The Parliament of India is the principal legislative institution at the Union level.
Under Article 79, Parliament consists of:
Parliament performs three broad functions:
Important constitutional provisions relating to Parliament include:
Parliament consists of:
President
+
Rajya Sabha
+
Lok Sabha
Rajya Sabha is the:
Council of States
Lok Sabha is the:
House of the People
3. Rajya Sabha
Rajya Sabha is the Upper House and represents:
States
Union Territories
It is a:
Permanent House
It cannot be dissolved.
One-third of its members retire every:
Two years
The normal term of a member is:
Six years
4. Lok Sabha
Lok Sabha is the Lower House and represents:
The people
Members are directly elected from territorial constituencies.
Its normal term is:
Five years
It may be dissolved earlier.
5. Minimum Age
Rajya Sabha → 30 years
Lok Sabha → 25 years
6. Nominated Members
The President nominates:
12 members to Rajya Sabha
from persons having special knowledge or practical experience in:
Literature
Science
Art
Social service
Lok Sabha currently has:
No nominated members
7. Election
Rajya Sabha
State representatives are elected by:
Elected members of State Legislative Assemblies
through:
Proportional Representation by means of Single Transferable Vote
Lok Sabha
Members are elected:
Directly by the people
8. Presiding Officers
Rajya Sabha
Chairman:
Vice-President of India
Deputy Chairman:
Elected by Rajya Sabha
Lok Sabha
Speaker:
Elected by Lok Sabha
Deputy Speaker:
Elected by Lok Sabha
9. Parliamentary Privileges
Article 105 deals with:
Parliamentary privileges
These privileges facilitate:
Freedom of speech in Parliament
Effective participation
Independent parliamentary functioning
However:
Parliamentary privilege is not absolute
The Supreme Court has recognised judicial review in appropriate circumstances.
10. Powers and Functions of Parliament
Parliament performs several functions.
Legislative
Makes laws
Amends laws
Passes Constitutional Amendments
Financial
Approves taxation
Votes on Demands for Grants
Authorises expenditure
Deliberative
Discusses national issues
Debates policies
Represents diverse viewpoints
Accountability
Questions Ministers
Uses motions
Examines government expenditure
Uses Parliamentary Committees
11. Ordinary Bills
An Ordinary Bill can originate in:
Either House
Both Houses generally have equal legislative powers.
If disagreement creates a deadlock, a:
Joint Sitting
may be used subject to constitutional conditions.
12. Money Bills
Money Bills are governed by:
Article 110
A Money Bill can be introduced only in:
Lok Sabha
It requires:
Prior recommendation of the President
Rajya Sabha can:
Recommend amendments
and must return the Bill within:
14 days
Lok Sabha may accept or reject the recommendations.
13. Financial Bills
Financial Bills are governed by:
Article 117
Important:
Every Money Bill is a Financial Bill
but
Every Financial Bill is not a Money Bill
Financial Bills have different categories and procedures.
14. Constitutional Amendment Bills
Constitutional Amendment Bills are governed by:
Article 368
They may be introduced in:
Either House
Both Houses must separately pass the Bill with the required constitutional majority.
There is:
No Joint Sitting
15. Joint Sitting
Joint Sitting is provided under:
Article 108
It can be used to resolve certain deadlocks between the Houses.
It is not available for:
Money Bills
Constitutional Amendment Bills
The Speaker of Lok Sabha normally presides over a Joint Sitting.
16. Budget
The Constitution calls the Union Budget:
Annual Financial Statement
under:
Article 112
17. Demands for Grants
Demands for Grants are voted by:
Lok Sabha
Rajya Sabha can discuss them but:
Cannot vote on them
This gives Lok Sabha greater financial authority.
18. Charged Expenditure
Charged expenditure is:
Not submitted to the vote of Lok Sabha
but it can be:
Discussed in Parliament
19. Appropriation Bill
The Appropriation Bill authorises withdrawal from:
Consolidated Fund of India
It covers:
Voted expenditure
Charged expenditure
20. Financial Grants
Supplementary Grant
Required when the amount authorised is:
Insufficient
Additional Grant
Required for:
A new service
not contemplated in the original Budget.
Excess Grant
Arises when:
Expenditure exceeds the amount originally granted
Vote on Account
Provides:
Temporary expenditure authorisation
Vote of Credit
Used for:
Unexpected demands
Exceptional Grant
For:
A special purpose outside the current service
21. Cut Motions
Three important Cut Motions are:
Policy Cut
Demand reduced to:
Re. 1
Expresses disapproval of policy.
Economy Cut
Demand reduced by:
A specified amount
Token Cut
Demand reduced by:
Rs. 100
Used to raise a specific grievance.
22. Parliamentary Devices
Important devices include:
Question Hour
Zero Hour
No-Confidence Motion
Censure Motion
Adjournment Motion
Calling Attention
Short Duration Discussion
Half-an-Hour Discussion
Point of Order
Resolutions
23. Question Hour
Question Hour allows MPs to obtain information from Ministers.
It is an important instrument of:
Executive accountability
Starred Question
Oral answer + Supplementary questions
Unstarred Question
Written answer + No supplementary questions
Short Notice Question
Urgent matter + Oral answer
24. Zero Hour
Zero Hour is used to raise:
Matters of urgent public importance
It:
Is not specifically mentioned in the Constitution
It developed through parliamentary practice.
25. Motions
No-Confidence Motion
Tests whether the:
Council of Ministers enjoys the confidence of Lok Sabha
Constitutional foundation:
Article 75(3)
Censure Motion
Expresses:
Disapproval of a specific policy, action or conduct
Adjournment Motion
Raises:
A definite matter of urgent public importance
and interrupts normal business if admitted.
