Division (electronic or slip-based recording).

Mnemonics for Retention

Session Types: B-M-W (Budget, Monsoon, Winter).
Questions: S-O-U (Starred = Oral, Unstarred = written).
Cut Motions: P-E-T (Policy = ₹1, Economy = specific amount, Token = ₹100).

In M. Laxmikanth’s Indian Polity, bills are classified into four categories based on their nature and the procedure required to pass them.

I. Classification of Bills

Ordinary Bills (Art. 107 & 108): Concerned with any matter other than financial or constitutional.
Money Bills (Art. 110): Concerned exclusively with taxation, public expenditure, etc.
Financial Bills (Art. 117): Concerned with financial matters but not solely those mentioned in Art. 110.
Constitution Amendment Bills (Art. 368): Concerned with the amendment of the provisions of the Constitution.

II. Ordinary Bills: The Five Stages

1st Reading: Introduction of the bill. No discussion takes place.
2nd Reading: The most important stage.
- Stage of General Discussion: Principles are discussed.
- Committee Stage: Detailed clause-by-clause scrutiny.
- Consideration Stage: Each clause is voted upon individually.
3rd Reading: The debate is confined to the acceptance or rejection of the bill as a whole. No amendments are allowed.
Bill in the Second House: The second house can pass it, amend it, or reject it. If a deadlock lasts for 6 months, the President calls a Joint Sitting.
Assent of President: The President can give assent, withhold assent, or return the bill for reconsideration (Suspensive Veto).

III. Money Bills (Article 110)

A bill is a Money Bill if it deals only with matters like imposition of taxes, borrowing money by the government, or the custody of the Consolidated Fund.

Certification: The Speaker of Lok Sabha has the final authority to decide if a bill is a Money Bill.
Introduction: Can only be introduced in the Lok Sabha and only with the President’s prior recommendation.
Rajya Sabha’s Restricted Power:
- Cannot reject or amend.
- Must return the bill within 14 days.
- If not returned, it is deemed passed by both Houses.

IV. Financial Bills

Financial Bill (I) [Art. 117(1)]: Contains matters of Art. 110 plus other general legislation. Like a Money Bill, it needs President’s recommendation and starts only in Lok Sabha. However, Rajya Sabha has full powers to reject it.
Financial Bill (II) [Art. 117(3)]: Contains provisions involving expenditure from the Consolidated Fund but no matters of Art. 110. It is treated as an Ordinary Bill in all respects, except it needs President’s recommendation for consideration.

V. Constitution Amendment Bills (Article 368)

Can be introduced in either House.
Does not require the President’s prior recommendation.
Must be passed by a Special Majority (2/3rd present and voting + 50% of total strength).
No provision for a Joint Sitting in case of a deadlock.
The President must give his assent (24th Amendment Act, 1971).

VI. Summary Table: Legislative Veto & Power

Bill Type	Introduction	Recommendation?	RS Power	Joint Sitting?
Ordinary	Either House	No	Full	Yes
Money	LS Only	Yes	14 Days only	No
Financial I	LS Only	Yes	Full	Yes
Financial II	Either House	Yes (later)	Full	Yes
Const. Amdt	Either House	No	Full	No

Retention Mnemonics

Money Bill (1-1-0): Imagine a “1” (Individual/Speaker) deciding on “1” (One House/LS) for the “0” (Zero power of RS).
Deadlock Rule: Ordinary = Yes, Money = No, Amendment = No. (Mnemonic: “O.M.A.” – Only Ordinary gets a Joint Meeting).

devices of parlimentary procedure

In parliamentary procedure, “devices” are the formal tools and mechanisms used by legislators to conduct business, hold the government accountable, and ensure transparency.

These devices include a variety of questions, motions, and other procedures.

I. Primary Parliamentary Devices

Question Hour: The initial hour of each sitting where members pose questions to ministers.
- Starred Questions: Require oral responses and allow for follow-up questions.
- Unstarred Questions: Require written answers and do not permit supplementary questions.
- Short Notice Questions: Address urgent matters with less than ten days’ notice.
Zero Hour: An informal Indian parliamentary practice that follows the Question Hour. Members can raise urgent issues without prior notification.

II. Formal Motions

A motion is a proposal to initiate debate on a specific issue. Discussion can only proceed with the consent of the Presiding Officer.

Category	Description	Key Sub-types
Substantive	Independent proposals on significant matters.	Impeachment of President; removal of CEC.
Substitute	Offered as an alternative to the original motion.	Replaces the original if passed.
Subsidiary	Dependent on another motion for its meaning.	Ancillary, Superseding, Amendment.

III. Accountability and Censure Motions

Closure Motion: Used to end a debate and bring the matter to an immediate vote. Types include Simple, Closure by Compartments, Kangaroo, and Guillotine.
Adjournment Motion: Temporarily suspends regular business to discuss a specific matter of urgent public importance. It is only allowed in the Lok Sabha and requires the support of 50 members.
No-Confidence Motion: Tests the government’s majority in the Lok Sabha. It requires 50 members’ support for admission. If passed, the government must resign.
Censure Motion: Expresses disapproval of specific government policies. If passed, the government is not required to resign.
Calling Attention Motion: An Indian innovation to draw a minister’s attention to urgent public matters and obtain a statement.
Privilege Motion: Raised when a breach of parliamentary privilege occurs, often due to a minister withholding or distorting facts.

