Parliamentary Procedures Practice Questions
20 free Parliamentary Procedures practice questions for the Indian Polity. Tap an option to answer — you get instant feedback, the correct answer, and a detailed explanation for every question.
What is the 'Zero Hour' in the context of Indian Parliamentary procedures?
- A The first hour of every sitting
- B The time reserved for the voting on bills
- C An informal device to raise matters without prior notice
- D The time immediately following the adjournment of the House
Correct answer: An informal device to raise matters without prior notice
Zero Hour is an Indian innovation in parliamentary procedure that starts immediately after the Question Hour. It allows members to raise matters of urgent public importance without any prior notice of 10 days.
Which type of question requires an oral answer on the floor of the House, followed by supplementary questions?
- A Unstarred Question
- B Private Member Question
- C Short Notice Question
- D Starred Question
Correct answer: Starred Question
A Starred Question is distinguished by an asterisk mark and requires an oral answer. Because the answer is oral, supplementary questions can be asked by members to seek further clarification.
An 'Adjournment Motion' is introduced in the Parliament to draw attention to a definite matter of urgent public importance. Which House(s) can it be moved in?
- A Joint Sitting of both Houses
- B Only Rajya Sabha
- C Both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha
- D Only Lok Sabha
Correct answer: Only Lok Sabha
The Adjournment Motion is an extraordinary device that involves an element of censure against the government; hence, it is not permitted in the Rajya Sabha. It requires the support of 50 members to be admitted in the Lok Sabha.
What does the term 'Prorogation' mean in parliamentary language?
- A A short recess during a sitting
- B The end of the life of the Lok Sabha
- C Termination of a session of the House
- D Termination of a sitting of the House
Correct answer: Termination of a session of the House
While an adjournment terminates a sitting, prorogation terminates a session of the House. It is done by the President of India under Article 85(2)(a) of the Constitution.
Which parliamentary motion is moved by a member to cut short the debate on a matter before the House?
- A No-Confidence Motion
- B Privilege Motion
- C Closure Motion
- D Calling Attention Motion
Correct answer: Closure Motion
A Closure Motion is a device by which a member may move that the matter under consideration be put to vote immediately. If the motion is carried, the debate is stopped and the matter is put to vote.
What is the maximum time limit allowed for a 'Short Notice Question' to be asked in the House?
- A Notice of more than 10 days
- B Notice of exactly 15 days
- C No notice is required
- D Notice of less than 10 days
Correct answer: Notice of less than 10 days
A Short Notice Question relates to a matter of urgent public importance and is asked by giving a notice of less than ten clear days. Unlike unstarred questions, these are answered orally.
The 'Lame-Duck Session' refers to which of the following?
- A The first session of a new Lok Sabha
- B A session where no legislative business is transacted
- C A session called during a National Emergency
- D The last session of the outgoing Lok Sabha
Correct answer: The last session of the outgoing Lok Sabha
The Lame-Duck session refers to the final session of the outgoing Lok Sabha before the newly elected Lok Sabha takes over. The members of the existing Lok Sabha who could not get re-elected are called 'lame ducks'.
Under the 'Guillotine' procedure, what happens to the remaining clauses of a bill or demands for grants?
- A They are voted on without further debate
- B They are dropped for the next session
- C They are sent to a Select Committee
- D They are deemed to be passed automatically
Correct answer: They are voted on without further debate
Guillotine is a specialized form of closure where the Speaker puts all outstanding clauses of a bill or demands for grants to vote without further discussion when the time allotted for the debate is exhausted.
Which of the following is the correct sequence of stages in the passage of a bill in Parliament?
- A Introduction, Voting, Committee Stage, Presidential Assent
- B First Reading, Second Reading, Committee Stage, Consideration Stage, Third Reading
- C First Reading, Committee Stage, Consideration Stage, Second Reading, Third Reading
- D First Reading, Committee Stage, Second Reading, Third Reading
Correct answer: First Reading, Second Reading, Committee Stage, Consideration Stage, Third Reading
The Second Reading is the most detailed stage where the bill is discussed clause by clause (Consideration Stage) after a general discussion or committee report. This is followed by the Third Reading, which is limited to the acceptance or rejection of the bill as a whole.
What is a 'Point of Order' in the House?
- A A request for a secret sitting
- B A claim that the rules of the House are being violated
- C A motion to remove the Speaker
- D An order from the President to conclude the session
Correct answer: A claim that the rules of the House are being violated
A member can raise a point of order when the proceedings of the House do not follow the normal rules of procedure. It is usually raised by an opposition member to control the government and results in the suspension of the current proceedings.
