3 previous year UPSC Prelims questions on Parliament (Polity). Choose an option to see the answer and explanation.
Explanations state facts as of the year each question was asked; words like “recently” refer to that year.
Showing 1–3 of 3 questions
UPSC 2014Polity · Parliament
Q1. Consider the following statements regarding a No-Confidence Motion in India: 1. There is no mention of a No-Confidence Motion in the Constitution of India. 2. A motion of No-Confidence can be introduced in the Lok Sabha only. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Explanation
Statement 1 is correct: The Constitution of India does not explicitly mention the No-Confidence Motion. The Constitution provides the framework for parliamentary procedures but leaves the details of the procedures, including the No-Confidence Motion, to the Rules of Procedure of the Lok Sabha. The motion of No Confidence is a part of parliamentary practice that allows the Lok Sabha to hold the government accountable by voting whether or not they have confidence in the Council of Ministers headed by the Prime Minister.
Statement 2 is correct: A No-Confidence Motion can only be introduced in the Lok Sabha (the Lower House of Parliament). According to the Rules of Procedure of the Lok Sabha, the motion requires the support of at least 50 members to be introduced. The Rajya Sabha (the Upper House) does not have the provision to introduce a No-Confidence Motion against the government. A No-Confidence Motion is a tool used to test the majority support for the government.
Additional insight:
No-Confidence motion need not state the reasons for its adoption in the Lok Sabha. It can be moved against the entire council of ministers only. If it is passed in the Lok Sabha, the council of ministers must resign from office. The First no-confidence motion was moved during the third Lok Sabha in 1963 when Jawaharlal Nehru was the Prime Minister. Lok Sabha’s Rule 198 mentions the procedure for a motion of no-confidence. So a no-confidence motion can only be passed in Lok Sabha as Rule 198 allows any member of the House to give a written notice. In case there are 50 MPs in favour, a date for discussing the motion is assigned. If at all during the debate and the eventual vote, which has to take place within 10 days of the notice, majority of the members vote in favour of the motion then the motion is passed and the government in power has to vacate the office. According to most parliamentary procedures, a minimum of six months should pass between the introduction of two no-confidence motions.
UPSC 2014Polity · Parliament
Q2. Which one of the following is the largest Committee of the Parliament?
Explanation
The Estimates Committee was set up in 1950, on the recommendation of John Mathai. It consists of 30 members, all from the Lok Sabha and it is the largest committee. These members are elected by the Lok Sabha every year from amongst its own members, according to the principles of proportional representation by means of a single transferable vote. The minister cannot be the members of the estimates committee. The chairman of the committee is appointed by the Speaker from amongst its members and he is invariably from the ruling party. Its function is to examine the budget and also suggest economies of public expenditure. It also suggests an alternative policy of bringing policy of economies.
UPSC 2014Polity · Parliament
Q3. Which of the following is/are the function/ functions of the Cabinet Secretariat? 1. Preparation of agenda for Cabinet Meetings 2. Secretariat assistance to Cabinet Committees 3. Allocation of financial resources to the Ministries Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Explanation
Statement 1 is correct: A cabinet secretary is appointed for a fixed period of time, usually two years. A Cabinet Secretary holds the responsibility of preparation of agenda for Cabinet Meetings.
Statement 2 is correct: The Prime Minister has direct control over the cabinet secretariat. The Cabinet Secretary is the administrative head of the secretariat. It also gives secretariat assistance to the Cabinet Committees.
Statement 3 is incorrect: The Cabinet Secretariat facilitates government decision-making by providing interministerial coordination. However, the Ministry of Finance is entrusted with the allocation of financial resources to the Ministries.
Answer key for these questions
Q
UPSC year
Correct answer
1
2014
(c) Both 1 and 2
2
2014
(b) The committee on Estimates
3
2014
(c) 1 and 2 only
Frequently asked questions
How many previous year UPSC questions are there on Parliament?
This page covers 3 previous year UPSC Prelims GS Paper-I questions on Parliament (Polity), asked from 1997 to 2025. Each has the correct answer and an explanation.
How should I use previous year UPSC questions for Prelims?
Attempt each question first, then open the answer and read the explanation for every option. Repeat by chapter, and track which statements UPSC reuses across years. Previous year questions show the exam pattern and difficulty level.
Which years are covered for Parliament?
Questions on Parliament (Polity) are available for 23 years, from 1997 to 2025. Use the Year filter to practise a single paper.
