Parliament

The Parliament of India is the highest law-making body under the Constitution.

It embodies the principle of parliamentary democracy, representing the people of India at the national level.
Consists of:
- President of India
- Lok Sabha (Lower House) – Directly elected
- Rajya Sabha (Upper House) – Indirectly elected

📝 PYQ (BPSC 66th): Parliament consists of? → President + Lok Sabha + Rajya Sabha

Detailed Composition of Parliament

Lok Sabha (House of the People)

Maximum strength (as per Constitution): 552
Elected members from states: 530, from UTs: 20, nominated (Anglo-Indians – now repealed): 2
Current strength (2024): 543
Tenure: 5 years unless dissolved earlier
Quorum: 1/10th of total members
Presiding officer: Speaker
Special Powers:
- Controls money bills
- Passes no-confidence motion
- Budget presentation and approval

Rajya Sabha (Council of States)

Maximum strength: 250 (238 elected + 12 nominated by President)
Current strength (2024): 245
Permanent body – 1/3rd members retire every 2 years
Tenure of a member: 6 years
Presiding officer: Vice President of India
Represents states and union territories
Special Powers:
- Can recommend creation of All-India Services
- Initiates resolutions on state matters of national interest

📝 PYQ (BPSC CDPO): How many members are nominated in Rajya Sabha? → 12

Functions of Parliament

1. Legislative Functions

Enacts laws on:
- Union List (exclusive)
- Concurrent List (with states)
Can legislate on State List in:
- National emergency
- Rajya Sabha resolution (Article 249)
- President’s rule
- Treaty implementation

2. Executive Control

Ensures accountability of the Council of Ministers
Through:
- Question Hour, Zero Hour
- Adjournment & Censure Motions
- No-confidence Motion (Lok Sabha only)

📝 Expected MCQ: Which House can remove the government via No-confidence? → Lok Sabha

3. Financial Powers

Approves the Union Budget
Money Bills originate only in Lok Sabha (Article 110)
Finance Bill and Appropriation Bill also introduced in Lok Sabha
Rajya Sabha can only recommend changes in Money Bill

4. Electoral Functions

Elects:
- President (with State Legislatures)
- Vice President
- Members of Committees

5. Judicial Powers

Can impeach the President (Article 61)
Can remove Vice President, SC/HC judges, CAG, CEC
Involved in President’s impeachment, resolution requires:
- 2/3rd majority of both Houses

Sessions of Parliament

Budget Session (February–May) → Longest
Monsoon Session (July–September)
Winter Session (November–December)

📝 PYQ (BPSC 67th): What is the minimum number of sessions required annually? → 2
(As per Article 85, gap between two sessions should not exceed 6 months)

Types of Bills in Parliament

Ordinary Bill: Either House, simple majority
Money Bill: Lok Sabha only, Article 110
Financial Bill: Broader than money bills
Constitutional Amendment Bill: Article 368
Private Member Bill: Introduced by MPs not part of the Council of Ministers

📝 Expected MCQ: Constitutional amendment bills need special majority under which Article? → Article 368

Parliamentary Committees

Standing Committees

Public Accounts Committee (PAC) – Examines CAG reports
Estimates Committee – Suggests economy in public expenditure
Committee on Public Undertakings

Ad Hoc Committees

Formed for specific purposes like Women’s Safety, Farmers’ Issues

Benefits:

Expert scrutiny
Less burden on House
Improves legislative quality

Parliamentary Devices

Question Hour: First hour of a sitting
Zero Hour: Unofficial, post Question Hour
Short Duration Discussion (2-hour discussion)
Calling Attention Motion
Censure Motion, Adjournment Motion – Only in Lok Sabha
No Confidence Motion – Government must resign if passed

📝 Expected MCQ: Which device is not in the rule book? → Zero Hour

Role of the President in Parliament

Summons, prorogues, and dissolves Lok Sabha
Assent to Bills
Addresses both Houses at the start of the first session each year
Nominates:
- 12 Rajya Sabha members (Arts, Science, Literature, Social Service)
- 2 Anglo-Indians to Lok Sabha (Article 331 – now repealed)

Parliament and Bihar

Lok Sabha Seats: 40 (e.g., Patna Sahib, Arrah, Purnea, etc.)
Rajya Sabha Seats: 16
Bihar MPs participate in law-making, budget debates, and standing committees
Prominent Bihar Parliamentarians: Rajendra Prasad, Ram Vilas Paswan, Sushil Kumar Modi

Challenges in Parliamentary Functioning

Disruptions and walkouts
Low productivity in sessions
Lack of debates on bills
Need for more Standing Committee discussions
Reforms suggested:
- Fixed calendar for sessions
- Greater use of digital monitoring
- Performance-based incentives for MPs

Quick Revision Points

Parliament = President + Lok Sabha + Rajya Sabha
Lok Sabha → 543 seats, 5 years
Rajya Sabha → 245 seats, permanent
Money Bill → Article 110
Budget, No-confidence, Impeachment → Powers of Parliament
Bihar → 40 LS + 16 RS seats
PAC, Zero Hour, Standing Committees → Tools of control

Sources Used

NCERT Class 9–11 Polity Chapters
M. Laxmikanth – Indian Polity (6th Ed.)
PRS Legislative Research
Lucent GK – Indian Polity
PIB & BPSC PYQs (Ghatna Chakra, Eduteria, Vision)