Who determines the 'Quorum' required for a sitting of either House of Parliament?
- A The Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs
- B The President of India
- C The Constitution of India
- D The Rules of Procedure of the House
Correct answer: The Constitution of India
Article 100 of the Constitution provides that the quorum to constitute a meeting of either House is one-tenth of the total number of members of that House. If there is no quorum, it is the duty of the presiding officer to adjourn the House.
Which of the following motions can be moved to reduce the amount of a demand for grant to a symbolic one rupee?
- A Policy Cut Motion
- B Economy Cut Motion
- C Disapproval of Policy Cut
- D Token Cut Motion
Correct answer: Token Cut Motion
A Token Cut Motion expresses a specific grievance within the sphere of the responsibility of the Government of India. It proposes that the demand be reduced by ₹1 as a symbolic gesture to highlight a particular grievance.
The 'Motion of Thanks' is moved in response to which event?
- A The passing of a Constitutional Amendment Bill
- B The appointment of a new Prime Minister
- C The President's address to both Houses
- D The presentation of the Union Budget
Correct answer: The President's address to both Houses
The President addresses the first session after each general election and the first session of every fiscal year. The address is discussed in both Houses on a motion called the 'Motion of Thanks', which must be passed or it is treated as a defeat for the government.
In parliamentary procedure, what is 'Sine Die' adjournment?
- A Adjournment for a fixed number of days
- B Adjournment due to a member's death
- C Adjournment with no fixed return date
- D Adjournment for the lunch break
Correct answer: Adjournment with no fixed return date
Adjournment sine die means terminating a sitting of Parliament for an indefinite period. This power lies with the presiding officer of the House (Speaker or Chairman).
Which motion is moved by a member when he feels that a minister has committed a breach of the standards of the House by withholding facts?
- A Calling Attention Motion
- B No-Confidence Motion
- C Privilege Motion
- D Censure Motion
Correct answer: Privilege Motion
A Privilege Motion is moved by a member when he feels that a minister has committed a breach of privilege of the House or one or more of its members by withholding facts of a case or by giving wrong or distorted facts.
What is the 'Rule of Lapse' in the context of Indian financial procedures?
- A A bill lapses if the Lok Sabha is dissolved
- B Unspent appropriations expire at year's end
- C The Speaker loses power if not re-elected
- D A member loses their seat if absent for 60 days
Correct answer: Unspent appropriations expire at year's end
The Rule of Lapse ensures that any money granted by the Parliament for a financial year must be spent within that year. If it is not spent, the balance expires and returns to the Consolidated Fund of India.
Which of the following describes a 'Censure Motion' correctly?
- A It must state the reasons for its adoption
- B It can be moved in both Houses of Parliament
- C It can be moved against the entire Council of Ministers only
- D If passed, the government must resign
Correct answer: It must state the reasons for its adoption
Unlike a No-Confidence Motion, a Censure Motion must state the specific reasons or charges for which it is being moved. It can be moved against an individual minister or a group of ministers, and its passage does not mandate the resignation of the government.
What is the purpose of a 'Calling Attention Motion'?
- A To formally seek a leave of absence from the parliamentary session
- B To draw a minister's attention to a matter of urgent public importance
- C To formally request a joint sitting of the two Houses of Parliament
- D To formally complain about the conduct of a fellow member of Parliament
Correct answer: To draw a minister's attention to a matter of urgent public importance
This is another Indian innovation (since 1954). It allows a member, with the prior permission of the Speaker, to call the attention of a minister to a matter of urgent public importance and to seek an authoritative statement from him.
The 'Question Hour' is usually conducted at what time during a parliamentary sitting?
- A Starting from 12:00 PM each sitting day
- B At the very end of each sitting day
- C At the first hour of each sitting day
- D During the scheduled midday lunch recess
Correct answer: At the first hour of each sitting day
The first hour of every parliamentary sitting is slotted for Question Hour. During this time, members ask questions and the ministers give replies, serving as a primary tool for executive accountability.
Who can call a 'Secret Sitting' of the House?
- A The President of India
- B The Leader of the House or the Speaker
- C The Leader of the Opposition in Parliament
- D The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of India
Correct answer: The Leader of the House or the Speaker
On the request of the Leader of the House, the Speaker can fix a day or part of a day for a secret sitting. During such a sitting, no stranger is allowed to be present in the chamber, lobby, or galleries.