GK (Indian Constitution)

A Government Bill is a Bill introduced by any Minister in either House of Parliament, not just by ruling party members. This distinguishes it from Private Member's Bills. Options A, B, and C incorrectly limit the definition.

Under the Indian Constitution, the President has the power to give assent, withhold assent, or return a Bill (except Money Bills) for reconsideration. This is a crucial check on parliamentary legislation.

The President cannot withhold or return a Money Bill under Article 110. Money Bills deal with taxation, government expenditure, and financial matters, and the President's role is purely ceremonial in this case.

The second reading of a Bill involves both general discussion on the principles and clause-by-clause consideration. This is the most detailed stage where members examine each provision thoroughly, making option C correct.

The Lok Sabha has 18 Standing Committees covering various subjects. These committees examine Bills and policies in detail, functioning as miniature legislatures that allow for specialized discussion beyond the full House.

The Indian President is elected by an electoral college consisting of elected members of both Houses of Parliament and State Legislative Assemblies. The US President is elected by the Electoral College comprising electors chosen from each state. Both systems use indirect election through representative bodies rather than direct popular vote.

Ad hoc committees are temporary committees appointed for specific purposes and dissolved after completing their task. All three options listed - Committee on Draft Five Year Plan, Committee on conduct of members during President's Address, and Select/Joint Committees on Bills - are examples of ad hoc committees in Parliament.

Indian Parliament is not sovereign because: (1) The Preamble declares the people of India as sovereign, not Parliament; (2) The written Constitution limits parliamentary power; (3) Separation of powers with checks and balances among Legislature, Executive, and Judiciary prevents any one organ from becoming supreme.

All the listed committees are permanent Standing Committees of the Lok Sabha. These include Business Advisory Committee, Committee of Privileges, Committee on Absence of Members from Sitting, Committee on Estimates, Committee on Government Assurances, and Committee on Papers Laid on Table.

Under Article 108 of the Indian Constitution, the President has the authority to summon a joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament to resolve deadlocks on Bills (except Money Bills). This is a constitutional power vested in the President as the head of state.

The Supreme Court of India, through the Kesavananda Bharati case (1973), established the 'basic structure doctrine' - that Parliament's amendment power under Article 368 cannot alter the basic features of the Constitution. The Court determines what constitutes 'basic structure'.

Ad hoc committees in Parliament can be appointed by either the Speaker of Lok Sabha or the Chairman of Rajya Sabha (or both), depending on the nature and scope of the committee's work. These are temporary committees for specific purposes.

India has a parliamentary system of government where the executive is responsible to the legislature. This is unlike a presidential system where the executive is separate from and not directly responsible to the legislature.

Article 368 of the Indian Constitution deals with the power of Parliament to amend the Constitution and the procedure for such amendments. This is the specific constitutional provision that empowers constitutional amendments.

Article 368 grants the power to amend the Constitution to Parliament. While the Judiciary interprets the Constitution and the Executive implements laws, only Parliament has the constituent power to amend the Constitution (subject to judicial review for basic structure).

The Kesavananda Bharati case (1973) primarily dealt with the scope of Parliament's amendment power under Article 368. The Supreme Court held that while Parliament can amend any part of the Constitution, it cannot alter its 'basic structure'.

The 24th Amendment Act (1971) amended Article 368 for the first time to explicitly state that Parliament has the power to amend any part of the Constitution and that a Constitutional Amendment is not a 'law' under Article 13. This was done in response to the Golaknath case judgment.

In Golak Nath v. State of Punjab (1967), the Supreme Court held that Fundamental Rights are 'transcendental and immutable' and cannot be abridged or taken away even through constitutional amendments. This was a landmark ruling that established the supremacy of Fundamental Rights. However, this position was later overturned in Kesavananda Bharati (1973), which established the 'basic structure' doctrine instead.

The Supreme Court restored judicial review power in Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala (1973) by establishing the 'basic structure' doctrine. This ruling overturned the earlier Golak Nath verdict and allowed Parliament to amend any part of the Constitution (including Fundamental Rights) provided it did not destroy the Constitution's basic structure. High Courts and District Courts do not have constitutional interpretation authority at this level.

Parliament has the power to amend the Constitution under Article 368. Through various constitutional amendments (especially before the Kesavananda Bharati judgment), Parliament attempted to curb judicial review by adding clauses like Article 31C and the Ninth Schedule. The State Legislature, Council of State, and Legislative Council do not have constitutional amendment powers.

The Janata Government (1977-1979) introduced the 45th Constitutional Amendment Bill seeking to introduce referendum for changes to basic features. While it passed in Lok Sabha, it failed to secure the required two-thirds majority in Rajya Sabha. This demonstrates how the upper house acts as a check on constitutional amendments. State Legislatures and Legislative Councils are not directly involved in this process.

In the landmark Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala (1973) case, the Supreme Court ruled that while Parliament has wide amending power, no part of the Constitution is completely unamendable. However, Parliament cannot alter the 'basic structure' of the Constitution. This was a balanced approach between Parliament's amending authority and judicial review. High Courts follow Supreme Court precedent on constitutional matters.

All three cases are landmark judgments on constitutional amendment under Article 368. Shankari Prasad (1951) initially upheld Parliament's power to amend Fundamental Rights. Golak Nath (1967) reversed this, holding Fundamental Rights unamendable. Kesavananda Bharati (1973) established the 'basic structure' doctrine. Minerva Mills (1980) further clarified that Parliament's amending power is limited and cannot expand its own authority to damage basic features.