Parliament is one of the most heavily tested parts of Indian Polity in UPSC Prelims. This set covers the composition of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, Money Bills and joint sittings, parliamentary devices such as Question Hour and Zero Hour, and key articles you are expected to remember.
How to practise: read each question and tap the option you think is correct. You will see right away whether you got it, along with a short explanation, and your score is tracked at the bottom of the screen. This set has 15 questions.
Topics covered in this set
- Composition of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha
- Qualifications and the permanent nature of the Rajya Sabha
- Money Bills (Article 110) and joint sittings (Article 108)
- Special powers of the Rajya Sabha (Article 249)
- Question Hour, Zero Hour, quorum and prorogation
- Budget (Article 112) and the anti-defection law
UPSC MCQs with answers and explanations
Q1. After the 104th Constitutional Amendment, what is the maximum strength of the Lok Sabha as provided in the Constitution?
a) 543
b) 545
c) 550
d) 552
Q2. What is the maximum strength of the Rajya Sabha?
a) 250
b) 238
c) 260
d) 245
Q3. Who decides whether a bill is a Money Bill?
a) The Chairman of the Rajya Sabha
b) The Finance Minister
c) The President
d) The Speaker of the Lok Sabha
Q4. Within how many days must the Rajya Sabha return a Money Bill to the Lok Sabha?
a) 7 days
b) 14 days
c) 30 days
d) 6 months
Q5. A joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament under Article 108 cannot be called for:
a) Ordinary bills
b) Money Bills and Constitution Amendment Bills
c) Financial bills that are not Money Bills
d) Bills on subjects in the Concurrent List
Q6. Who presides over a joint sitting of the two Houses of Parliament?
a) The Prime Minister
b) The President
c) The Vice-President
d) The Speaker of the Lok Sabha
Q7. What is the minimum age to become a member of the Rajya Sabha?
a) 30 years
b) 35 years
c) 21 years
d) 25 years
Q8. Which statement about the Rajya Sabha is correct?
a) Its members are directly elected by the people
b) It is dissolved every five years
c) It is a permanent House, and about one-third of its members retire every second year
d) It is dissolved along with the Lok Sabha
Q9. Under Article 249, Parliament can make laws on a State List subject in the national interest if:
a) The President issues an ordinance
b) Two or more states request it
c) The Lok Sabha passes a resolution by a simple majority
d) The Rajya Sabha passes a resolution supported by two-thirds of the members present and voting
Q10. Which statement about Zero Hour is correct?
a) It is an informal Indian parliamentary practice that follows Question Hour
b) It is the first hour of every sitting
c) It is used only for Money Bills
d) It is mentioned in the Constitution
Q11. A starred question in Parliament is one that:
a) Is asked with less than ten days' notice
b) Needs a written answer only
c) Needs an oral answer, and supplementary questions can be asked
d) Is asked by a minister
Q12. What is the quorum for a sitting of either House of Parliament?
a) One-fourth of the total members
b) One-tenth of the total members, including the presiding officer
c) One-third of the members present
d) Half of the total members
Q13. Who prorogues a session of Parliament?
a) The President
b) The Prime Minister
c) The Chairman of the Rajya Sabha
d) The Speaker of the Lok Sabha
Q14. Which article of the Constitution deals with the Annual Financial Statement, commonly called the Budget?
a) Article 265
b) Article 280
c) Article 110
d) Article 112
Q15. The anti-defection law was added to the Constitution as the Tenth Schedule by which amendment?
a) 42nd Amendment, 1976
b) 44th Amendment, 1978
c) 52nd Amendment, 1985
d) 61st Amendment, 1989
Quick revision notes
- Lok Sabha: maximum 550 after the 104th Amendment; Rajya Sabha: maximum 250 (238 elected plus 12 nominated).
- Money Bill: Speaker certifies it (Article 110); the Rajya Sabha must return it within 14 days.
- Joint sitting (Article 108): presided over by the Speaker; not for Money Bills or Constitution Amendment Bills.
- Minimum age: 25 for the Lok Sabha, 30 for the Rajya Sabha; the Rajya Sabha is a permanent House.
- Article 249: the Rajya Sabha can let Parliament legislate on a State List subject by a two-thirds resolution.
- Quorum is one-tenth of members (Article 100); the Budget is under Article 112; anti-defection is the Tenth Schedule.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between adjournment, prorogation and dissolution?
Adjournment ends a sitting and is done by the presiding officer. Prorogation ends a session and is done by the President. Dissolution ends the life of the Lok Sabha itself; the Rajya Sabha is never dissolved.
Why are Money Bills important for UPSC?
Questions often test who certifies a Money Bill, the 14-day limit for the Rajya Sabha and why a joint sitting is not possible. Knowing Articles 108, 109 and 110 together covers most of these questions.
How many joint sittings have been held in India?
Joint sittings are rare. They were held for the Dowry Prohibition Bill (1961), the Banking Service Commission (Repeal) Bill (1978) and the Prevention of Terrorism Bill (2002).
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