Parliament: UPSC Previous Year Questions (Polity)

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct: Adjournment sine die means the suspension of a sitting without specifying a date for the next meeting by the Speaker. It typically happens at the end of a session. Prorogation is the formal ending of a session by the President. After prorogation, the House can only be summoned again by the President.

Statement 2 is correct: According to article 83(2) of the Constitution of India, the term of the Lok Sabha is five years from the date of its first meeting, unless it is dissolved earlier. At the end of the five-year period it is automatically dissolved by efflux of time, even if no formal order of dissolution is issued by the President.

Statement 3 is correct: The Speaker of Lok Sabha continues to hold office even after the dissolution of the House. The Speaker remains in office until immediately before the first meeting of the newly constituted Lok Sabha.

Explanation

Article 75 of the constitution says that the Council of Ministers shall be collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha. Lok Sabha can remove the ministry from office by passing a no-confidence motion.

Option (a) is correct: There is no need to set out the grounds on which it is based. No confidence motion is introduced only in the Lok Sabha(Rajya Sabha not empowered entertain introduce this motion) and requires the support of at least 50 members to be admitted. The procedure is governed by Rule 198 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha. If 50 or more members support the motion, the Speaker schedules a date for debate and voting. If the motion is passed by a simple majority vote, it implies that the government has lost the confidence of the House and must resign.

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect: The receipts under Public accounts mainly consist of the receipts of National Savings Certificate, Provident funds and other deposits where the Govt. acts as a banker and returns the fund after completion of the contract. This account is operated by executive action. Therefore, the disbursement out of this account does not need authorization of the Parliament.

Statement 2 is correct: The Indian Constitution provides for the establishment of a Consolidated Fund and a Public Account of India and of the states under Article 266 and a Contingency Fund of India and for each State under Article 267.

Statement 3 is correct: The Railway Budget was presented separately from the General Budget till 2017. In the year when the question was asked The Railway Budget was presented separately and Appropriations and disbursements under the Railway Budget were subject to the same form of parliamentary control as other appropriations and disbursements.