Parliamentary Devices and Procedures
Indian Polity & Governance
- PYQs8
- Articles1
Background
Understanding the various parliamentary devices and procedures is crucial for comprehending how the Indian Parliament functions, exercises its oversight role, and addresses matters of public concern, directly relevant to GS2 syllabus on the functioning of Parliament.
Parliamentary devices and procedures are established rules and conventions that govern the functioning of the Indian Parliament, enabling members to raise issues, hold the executive accountable, and conduct legislative business. Key among these are motions like the adjournment motion, which allows for the discussion of urgent public importance, and general debates.
Facts & tables
- Adjournment Motion
- A parliamentary device to set aside all other business to discuss a definite matter of urgent public importance. Requires Speaker's consent.
- Debate
- A formal discussion on a specific issue or bill, allowing members to express views and seek clarification from the government.
- Role of Speaker
- The Speaker presides over the Lok Sabha, regulates its proceedings, and decides on the admissibility of motions like the adjournment motion.
- Logjam/Disruption
- Frequent disruptions and adjournments are common in Parliament when Opposition and Government fail to agree on the conduct of business.
| Type | Reference |
|---|---|
| Conceptual area | Indian Polity & Governance |
| Body | Role |
|---|---|
| Lok Sabha | Forum for discussion |
| Speaker of Lok Sabha | Regulates proceedings |
Prelims angle
Prelims angle: Multi-statement analysis
Prelims angle: Conceptual understanding
- Adjournment Motion: Requires 50 members' support, discusses urgent public importance.
- Speaker's consent is mandatory for an Adjournment Motion.
- Debates allow for detailed discussion on government policies and actions.
- Parliamentary logjams often arise from disagreements over procedural rules.
- These devices ensure executive accountability and public representation.
| Year | Framing tags |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall |
| 2024 | Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall |
| 2024 | Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall |
| 2024 | Multi-statement analysis, Institutional roles and functions |
| 2022 | Factual recall, Institutional roles and functions |
| 2022 | Multi-statement analysis, Conceptual understanding |
| 2018 | Statement-based questions, Factual recall |
| 2014 | Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis |
Timeline
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Indian Polity & Governance
Conceptual area
-
Prelims 2014
Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis
-
Prelims 2018
Statement-based questions, Factual recall
-
Prelims 2022
Factual recall, Institutional roles and functions
-
Prelims 2022
Multi-statement analysis, Conceptual understanding
-
Prelims 2024
Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall
-
Prelims 2024
Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall
-
Prelims 2024
Multi-statement analysis, Institutional roles and functions
-
Prelims 2026
Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall
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Amid Lok Sabha logjam, Centre offers debate on NEET paper leak, says street protests ‘won’t help’
Parliamentary devices like the adjournment motion and debates are vital tools for legislative oversight and discussion of urgent public matters. The Speaker plays a key role in regulating these procedures, which are often at the heart of parliamentary logjams.
See also
Past papers
2014–2026 · 8 questions
In the news
Amid Lok Sabha logjam, Centre offers debate on NEET paper leak, says street protests ‘won’t help’
Parliamentary devices like the adjournment motion and debates are vital tools for legislative oversight and discussion of urgent public matters. The Speaker plays a key role in regulating these procedures, which are often at the heart of parliamentary logjams.
Try these PYQs
With reference to Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha, consider the following statements :
1. As per the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha, the election of Deputy Speaker shall be held on such date as the Speaker may fix.
2. There is a mandatory provision that the election of a candidate, as Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha shall be from either the principal opposition party or the ruling party.
3. The Deputy Speaker has the same power as of the Speaker when presiding over the sitting of the House and no appeal lies against his rulings.
4. The well established parliamentary practice regarding the appointment of Deputy Speaker is that the motion is moved by the Speaker and duly seconded by the Prime Minister.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
Statement 1 is correct: The date of election of the Deputy Speaker is fixed by the Speaker. On the other hand date of election of the Speaker is fixed by the President. Statement 2 is incorrect: There is no mandatory provision that the election of a candidate, as Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha, shall be from either the principal opposition party or the ruling party. It is only by convention that the position of Deputy Speaker is offered to the opposition party in India. Statement 3 is correct: In case of the absence of the Speaker, the Deputy Speaker presides over the sessions of the Lok Sabha and conducts the business in the house. The Deputy Speaker has the same power as the Speaker when presiding over the sitting of the House. Statement 4 is incorrect: The Deputy Speaker is also elected by the Lok Sabha from amongst its members right after the election of the Speaker has taken place. There is no provision and or established practice of moving the motion for his election by the speaker and it is seconded by the prime minister.
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?
Statement 1 is correct: The Constitution does not mention No-Confidence Motion. Rather, Rule 198 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Lok Sabha specifies the procedure for moving a no-confidence motion. Statement 2 is correct: A no-confidence motion can be moved by any member of the House. It can be moved only in the Lok Sabha and not the Rajya Sabha. The member has to give a written notice of the motion before 10 am, which will be read out by the Speaker in the House. A minimum of 50 members have to accept the motion, and accordingly, the Speaker will announce the date for discussion of the motion.
Which of the following is/are the exclusive power(s) of Lok Sabha?
