Civics Polity

Legislature and Parliament

1,426 Questions

Legislature and Parliament topics cover the structure, functions, and legislative procedures of the lawmaking bodies. This collection focuses on the passage of bills, parliamentary committees, and the roles of different houses. These questions are highly relevant for civil services and state public service commission examinations.

Money billsParliamentary committeesLegislative proceduresRajya Sabha rulesState legislaturesImpeachment process

Legislature and Parliament Questions

Multiple choice

Which of the following is not among the Bills passed by both houses of Parliament in the Monsoon session concluded in 2010-11?

  1. The State Bank of India (Amendment) Bill, 2010

  2. The Personal Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2010

  3. The National Educational Tribunals Bill, 2010

  4. The Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Bill, 2010

  5. The Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Bill, 2010
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The National Educational Tribunals Bill, 2010 was introduced but faced significant opposition and was not passed by both houses during the Monsoon session of 2010.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is the correct position regarding the legislative powers of the President?

  1. The President can refuse to sign a bill.

  2. Once the cabinet has passed a bill, the President must sign it.

  3. The President can send a bill back for reconsideration once.

  4. The President can send a bill back to the cabinet for unanimous recommendation.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

All bills passed by the Parliament can become laws only after receiving the assent of the President. The President can return a bill to the Parliament, if it is not a money bill or a constitutional amendment bill, for reconsideration. When after reconsideration, the bill is passed and presented to the President, with or without amendments, President is obliged to assent to it. 

Multiple choice

Which of the following courses is most appropriate for the Governor if he receives a Bill passed by the Legislative Assembly for resettlement of state citizens affecting the general laws of citizenship of India?

  1. Exercise veto over the Bill

  2. Refer the Bill to the President

  3. Keep the Bill pending

  4. Give assent to the Bill
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

One of the important functions of the Departmentally Related Standing Committees is to examine Bills introduced in either House as are referred to them by the Chairman, Rajya Sabha or the Speaker, Lok Sabha, as the case may be, and make report thereon in the given time. Normally, a time period of three months is given to the Committees for presentation of report. 

Multiple choice

One of the characteristics of a parliamentary system of Government in India is that

  1. the ministry is responsible to the parliament as well as the President

  2. the ministry is collectively responsible to both the Houses of the Parliament

  3. the ministry is collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha

  4. the ministry is responsible to the Head of the State
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Parliamentary government is the 'fusion' of powers between the executive and parliament. The first feature of parliamentary government is that governments are formed as a result of parliamentary elections, based on the strength of party representation in the commons. The party with the majority in the commons forms the government. 

Multiple choice

When can the Governor of a State reserve a bill for the consideration of the President?

  1. If it initiates entirely a new policy which was not followed by the previous governments

  2. If the bill enhances the prestige and position of the ruling party in the state

  3. If it undermines the authority of the High Court

  4. If he feels that the bill is against the interests of the opposition parties
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Under Article 200, the Governor can reserve a bill passed by the legislature for reconsideration of the President. A bill can be reserved under the following circumstances: (i) if the bill is unconstitutional (ii) if it is against the larger interest of the country (iii) if it is in direct opposition to the Directive Princi­ples of State Policy (iv) if the bill passed by the state legislature is of grave national importance (v) if it endangers the position of the High Court (vi) if the bill deals with the compulsory acquisition of property under Article 31(3)

Multiple choice

M.P stands for

  1. Modified People

  2. Member of Parliament

  3. Master of People

  4. None of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

M.P. stands for Member of Parliament, an elected representative in a legislative body.

Multiple choice

What are the issues relating to legislation that The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Human Resource Development has raised?

Directions: The questions in this section are based on a single passage. The questions are to be answered on the basis of what is stated or implied in the passage. Kindly note that more than one of the choices may conceivably answer some of the questions. However, you are to choose the most appropriate answer; that is, the response that most accurately and completely answers the question.

The decision of the University Grants Commission to defer a move to accommodate foreign higher educational institutions as deemed universities, is sensible, considering that starting universities generally requires Parliamentary sanction. Using the UGC to help entities from abroad make a covert entry would be grossly improper when the Foreign Educational Institutions (Regulation of Entry and Operations) Bill, 2010 has stalled in the Rajya Sabha. The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Human Resource Development has raised several issues relating to the legislation and called for a centralised policy and regulatory regime. What needs to be done immediately is to curb the operation of many unauthorised entrants that are exploiting the prevailing policy vacuum. It is true that a large number of Indian students leave for foreign campuses every year to secure a degree. There is much to be gained, therefore, if the best universities abroad open campuses in India, and offer courses that live up to their reputation for academic rigour. For the student, such an option can mean much lower costs.

Evidently, the passing of a robust law is essential to make sure that exploitation of students by foreign institutions does not take place. What has happened so far in the area of technical education and management courses offered by foreign entities, under the rules of the All India Council for Technical Education, is far from encouraging. The Standing Committee says the AICTE rules have failed to regulate the activities of such institutions, and only a handful of unapproved entities have been proceeded against.


A large number of foreign institutions operating twinning programmes partnered unaffiliated and unapproved domestic organisations. As a result of such carpet bagging, the UGC has now initiated a clean-up by laying down that twinning or joint ventures can be undertaken only with the top 500 names in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings, and a similar list of the Shanghai Jiao Tong University. This is a welcome advance over the present situation but no substitute for hard decisions on issues such as registration, transparent accreditation, socially-relevant medical education, faculty training, mutual recognition of degrees by the respective countries, and crucially, a check on profiteering. It must be emphasised that while an international education can expose some of India's youth to global excellence, equitable access to higher education will depend on a rapidly expanding public university system.

  1. To accommodate foreign higher educational institutions as deemed universities.

  2. For using the UGC to help entities from abroad make a covert entry through the legislation.

  3. For having a centralised policy and a regulatory regime in the legislation.

  4. To curb the operation of many unauthorised entrants that are exploiting the prevailing policy vacuum.

  5. For expanding the public university system in the nation.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

This is the correct option because the author states it clearly in the first paragraph of the passage and states that, "The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Human Resource Development has raised several issues relating to the legislation and called for a centralised policy and regulatory regime."

Multiple choice

Which one of the following events is not considered to be an indication of loss of confidence of the lower house of the Parliament?

  1. Adjournmentation is carried

  2. Vote of thanks on the President's address is not carried

  3. Cut on Money Bill is passed

  4. Censure motion is passed
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

An adjournment motion is a device to draw attention to a matter of urgent public importance; it is not a vote of no-confidence in the government.

Multiple choice

Which one of the following is not applicable regarding the purpose of Cut Motion?

  1. Raising questions of urgent public importance

  2. Drawing attention to any lapse on the part of the administration

  3. Drawing attention to specific problems

  4. Concentrating discussion on some concrete points
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Cut motions are used in Parliament to reduce the amount of a demand for grant. They are not meant for raising general questions of urgent public importance, which is the purpose of an adjournment motion.

Multiple choice

Which of the following Committees consist of representatives of both the Houses namely Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha?

  1. Estimate Committee
  2. Committee on Subordinate Legislation
  3. Public Accounts Committee
  4. Committee on Public Undertakings Select the correct answer using the codes given below :

  1. 1 and 4

  2. 1, 2 and 3

  3. 2, 3 and 4

  4. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The Estimate Committee (1) consists only of members from the Lok Sabha. The Committee on Subordinate Legislation (2), Public Accounts Committee (3), and Committee on Public Undertakings (4) are joint committees with members from both Houses.