67 previous year UPSC Prelims questions on Parliament make this the largest Polity chapter here, spread across 23 exam years from 1997 to 2025. UPSC keeps returning to Money Bill and Finance Bill, joint sittings, parliamentary committees, the Speaker, and the special powers of the Rajya Sabha. Every explanation names the Article or rule that decides the answer.
Explanations state facts as of the year each question was asked; words like “recently” refer to that year.
Showing 61–67 of 67 questions
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UPSC 2001Polity · Parliament
Q61. In what way does the Indian Parliament exercise control over the administration?
Explanation
Option (a) is correct: Indian Parliament exercises control over the administration primarily through Parliamentary Committees, which scrutinize the functioning of the executive and ensure accountability. The Parliament has Standing committees and Ad hoc committees that scrutinize bills, review the performance of Ministries, conduct enquiry and make recommendations.
Option (b) is incorrect: Consultative Committees, attached to various ministries, comprise MPs from both Houses and serve an advisory role by discussing policies and providing inputs. However, they lack binding powers or direct parliamentary oversight.
Option (c) is incorrect: Periodic reports sent by administrators are internal to the executive and do not involve direct parliamentary oversight. They are not a tool for Parliament to control administration.
Option (d) is incorrect: Writs play a critical role in maintaining accountability, they fall under the purview of the judiciary, not the legislature. Therefore, writs are not a mechanism for Parliament to exercise control over the administration.
UPSC 2000Polity · Parliament
Q62. The Parliament can make any law for the whole or any part India for implementing international treaties:
Explanation
The powers and functions of the Parliament are mentioned in Chapter II of Part V of the Constitution. Under this, the Parliament is empowered to make laws on all matters listed in the Union list and Concurrent list of the Constitution.
Option (d) is correct: According to article 253, it can also formulate laws on any matter pertaining to the State list if it is deemed necessary for the implementation of International Treaties or Agreements concluded with foreign nations. This provision ensures that India can fulfill its international obligations effectively. Hence, no consent from the states is required.
UPSC 2000Polity · Parliament
Q63. Which one of the following statements about a Money Bill is not correct?
Explanation
Statement (a) is incorrect: A Money Bill can only be introduced in the Lok Sabha on the prior recommendation of the President, as per Article 109 of the Indian Constitution. It cannot be introduced in the Rajya Sabha. Statement (b) is correct: The Speaker of the Lok Sabha is the final authority to decide whether a bill is a Money Bill or not. This decision is final and cannot be questioned in any court. However, in Rojer Mathew v South Indian Bank Ltd Case, 2019 Supreme court said that the speaker’s decision was not beyond judicial review though the scope was extremely restricted. Statement (c) is correct: After the Lok Sabha passes the Money Bill, it is sent to the Rajya Sabha. The Rajya Sabha has 14 days to either accept, reject, or recommend changes in the bill to the Lok Sabha. The Lok Sabha can either accept or reject all or any of the recommendations of the Rajya Sabha. Statement (d) is correct: Once the Money Bill has been passed by the Lok Sabha (and the Rajya Sabha, if applicable), it is sent to the President for approval. The President may either give or withhold his assent to a Money Bill. The President cannot return a Money Bill to the Lok Sabha for reconsideration.
UPSC 2000Polity · Parliament
Q64. The Speaker can ask a member of the House to stop speaking and let another member speak. This phenomenon is known as:
Explanation
Option (d) is correct: The speaker of the Lok sabha can ask a member of the house to stop speaking and let another member speak. It is known as yielding the floor. Yielding the floor allows the smooth and orderly conduct of debate in the House. The Speaker may ask a member to stop speaking if they have exceeded their time or if another member is to speak on the matter at hand. Options (a), (b) and (c) are incorrect:
Decorum refers to the appropriate behavior and conduct expected in the House. Crossing the floor is a term used when a member switches allegiance from one party to another, particularly in the context of voting or support. Interpellation is a formal procedure where a member of the House asks a question to the government, which requires a written or oral response. The term "interpellation" is not formally used in Indian parliamentary practice.
UPSC 1999Polity · Parliament
Q65. Consider the following statements: An amendment to the Constitution of India can be initiated by the: 1. Lok Sabha 2. Rajya Sabha 3. State Legislature 4. President Which of the above statements is/are correct?
Explanation
Statement (1) and (2) are correct: Both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha can introduce a bill for Constitutional amendment and pass it with a two-thirds majority of the members present and voting.
