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Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha

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Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha

shape Introduction

General Awareness is an important section of most of the competitive exams for employment in the government sector in India including, but not limited to, Banking, SSC, UPSC, Railways Insurance, etc. Lokh Sabha and Rajya Sabha is the one of the important concept in General Awareness sections. The Lok Sabha is the lower house of India's bicameral Parliament, with the upper house being the Rajya Sabha. The Constitution limits the Lok Sabha to a maximum of 552 members. The Constitution limits the Rajya Sabha to a maximum of 245 members. The article Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha presents some key points related to the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.

shape Lok Sabha

Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha - Lok Sabha:
  • Lok Sabha is composed of representatives of the people chosen by direct election on the basis of the adult suffrage.
  • The Constitution limits the Lok Sabha to a maximum of 552 members.
  • 530 members - Made by-election to represent the States,

  • 20 members: To represent the Union Territories and

  • Not more than two members of Anglo- Indian Community to be nominated by the Hon’ble President

Lok Sabha - Qualifications:
  • Qualifying Age for Lok Sabha is - 25 Years
  • He / She should be a citizen of India.

  • He/ She possesses such other qualifications as may be prescribed in that behalf by or under any law made by Parliament.

  • He / She should not be proclaimed criminal i.e. they should not be a convict, a confirmed debtor or otherwise disqualified by law.

  • He / She should have his/ her name in the electoral rolls in any part of the country.

Lok Sabha - Reasons for a member can be disqualified for being a member of Parliament:
  • If he/ she holds the office profit

  • If he/she is of unsound mind and stands so declared by the competent court

  • If he/ she is not a citizen of India, or has voluntarily acquired the citizenship of a foreign state, or is under any acknowledgement of allegiance or adherence to a foreign state

  • If he/ she is violating party discipline

Lok Sabha - Key Facts:
  • Lok Sabha continues for five years from the date appointed for its first meeting and the expiration of the period of five years operated as the dissolution of the House.

  • However, while a proclamation of emergency is in operation, this period may be extended by Parliament by law for a period not exceeding one year at a time and not extending, in any case, beyond a period of six months after the proclamation has ceased to operate.

  • Lok Sabha elects one of its own members as its Presiding Officer and he is called the Speaker.

  • He is assisted by the Deputy Speaker who is also elected by Lok Sabha.

  • The conduct of business in Lok Sabha is the responsibility of the Speaker.
Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha - Rajya Sabha:
  • Rajya Sabha is the Upper House of the Parliament of India.

  • Origin of Rajya Sabha can be traced to Montague- Chelmsford Report, 1918. It was established in 1921 for the first time.

  • First Rajya Sabha was convened in 1952 in Independent India.

  • As per the Article 80 of Indian Constitution, the maximum strength of the Rajya Sabha is 250 members - out of which 238 members representing the States and Union Territories, and 12 members nominated by the President.

  • Maximum Seats - Uttar Pradesh (31), Maharashtra (19), Tamil Nadu (18).

  • NCR, Delhi (3) and Puducherry (1) are the only two UTs which have representation in Rajya Sabha

  • Rajya Sabha is a permanent body and is not subject to dissolution.

  • One-third of the members retire every second year and are replaced by newly elected members. Each member is elected for a term of six operations.

  • The Vice-President of India is the ex-officio Chairman of Rajya Sabha.

  • The House also elects a Deputy Chairman from among its members. There is also a panel of Vice- Chairman in the Rajya Sabha.

  • The senior minister, who is a member of Rajya Sabha, is appointed by the Prime Minister as Leader of the House.

Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha - Qualifications for the member of Rajya Sabha:
  • One should be a citizen of India One should be at least 30 years old

  • Be elected by the Legislative Assembly of States and Union Territories by means of single transferable votes through proportional representation.

Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha - Rajya Sabha Limitations:
  • Money bills, as defined in the constitution of India Article 110, can only be introduced in Lok Sabha. If Lok Sabha passed a Money Bill and transmitted it to Rajya Sabha, the
  • Rajya Sabha has only 14 days to return the bill with or without amendments.

  • If Rajya Sabha fails to return the bill in 14 days, the bill is deemed to have passed by both Houses. Also, if Lok Sabha rejects any of the amendments proposed by Rajya Sabha, the bill is deemed to have been passed by Houses of Parliament in the form Lok Sabha finally passes it. Hence, Rajya Sabha cannot stall, or amend a money Bill without Lok Sabha’s concurrence on the same.

Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha - Rajya Sabha Powers:
  • The constitution empowers Parliament of India to make laws on matters reserved for States.

  • This can only be done if Rajya Sabha first passes a resolution by two-thirds special majority granting such a power to the Union Parliament. The union government can’t make a law on a matter reserved for stated without authorization from Rajya Sabha.

  • If Rajya Sabha passes a resolution by a majority of not less than two- thirds of the members present and voting declaring that it is necessary or expedient in the national interest to create one or more All India Services common to the Union and the States, Parliament becomes empowered to create by law such services.

shape Quiz

1. The present Lok Sabha is the____
    A. [latex]{13}^{th}[/latex] Lok Sabha B. [latex]{14}^{th}[/latex] Lok Sabha C. [latex]{15}^{th}[/latex] Lok Sabha D. [latex]{16}^{th}[/latex] Lok Sabha

Answer: Option D
2. Who is authorized to dissolve Lok Sabha at any time
    A. Lok Sabha Speaker B. President C. Supreme Court D. Rajya Sabha

Answer: Option B
3. The joint sitting of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha under Article 108 is summoned by
    A. Chairman of Rajya Sabha B. Speaker of Lok Sabha C. Prime Minister D. President

Answer: Option D
4. Who appoints the “Speaker Pro Term” in Lok Sabha
    A. President B. Election in Lok Sabha C. Outgoing Speaker D. Prime Minister

Answer: Option A
5. The Speaker of Lok Sabha is elected by
    A. all the members of Parliament B. the people directly C. all the members of Lok Sabha D. the members of the majority party in the Lok Sabha

Answer: Option C
6. Who is the Speaker of Rajya Sabha?
    A. The Vice-President B. The Leader of opposition C. The Home Minister D. The person elected by the members of Rajya Sabha

Answer: Option A
7. Who among the following can participate in the deliberations of Lok Sabha while being a member of Rajya Sabha
    A. Nominated member of Rajya Sabha who is an expert in a field B. Deputy chairperson of Rajya Sabha C. Minister who is a member of Rajya Sabha D. Leader of the House in Rajya Sabha

Answer: Option C
8. The Chairman of the Rajya Sabha is
    A. elected by the members of Rajya Sabha B. nominated by the President C. elected by the members of both Houses of Parliament D. elected Parliament and State Legislatures jointly

Answer: Option C
9. How is Rajya Sabha dissolved
    A. At the end of Chairman's tenure B. President dissolves after 5 years C. Dissolves with Lok Sabha automatically D. None of the above

Answer: Option D
10. Who elects the members of Rajya Sabha
    A. Elected members of the Legislative Council B. The People C. Elected members of the Legislative Assembly D. Lok Sabha

Answer: Option C
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Chapter 36