IV. Other Key Procedures

Point of Order: Raised when a member believes that the rules of the House or the Constitution are being violated. It immediately stops all ongoing proceedings.
Motion of Thanks: A vote following the President’s address at the start of a session. Failure to pass this motion is considered a defeat for the government.
Short Duration Discussion: Also known as a “Two-Hour Discussion,” used for urgent public issues without a formal motion or vote.
Special Mention (Rajya Sabha) / Rule 377 (Lok Sabha): Used to raise matters that do not fit under other specific rules.
budget in parliment

The
Union Budget, constitutionally termed the Annual Financial Statement (AFS) under Article 112, is a statement of the estimated receipts and expenditures of the Government of India for a financial year. In 2026, the Union Budget for 2026–27 is scheduled to be presented on 1 February 2026.

I. Constitutional Provisions

Several articles in the Indian Constitution outline the budget process:
Article 112 mandates the President to present the AFS to both Houses of Parliament.
Article 113 details the procedure for estimates, requiring the President’s recommendation for Demands for Grants which are voted only by the Lok Sabha.
Article 114 pertains to the Appropriation Bill, without which no money can be drawn from the Consolidated Fund of India (CFI).
Article 110 defines a Money Bill, which includes the Finance Bill.

II. Six Stages of Budget Enactment
The budget enactment process involves six stages:
Presentation of Budget: The Finance Minister presents the Budget Speech in the Lok Sabha and lays documents in the Rajya Sabha.
General Discussion: A broad debate on policy in both Houses without voting.
Scrutiny by Departmental Committees: Standing Committees examine Demands for Grants.
Voting on Demands for Grants: Exclusively in the Lok Sabha, where Cut Motions can be moved.
Passing of Appropriation Bill: Authorises withdrawal of funds from the CFI.
Passing of Finance Bill: Legalises taxation proposals and must be enacted within 75 days.

III. Parliamentary Tools of Control
Parliament uses several tools to control the budget:
Cut Motions: Used in Lok Sabha to oppose demands. These include Policy Cuts (reducing demand to ₹1), Economy Cuts (reducing by a specified amount), and Token Cuts (reducing by ₹100 to air grievances).
Guillotine: On the last day of voting, the Speaker puts all pending demands to vote.
Vote on Account (Art. 116): An advance grant to the government for short-term expenditure until the budget is passed.

IV. Types of Expenditure
Expenditure is categorised as:
Charged Expenditure: Non-votable but discussable, covering items like salaries of the President and judges.
Voted Expenditure: Presented as Demands for Grants to the Lok Sabha.

V. Other Grants
Other grants include:
Supplementary Grant: For insufficient sanctioned amounts.
Excess Grant: For expenditure beyond the granted amount, requiring Public Accounts Committee approval.
Vote of Credit: A grant for unforeseen large expenditures.

Here are 10 high-yield questions on the Parliamentary Budgetary Process with answers and mnemonics designed for 2026 exam readiness.

10 Questions & Answers on the Budget
Q1: Which Article of the Constitution deals with the Annual Financial Statement?
A: Article 112.
Mnemonic: Think of 1-1-2 as the “Financial Emergency Number” for the nation’s accounts.
Q2: Which stage of the budget is exclusive to the Lok Sabha?
A: Voting on Demands for Grants.
Mnemonic: “V-L” — Voting isLimited to Lok Sabha.
Q3: What happens if the ‘Motion of Thanks’ or the ‘Budget’ is defeated in the Lok Sabha?
A: The Council of Ministers must resign as it signifies a loss of majority.
Mnemonic: “D-D” — Defeat equals Dismissal of the Government.
Q4: Which motion is used to reduce a demand for grant to ₹1?
A: Policy Cut Motion.
Mnemonic: “P-1” — Policy is the 1st (and harshest) disapproval.
Q5: What is the purpose of a ‘Vote on Account’?
A: To provide the government with funds for a short period (usually 2 months) until the full budget is passed.
Mnemonic: “V-A-C” — Vote Ahead of Completion.
Q6: What is the ‘Guillotine’ in the context of the budget?
A: It is the process where the Speaker puts all remaining undiscussed demands for grants to vote on the last day.
Mnemonic: “G-G” — Guillotine Groups all items for one final cut.
Q7: Which bill legalises the taxation proposals of the government?
A: The Finance Bill.
Mnemonic: “F-T” — Finance Bill handles Taxes (Income).
Q8: Can the Rajya Sabha vote on the Demands for Grants?
A: No, it can only discuss them.
Mnemonic: “R-R” — Rajya Sabha can only Review.
Q9: What is a ‘Token Cut’ motion?
A: A motion to reduce the demand by ₹100 to vent a specific grievance.
Mnemonic: “T-100” — A Token is worth 100.
Q10: Who certifies a bill as a Money Bill (and thus a Finance Bill)?
A: The Speaker of the Lok Sabha.
Mnemonic: “S-S” — Speaker is the Sole authority.

Master Mnemonic for Budget Stages
To remember the 6 stages of the budget in order:
“P-G-S-V-A-F”
Presentation
General Discussion
Scrutiny by Committees
Voting on Demands
Appropriation Bill (Withdrawal)
Finance Bill (Taxation)
Mnemonic Sentence: Please Give Some Valuable Account Facts

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