Parliament: Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, Bills, Procedure and Committees
Parliament: Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, Bills, Procedure and Committees
Parliament consists of the President, the Lok Sabha (House of the People) and the Rajya Sabha (Council of States). NTPC asks the strength and terms of the Houses, who presides, types of bills (especially money bills), joint sittings and the main committees.
1. The Two Houses
| Item | Lok Sabha | Rajya Sabha |
|---|---|---|
| Article | 81 | 80 |
| Maximum strength | 550 elected (530 states, 20 UTs) | 250 (238 elected, 12 nominated by the President) |
| Term | 5 years (can be dissolved) | Permanent; one-third retire every two years; member's term 6 years |
| Minimum age | 25 years | 30 years |
| Presiding officer | Speaker | Chairman (the Vice-President) |
Nominated Rajya Sabha members: persons with knowledge of literature, science, art and social service
The two nominated Anglo-Indian seats in the Lok Sabha were ended by the 104th Amendment (2019)
2. Bills and Procedure
| Item | Facts |
|---|---|
| Money bill | Article 110; introduced only in the Lok Sabha with the President's recommendation; the Speaker certifies it; Rajya Sabha can delay it only 14 days |
| Joint sitting | Article 108; called by the President to resolve a deadlock on an ordinary bill; presided over by the Speaker; not for money or constitutional amendment bills |
| Annual Financial Statement (budget) | Article 112 |
| Question Hour | First hour of a sitting |
| Zero Hour | Starts at noon, after Question Hour; an Indian innovation |
| Sessions | Budget, Monsoon and Winter; the gap between two sessions cannot exceed six months |
3. Committees
| Committee | Key facts |
|---|---|
| Public Accounts Committee | 22 members (15 Lok Sabha, 7 Rajya Sabha); chairman usually from the Opposition; examines CAG reports |
| Estimates Committee | 30 members, all from the Lok Sabha |
| Committee on Public Undertakings | 22 members |
✗ A money bill can be introduced in either House | ✓ Only in the Lok Sabha, on the President's recommendation
✗ The Vice-President presides over a joint sitting | ✓ The Speaker of the Lok Sabha presides
हिंदी नोट: लोकसभा की अधिकतम संख्या 550 और राज्यसभा की 250 (12 मनोनीत) है। धन विधेयक (अनुच्छेद 110) केवल लोकसभा में पेश होता है; राज्यसभा इसे 14 दिन तक रोक सकती है। संयुक्त बैठक (अनुच्छेद 108) की अध्यक्षता लोकसभा अध्यक्ष करते हैं।
Exam Pointer: These patterns had no verified NTPC shift in our check and are tagged syllabus-based. Parliament questions appear across railway and SSC papers in exactly these forms.
Pariksha Pattern: Every Way NTPC Asks This Topic
Pattern 1: Strength and terms of the Houses
[Pattern: syllabus-based, PYQ-style]
EXAM LEVEL
Q. How many members can the President nominate to the Rajya Sabha?
12.
Answer: 12
EXAMATLAS LEVEL
Q. What is the minimum age for membership of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, and how often do Rajya Sabha members retire?
25 years for the Lok Sabha and 30 for the Rajya Sabha. One-third of Rajya Sabha members retire every two years.
Answer: 25 and 30; one-third every two years
Pattern 2: Money bills and the budget
[Pattern: syllabus-based, PYQ-style]
EXAM LEVEL
Q. Which article defines a money bill?
Article 110.
Answer: Article 110
EXAMATLAS LEVEL
Q. Who decides whether a bill is a money bill, and for how long can the Rajya Sabha hold it? Which article covers the Annual Financial Statement?
The Speaker of the Lok Sabha; the Rajya Sabha can hold it for 14 days. Article 112 covers the budget.
Answer: Speaker; 14 days; Article 112
Pattern 3: Joint sitting and procedure
[Pattern: syllabus-based, PYQ-style]
EXAM LEVEL
Q. Who presides over a joint sitting of Parliament?
The Speaker of the Lok Sabha.
Answer: Speaker
EXAMATLAS LEVEL
Q. Under which article is a joint sitting held, and for which two kinds of bills can it not be called? When does Zero Hour begin?
Article 108; not for money bills or constitutional amendment bills. Zero Hour begins at noon.
Answer: Article 108; money and amendment bills; 12 noon
Pattern 4: Parliamentary committees
[Pattern: syllabus-based, PYQ-style]
EXAM LEVEL
Q. Which committee examines the reports of the CAG?
The Public Accounts Committee.
Answer: Public Accounts Committee
EXAMATLAS LEVEL
Q. How many members does the Estimates Committee have, and from which House? How many members does the Public Accounts Committee have?
30, all from the Lok Sabha. The Public Accounts Committee has 22 (15 from the Lok Sabha and 7 from the Rajya Sabha).
Answer: 30, Lok Sabha; 22
60-Second Revision
- Lok Sabha max 550, age 25; Rajya Sabha 250 (12 nominated), age 30, permanent.
- Money bill Art 110, Lok Sabha only, Speaker certifies, 14 days.
- Joint sitting Art 108, Speaker presides.
- PAC 22 (examines CAG); Estimates 30 (Lok Sabha only).