Suspension of a Member of Parliament
Indian Polity & Governance
- PYQs8
- Articles1
Background
UPSC frequently tests knowledge about the functioning of Parliament, the powers and responsibilities of presiding officers, and the mechanisms for maintaining decorum and discipline within the legislative bodies, which are crucial for understanding Indian Polity (GS2).
The presiding officers of Parliament (Speaker of Lok Sabha, Chairman of Rajya Sabha) are empowered to maintain order and decorum in the House. They can take disciplinary action, including suspension, against members who violate the rules of conduct or disrupt proceedings, as per the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business.
Facts & tables
- Authority
- Speaker (Lok Sabha) or Chairman (Rajya Sabha) initiates the process.
- Process
- A motion for suspension is moved by a member and passed by the House, often by a voice vote.
- Grounds
- Disorderly conduct, contempt of the House, or violation of the established rules of procedure.
- Duration
- Typically for a specified period, such as the remainder of the session or a part thereof.
| Type | Reference |
|---|---|
| Conceptual area | Indian Polity & Governance |
| Body | Role |
|---|---|
| Lok Sabha | Implements |
| Rajya Sabha | Implements |
Prelims angle
Prelims angle: Multi-statement analysis
Prelims angle: Conceptual understanding
- Presiding officer (Speaker/Chairman) has power to initiate suspension.
- Suspension is for disorderly conduct or breach of rules.
- Usually initiated by a motion passed by the House.
- Duration is typically for a session or part thereof.
- Aims to maintain decorum and dignity of Parliament.
Check if created by Constitution or by Parliament.
| Year | Framing tags |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall |
| 2025 | Statement-based questions, Institutional roles and functions |
| 2025 | Statement-based questions, Institutional roles and functions |
| 2022 | Multi-statement analysis, Conceptual understanding |
| 2022 | Factual recall, Institutional roles and functions |
| 2020 | Factual recall, Institutional roles and functions |
| 2016 | Statement-based questions, Conceptual understanding |
| 2015 | Statement-based questions, Institutional roles and functions |
Timeline
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Indian Polity & Governance
Conceptual area
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Prelims 2015
Statement-based questions, Institutional roles and functions
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Prelims 2016
Statement-based questions, Conceptual understanding
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Prelims 2020
Factual recall, Institutional roles and functions
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Prelims 2022
Multi-statement analysis, Conceptual understanding
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Prelims 2022
Factual recall, Institutional roles and functions
-
Prelims 2025
Statement-based questions, Institutional roles and functions
-
Prelims 2025
Statement-based questions, Institutional roles and functions
-
Prelims 2026
Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall
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Lok Sabha suspends TMC’s Kalyan Banerjee for using ‘unsavoury’ language against women MPs
MPs can be suspended for misconduct by the presiding officer, usually through a motion passed by the House, to maintain order and dignity of the legislative body.
See also
No related topics linked yet.
Past papers
2015–2026 · 8 questions
In the news
Lok Sabha suspends TMC’s Kalyan Banerjee for using ‘unsavoury’ language against women MPs
MPs can be suspended for misconduct by the presiding officer, usually through a motion passed by the House, to maintain order and dignity of the legislative body.
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:
I. On the dissolution of the House of the People, the Speaker shall not vacate his/her office until immediately before the first meeting of the House of the People after the dissolution.
II. According to the provisions of the Constitution of India, a Member of the House of the People on being elected as Speaker shall resign from his/her political party immediately.
III. The Speaker of the House of the People may be removed from his/her office by a resolution of the House of the People passed by a majority of all the then Members of the House, provided that no resolution shall be moved unless at least fourteen days' notice has been given of the intention to move the resolution.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
✅ Statement I: Correct
The Speaker of Lok Sabha continues in office even after dissolution until just before the new House meets, ensuring continuity (Article 94). ❌ Statement II: Incorrect
No constitutional mandate requires the Speaker to resign from their political party; this is only a convention for impartiality. ✅ Statement III: Correct
The Speaker can be removed by a majority resolution with at least 14 days' prior notice (Article 94). Therefore, statements I and III are correct.
Consider the following statements:
I. If any question arises as to whether a Member of the House of the People has become subject to disqualification under the Tenth Schedule, the President’s decision in accordance with the opinion of the Council of Union Ministers shall be final.
II. There is no mention of the word 'political party' in the Constitution of India.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
❌ Statement I: Incorrect
The decision on disqualification under the Tenth Schedule is made by the Speaker or Chairman, not the President or the Union Council of Ministers. ❌ Statement II: Incorrect
The word ‘political party’ is explicitly mentioned in the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution. Therefore, neither statement is correct.
Consider the following statements:
1. The Rajya Sabha has no power either to reject or to amend a Money Bill.
2. The Rajya Sabha cannot vote on the Demands for Grants.
3. The Rajya Sabha cannot discuss the Annual Financial Statement.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Statement 1 is correct: The Rajya Sabha has no power either to reject or to amend a Money Bill. This is a provision under Article 110 of the Indian Constitution. Statement 2 is correct. The Rajya Sabha cannot vote on the Demands for Grants. This is the exclusive privilege of the Lok Sabha. Statement 3 is incorrect. The Rajya Sabha can discuss the Annual Financial Statement (Budget), but it does not have the power to vote on the demands for grants. This is also the exclusive privilege of the Lok Sabha.
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.
Show 3 more PYQs
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.
Rajya Sabha has equal powers with Lok Sabha in:
The Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha, the two houses of India's Parliament, have different powers and functions. While the Lok Sabha is the lower house with members directly elected by the people, the Rajya Sabha is the upper house with members indirectly elected by the states. However, when it comes to amending the Constitution, both houses have equal powers. According to Article 368 of the Indian Constitution, any amendment to the Constitution requires the approval of both the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha. Therefore, for a constitutional amendment to be valid, it must be approved by both houses of Parliament, giving them equal powers in the process.
Which of the following statements is/are correct?
1. A bill pending in the Lok Sabha lapses on its prorogation.
2. A bill pending in the Rajya Sabha, which has not been passed by the Lok Sabha, shall not lapse on the dissolution of the Lok Sabha.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Statement 1 is Incorrect: A bill pending in the Lok Sabha does not lapse on prorogation. Prorogation refers to the formal end of a parliamentary session, but it does not affect the pending business of the House. When the Lok Sabha reconvenes in the next session, all pending bills remain active and can be resumed from where they were left. Statement 2 is Correct: A bill pending in the Rajya Sabha, which has not been passed by the Lok Sabha, does not lapse upon the dissolution of the Lok Sabha. This is because the Rajya Sabha is a permanent body that is not subject to dissolution. The new Lok Sabha can take up such bills from where they were left. Key Difference:
- Prorogation is a temporary suspension of parliamentary business; pending bills remain unaffected.
- Dissolution permanently ends the term of the Lok Sabha, causing pending bills in the Lok Sabha to lapse. However, bills in the Rajya Sabha do not lapse due to its continuous nature.