Statement (3) is incorrect: While the State Legislatures can ratify amendments related to certain matters (like changes to the federal structure) which require ratification by the legislatures of at least half of the states (via simple majority), they cannot initiate amendments.
Statement (4) is incorrect: The President does not have the power to initiate a constitutional amendment. The President’s role is to give assent to a bill passed by Parliament for an amendment.
UPSC 1997Polity · Parliament
Q66. Given below are two statements, one labelled as Assertion (A) and the other labelled as Reason (R). Assertion (A): Reservation of thirty-three percent of seats for women in Parliament and State Legislature does not require any Constitutional amendment. Reason (R): Political parties contesting elections can allocate thirty-three percent of seats they contest to women candidates without any Constitutional amendment. In the context of the above two statements, which one of the following is correct?
Explanation
Assertion (A) is false: The reservation of 33% seats for women in Parliament and State Assemblies does require a constitutional amendment. Recently, the 106th Constitutional Amendment Act of 2019 was made, which provides for 33% reservation of seats for women in Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies (alongwith UTs with legislative assemblies). Reason (R) is true: Political parties can independently decide to allocate a certain percentage of tickets to women candidates and this is separate from constitutional reservation.
UPSC 1997Polity · Parliament
Q67. Which of the following is/are stated in the Constitution of India? 1. The President shall not be a member of either House of Parliament 2. The Parliament shall consist of the President and two Houses. Choose the correct answer from the codes given below:
Explanation
Statement (1) is correct: According to article 84 of the Constitution of India, the President is not a member of either the Lok Sabha or the Rajya Sabha, but he should be qualified for election as a member of the Lok Sabha.
Statement (2) is correct: As per article 79 of the Constitution, the Parliament of India consists of three components: the President, the Lok Sabha (House of the People), and the Rajya Sabha (Council of States).
Answer key for these questions
Q
UPSC year
Correct answer
61
2001
(a) Through Parliamentary Committees
62
2000
(d) without the consent of any State.
63
2000
(a) A Money Bill can be tabled in either House of Parliament
64
2000
(d) yielding the floor
65
1999
(d) 1 and 2
66
1997
(d) A is false but R is true
67
1997
(b) Both 1 and 2
What UPSC has tested in Parliament
A Money Bill (Article 110) can be introduced only in the Lok Sabha; the Rajya Sabha can only recommend changes, within fourteen days.
A joint sitting under Article 108 is not available for a Money Bill or a Constitution Amendment Bill.
There is no mention of a no-confidence motion in the Constitution; it arises from collective responsibility and the Lok Sabha’s rules.
The Rajya Sabha can empower Parliament to legislate on a State List subject by a two-thirds resolution of members present and voting (Article 249).
The Estimates Committee is the largest parliamentary committee; the Speaker appoints the Public Accounts Committee’s chairman.
A bill pending in the Lok Sabha lapses on its dissolution; a bill passed by the Lok Sabha but pending in the Rajya Sabha also lapses.
Four Delimitation Commissions have been constituted so far, under the Acts of 1952, 1962, 1972 and 2002.
Frequently asked questions
How many previous year UPSC questions are there on Parliament?
This page covers 67 previous year UPSC Prelims GS Paper-I questions on Parliament (Polity), asked from 1997 to 2025. Each has the correct answer and an explanation.
What is a Money Bill and who can introduce it?
A bill dealing only with matters in Article 110, such as taxation and Consolidated Fund spending. It can be introduced only in the Lok Sabha on the President’s recommendation, and the Speaker certifies whether a bill is a Money Bill.
When can a joint sitting of Parliament be held?
Under Article 108, when the Houses disagree on an ordinary or financial bill after specified delays. It is not allowed for Money Bills or Constitution Amendment Bills. Only three joint sittings have occurred: 1961, 1978 and 2002.
Which is the largest committee of Parliament?
The Estimates Committee, with thirty members, all drawn from the Lok Sabha. The Public Accounts Committee has twenty-two members, fifteen from the Lok Sabha and seven from the Rajya Sabha.
What happens to pending bills when the Lok Sabha is dissolved?
A bill pending in the Lok Sabha lapses, as does a bill passed by the Lok Sabha and pending in the Rajya Sabha. A bill pending in the Rajya Sabha but not passed by the Lok Sabha does not lapse.
Which special powers does the Rajya Sabha have?
It can pass a resolution by two-thirds of members present and voting that Parliament legislate on a State List subject in the national interest (Article 249), and can authorise the creation of new All-India Services (Article 312).
