Parliament of India Practice Questions
19 free Parliament of India practice questions for the Static GK. Tap an option to answer — you get instant feedback, the correct answer, and a detailed explanation for every question.
Which Article of the Indian Constitution deals with the constitution of the Parliament?
- A Article 74
- B Article 79
- C Article 80
- D Article 81
Correct answer: Article 79
Article 79 states that there shall be a Parliament for the Union which shall consist of the President and two Houses. These Houses are known respectively as the Council of States (Rajya Sabha) and the House of the People (Lok Sabha).
Who is known as the 'First Citizen' of India and is an integral part of the Parliament although not a member of either House?
- A The Prime Minister
- B The Chief Justice of India
- C The President of India
- D The Speaker of Lok Sabha
Correct answer: The President of India
The President is an integral part of the Parliament because no bill passed by both Houses can become law without the President's assent. However, the President does not sit or participate in the discussions of either House.
What is the maximum strength of the Rajya Sabha as fixed by the Constitution?
- A 245 members
- B 250 members
- C 543 members
- D 552 members
Correct answer: 250 members
The maximum strength of the Rajya Sabha is fixed at 250, of whom 238 are to be the representatives of the States and Union Territories and 12 are nominated by the President. Currently, the House has 245 members.
The representatives of States in the Rajya Sabha are elected by which of the following?
- A Directly elected by the people of the state
- B The elected members of the State Legislative Assembly
- C Nominated by the Governor of the State
- D The State Legislative Council, in states where it exists
Correct answer: The elected members of the State Legislative Assembly
Members of the Rajya Sabha are elected by the elected members of the Legislative Assemblies of the States in accordance with the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote. This ensures that the Council of States represents the interests of the federating units.
What is the minimum age required to become a member of the Lok Sabha?
- A 18 years
- B 21 years
- C 25 years
- D 30 years
Correct answer: 25 years
Under Article 84, a person must be at least 25 years of age to be eligible for election to the Lok Sabha. For the Rajya Sabha, the minimum age requirement is 30 years.
Who presides over a joint sitting of the two Houses of Parliament?
- A The President of India
- B The Vice-President of India
- C The Prime Minister
- D The Speaker of Lok Sabha
Correct answer: The Speaker of Lok Sabha
A joint sitting is summoned by the President to resolve a deadlock between the two Houses over a bill. It is presided over by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, or in their absence, the Deputy Speaker.
The 'Question Hour' in the Parliament is usually held at what time?
- A During the last hour of every parliamentary sitting
- B Immediately after the Zero Hour
- C During the first hour of each parliamentary sitting
- D Only during the Budget session
Correct answer: During the first hour of each parliamentary sitting
The first hour of every parliamentary sitting is slotted for the Question Hour. During this time, members ask questions and the ministers usually give answers to hold the executive accountable.
Which of the following is NOT a session of the Indian Parliament?
- A Budget Session
- B Monsoon Session
- C Winter Session
- D Summer Session
Correct answer: Summer Session
The Parliament typically meets in three sessions: the Budget Session (February to May), the Monsoon Session (July to September), and the Winter Session (November to December). There is no formal 'Summer Session'.
Who decides whether a bill is a Money Bill or not?
- A The President
- B The Finance Minister
- C The Chairman of the Rajya Sabha
- D The Speaker of the Lok Sabha
Correct answer: The Speaker of the Lok Sabha
Under Article 110, the Speaker of the Lok Sabha has the final authority to certify a bill as a Money Bill. Their decision cannot be questioned in any court of law or in either House of Parliament.
What is the maximum gap allowed between two sessions of the Parliament?
- A 3 months
- B 9 months
- C 1 year
- D 6 months
Correct answer: 6 months
Article 85 requires that the President shall summon each House of Parliament to meet at such time and place as he thinks fit. However, six months shall not intervene between its last sitting in one session and the date appointed for its first sitting in the next session.
Which House of the Parliament is known as the 'Permanent House'?
- A Rajya Sabha
- B Lok Sabha
- C Both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha
- D Neither House
Correct answer: Rajya Sabha
The Rajya Sabha is a permanent body and is not subject to dissolution. However, one-third of its members retire every second year and are replaced by newly elected members.
The 'Quorum' to constitute a sitting of either House of Parliament is:
- A One-fifth of the total members
- B One-fourth of the total members
- C One-half of the total members
- D One-tenth of the total members
Correct answer: One-tenth of the total members
Quorum is the minimum number of members required to be present in the House before it can transact any business. According to Article 100, the quorum of either House is one-tenth of the total number of members.
A member of Parliament (MP) loses their seat if they remain absent from all meetings for a period of ______ without permission.
- A 60 days
- B 30 days
- C 90 days
- D 120 days
Correct answer: 60 days
Under Article 101, if a member of either House of Parliament is absent from all meetings for a period of sixty days without permission, the House may declare their seat vacant. This period does not include periods of prorogation or adjournment beyond four days.
Who was the first Speaker of the Lok Sabha?
- A G.V. Mavalankar
- B M.A. Ayyangar
- C Hukam Singh
- D Neelam Sanjiva Reddy
Correct answer: G.V. Mavalankar
Ganesh Vasudev Mavalankar served as the first Speaker of the Lok Sabha from 1952 to 1956. He is often referred to as the 'Father of the Lok Sabha'.
Which parliamentary committee is the largest in terms of membership?
- A The Estimates Committee
- B Public Accounts Committee
- C Committee on Public Undertakings
- D Committee on Petitions
Correct answer: The Estimates Committee
The Estimates Committee consists of 30 members, all of whom are elected from the Lok Sabha only. Other major committees like the Public Accounts Committee have 22 members (15 from Lok Sabha and 7 from Rajya Sabha).
The 'Zero Hour' in the Indian Parliamentary system is a/an:
- A Informal device for members to raise matters without notice
- B A formal procedure explicitly mentioned in the Rules of Business
- C An hour officially reserved for voting on bills
- D An hour specifically reserved for the President's address
Correct answer: Informal device for members to raise matters without notice
Zero Hour is an Indian innovation in the field of parliamentary procedures and has been in existence since 1962. It starts immediately after the Question Hour and lasts until the agenda for the day is taken up.
Which motion is moved to reduce the budgetary demands for a specific amount to show disapproval of the policy?
- A Adjournment Motion
- B Censure Motion
- C Closure Motion
- D The Cut Motion
Correct answer: The Cut Motion
Cut Motions are used by the members of the Lok Sabha to exercise control over the executive during the discussion on the Budget. There are three types: Policy Cut, Economy Cut, and Token Cut.
The Rajya Sabha can delay a Money Bill for a maximum period of:
- A 14 days
- B 7 days
- C 30 days
- D 3 months
Correct answer: 14 days
The Rajya Sabha has restricted powers regarding Money Bills. It must return a Money Bill to the Lok Sabha within 14 days; otherwise, the bill is deemed to have been passed by both Houses in the form it was passed by the Lok Sabha.
Who has the power to prorogue the sessions of the Parliament?
- A The Lok Sabha Speaker
- B The Chairman of Rajya Sabha
- C The President of India
- D The Minister of Parliamentary Affairs
Correct answer: The President of India
Prorogation means the termination of a session of the House. While the presiding officers (Speaker/Chairman) can adjourn the House, only the President has the power to summon and prorogue the sessions of Parliament.