1. To ratify the declaration of Emergency
2. To pass a motion of no-confidence against the Council of Ministers
3. To impeach the President of India
Select the correct answer using the code given ' below:
* Statement 1 is incorrect: If the President is satisfied that a grave emergency exists whereby the security of India or of any part of the territory thereof is threatened, whether by war or external aggression or armed rebellion, he may, by Proclamation, make a declaration to that effect in respect of the whole of India or of such part of the territory. * Statement 2 is correct: According to Article 75 of the Indian constitution, the council of ministers shall be collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha. It means that the ministry stays in office so long as it enjoys the confidence of the majority of the members of the Lok Sabha. * Statement 3 is incorrect: When a President is to be impeached for violation of the Constitution, the charge shall be preferred by either House of Parliament.
With reference to the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, consider the following statements :
While any resolution for the removal of the Speaker of the Lok Sabha is under consideration
1. He/She shall not preside.
2. He/She shall not have the right to speak.
3. He/She shall not be entitled to vote on the resolution in the first instance.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Statement 1 is correct: Under Article 96(1), the Speaker cannot preside over the House while a resolution for their removal is active, even if they are present. Statement 2 is incorrect: Under Article 96(2), the Speaker maintains the right to speak and participate in the proceedings of the House during the consideration of the removal resolution. Statement 3 is incorrect: According to Article 96(2), the Speaker is entitled to vote only in the first instance. They do not have a "casting vote" (the vote used to break a tie/second instance) in this specific scenario.
Consider the following statements about the Committee on the Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes of the Parliament of India:
1. Although members of this Committee are elected from both Houses of Parliament, the Chairperson of this Committee is appointed by the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.
2. Twenty members are elected by the Rajya Sabha and ten members by the Lok Sabha.
3. No Minister, except for the Union Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment, is eligible to be a member of this Committee.
4. Members are elected for a fixed term of two years from the date they enter their office.
Which one of the following conclusions based on the above statements is correct ?
Statement 1 is Incorrect: The Chairperson of the Committee on the Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes is appointed by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha from amongst its members, not by the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. Statement 2 is Incorrect: The Committee consists of 30 members, out of which 20 are elected by the Lok Sabha and 10 are elected by the Rajya Sabha, not the other way around. Statement 3 is Incorrect: A Minister is strictly ineligible to be elected as a member of this Committee. If a member is appointed as a Minister after their election, they immediately cease to be a member of the Committee. There is no exception for the Union Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment or any other minister. Statement 4 is Incorrect: The term of office of the members of the Committee does not exceed one year, not two years. It is reconstituted annually like other major standing parliamentary committees (e.g., Public Accounts Committee, Estimates Committee). Since all the statements are incorrect, there is no correct statement. Therefore, the correct option is D.
Show 3 more PYQs
Consider the following statements :
1. In the first Lok Sabha, the single largest party in the opposition was the Swatantra Party.
2. In the Lok Sabha, a "Leader of the Opposition" was recognised for the first time in 1969.
3. In the Lok Sabha, if a party does not have a minimum of 75 members, its leader cannot be recognised as the Leader of the Opposition.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Statement 1 is incorrect. In the first Lok Sabha, the single largest party in the opposition was not the Swatantra Party but the Communist Party of India. Statement 2 is correct. In the Lok Sabha, a "Leader of the Opposition" was indeed recognized for the first time in 1969. Statement 3 is incorrect. In the Lok Sabha, if a party does not have a minimum of 75 members, its leader cannot be recognized as the Leader of the Opposition. The requirement is not 75 members but 10% of the total strength of the house, which is 55 members. So, only statement 2 is correct.
With reference to the Parliament of India, consider the following statements :
1. Prorogation of a House by the President of India does not require the advice of the Council of Ministers.
2. Prorogation of a House is generally done after the House is adjourned sine die but there is no bar to the President of India prorogating the House which is in session.
3. Dissolution of the Lok Sabha is done by the President of India who, save in exceptional circumstances, does so on the advice of the Council of Ministers.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Statement 1 is incorrect. Under Article 85(2) of the Constitution, the President has the authority to prorogue the Houses, or either House of Parliament, from time to time. The termination of a session of the House by an order from the President under this provision is referred to as 'prorogation.' The President exercises this power of prorogation only upon the recommendation of the Prime Minister or the Cabinet, i.e., the Council of Ministers. Statement 2 is correct. Typically, prorogation follows adjournment sine die, but technically, the President can prorogue a House even while it is in session. Statement 3 is correct. The President usually dissolves the Lok Sabha based on the advice of the Council of Ministers, except in exceptional circumstances such as a vote of no confidence or other political crises.
Which of the following statements about the Ethics Committee in the Lok Sabha are correct?
1. Initially it was an ad-hoc Committee.
2. Only a Member of the Lok Sabha can make a complaint relating to unethical conduct of a member of the Lok Sabha.
3. This Committee cannot take up any matter which is sub-judice.
Select the answer using the code given below :
* Statement 1: Correct: The Ethics Committee of Lok Sabha was initially an ad-hoc committee formed in 1952. It became a standing committee in 1997. * Statement 2: Incorrect: Any person can make a complaint to the Ethics Committee of Lok Sabha against a Member of Parliament for unethical conduct. It doesn't necessarily have to be another Member of Parliament. * Statement 3: Correct: The Ethics Committee of Lok Sabha cannot take up any matter that is sub-judice, meaning a matter that is currently under consideration by a court or other judicial authority. _Therefore, only statements 1 and 3 are correct._