Parliament: UPSC Previous Year Questions (Polity)

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect: The Communist Party of India (CPI) was the single largest opposition party in the First General Election. CPI won in 16 seats. The Indian National Congress (INC) won a landslide victory, winning 364 of the 489 seats and nearly 45% of the total votes polled.

Statement 2 is correct: In 1969, an official leader of the opposition was recognized for the first time. However, it was given statutory recognition in 1977. They are also entitled to the salary, allowances and other facilities equivalent to that of a cabinet minister.

Statement 3 is incorrect: In order to receive the status of opposition party and Consequent Leader of Opposition in Loksabha tag a party should secure 10% of the total strength of the House i.e. 55 seats in the Lok Sabha.

Explanation

Committee on Subordinate Legislation scrutinizes and reports to the House whether the powers to make regulations, rules, sub-rules, by-laws etc. conferred by the Constitution or delegated by Parliament are being properly exercised by the executive within the scope of such delegation. It ensures that the Executive properly exercises powers to make regulations, rules, and by-laws within the scope of delegation from Parliament. It scrutinizes subordinate legislation to ensure it aligns with the intent of the parent legislation and does not exceed the authority granted.

Option (a), (c) and (d) are incorrect:

The Committee on Government Assurances examines the assurances, promises, and undertakings given by ministers in the Parliament and reports on their implementation. The committee in the Lok Sabha comprises 15 members, while in the Rajya Sabha, it consists of 10 members. It was constituted in 1953. Rules Committee assists in the framing and amendment of the rules of procedure for the conduct of business in Parliament. The Lok Sabha committee comprises 15 members, with the Speaker serving as the ex-officio chairman. In the Rajya Sabha, the committee consists of 16 members, including the Chairman as the ex-officio chairman. The Business Advisory Committee allocates time for the consideration of bills and other business in the Parliament and decides the schedule for parliamentary sessions. The Lok Sabha committee comprises 15 members, with the Speaker serving as the chairman. In the Rajya Sabha, it consists of 11 members, with the Chairman acting as the ex-officio chairman.

Explanation

Article 110 of the Constitution states that a bill is deemed to be a money bill if it contains ‘only’ provisions dealing with all or any of the following matters:

The imposition, abolition, remission, alteration or regulation of any tax; The regulation of the borrowing of money by the Union government; The custody of the Consolidated Fund of India or the Contingency Fund of India, the payment of moneys into or the withdrawal of money from any such fund; The appropriation of money out of the Consolidated Fund of India; Declaration of any expenditure charged on the Consolidated Fund of India or increasing the amount of any such expenditure; The receipt of money on account of the Consolidated Fund of India or the public account of India, or the custody or issue of such money, or the audit of the accounts of the Union or of a state; Any matter incidental to any of the matters specified above.