Calling Attention
Draws attention of a:
Minister
to an urgent matter and results in a ministerial statement.
26. Parliamentary Committees
Parliamentary Committees allow:
Detailed scrutiny
of:
Legislation
Expenditure
Administration
Government policies
CAG reports
Important committees include:
Public Accounts Committee
Estimates Committee
Committee on Public Undertakings
Department-related Standing Committees
Committee on Subordinate Legislation
27. Public Accounts Committee
PAC examines:
Appropriation Accounts
Finance Accounts
CAG reports
It primarily provides:
Post-expenditure scrutiny
PAC has:
22 members
15 Lok Sabha
7 Rajya Sabha
28. Estimates Committee
Estimates Committee has:
30 members
All are from:
Lok Sabha
It examines:
Expenditure estimates
and suggests:
Economies
Efficiency improvements
Better organisation
29. Committee on Public Undertakings
COPU has:
22 members
15 Lok Sabha
7 Rajya Sabha
It examines:
Public Sector Undertakings
and relevant CAG reports.
30. Parliamentary Forums
Parliamentary Forums provide:
Focused discussion + Policy awareness
They facilitate:
Expert interaction
Cross-party discussion
Knowledge exchange
Discussion of emerging public issues
They are different from:
Parliamentary Committees
Memory
Committee → Detailed Scrutiny
Forum → Discussion + Awareness
31. Role of Opposition
The Opposition helps Parliament perform its accountability function through:
Questions
Motions
Debates
Committee participation
Policy criticism
Alternative policy proposals
A strong Opposition contributes to:
Checks and balances
32. Leader of Opposition
The Leader of Opposition is associated with:
The largest recognised opposition party
The office has statutory recognition under:
Salary and Allowances of Leaders of Opposition in Parliament Act, 1977
The Leader of Opposition plays an important role in:
Parliamentary scrutiny
Opposition coordination
Public policy debate
Certain institutional selection processes
33. Parliamentary Control over Executive
The Executive is controlled through:
Questions
+
Motions
+
Debates
+
Committees
+
Budgetary Control
+
Legislative Scrutiny
The Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to:
Lok Sabha
under:
Article 75(3)
34. Financial Control over Executive
Parliament exercises financial control through:
Budget
Demands for Grants
Appropriation
Cut Motions
CAG reports
Public Accounts Committee
Other financial committees
This ensures:
Parliamentary control over public expenditure
35. Anti-Defection Law
The Anti-Defection Law was introduced by:
52nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1985
It is contained in:
Tenth Schedule
36. Grounds of Defection
Disqualification may arise when:
A member voluntarily gives up party membership
A member votes or abstains contrary to party direction in specified circumstances
37. Independent and Nominated Members
Independent Member
Joining a political party after election:
Can result in disqualification
Nominated Member
Joining a political party:
After six months from taking the seat
can result in disqualification on this ground.
38. Merger
The merger exception requires:
At least two-thirds of the members of the legislature party
to agree.
Memory
Merger → 2/3
39. Split
The earlier split exception was removed by:
91st Constitutional Amendment Act, 2003
Memory
1/3 Split → Removed
2/3 Merger → Exists
40. Anti-Defection and Speaker
Disqualification under the Tenth Schedule is decided by:
Speaker
Chairman
The decision is subject to:
Judicial Review
41. Important Anti-Defection Cases
Kihoto Hollohan v. Zachillhu, 1992
Judicial Review of Tenth Schedule decisions
Ravi S. Naik, 1994
Voluntarily giving up party membership
Rajendra Singh Rana, 2007
Defection and party membership
Keisham Meghachandra Singh, 2020
Delay in deciding disqualification
Shrimanth Balasaheb Patil, 2019
Disqualification and subsequent electoral participation
42. Special Powers of Rajya Sabha
Article 249
Rajya Sabha can authorise Parliament to legislate on a State List matter in:
National interest
Required majority:
Two-thirds of members present and voting
Article 312
Rajya Sabha can authorise Parliament to create:
One or more All India Services
Required majority:
Two-thirds of members present and voting
43. Rajya Sabha vs Lok Sabha
Feature Rajya Sabha Lok Sabha
Nature Council of States House of the People
Election Mainly indirect Direct
Status Permanent Can be dissolved
Member term 6 years 5 years normally
Minimum age 30 25
Nominated members 12 None currently
Money Bill Limited role Dominant role
Demands for Grants Cannot vote Votes
No-confidence Cannot remove government Can determine government survival
Special powers Articles 249, 312 Financial and confidence powers
44. Equal Powers
Both Houses generally have equal powers regarding:
Ordinary Bills
Constitutional Amendment Bills
They do not have equal powers regarding:
Money Bills
Demands for Grants
Government confidence
45. Parliamentary Reforms
Major concerns include:
Frequent disruptions
Reduced sitting time
Limited committee scrutiny
Hasty legislation
Political polarisation
Weakening of Question Hour
Excessive party control
46. Reforms
Possible reforms include:
More sitting days
Stronger Parliamentary Committees
Better legislative research
Greater consultation
Protection of Question Hour
Better Government-Opposition coordination
Responsible parliamentary protest
Greater transparency
Stronger committee follow-up
47. Parliament and Federalism
Rajya Sabha gives the federal principle institutional representation within Parliament.
Its importance is visible through:
Representation of States
Article 249
Article 312
Participation in ordinary legislation
Equal role in Constitutional Amendments
Thus:
Rajya Sabha = Federal dimension of Parliament
48. Parliament and Judiciary
India follows:
Constitutional supremacy
rather than absolute parliamentary supremacy.
The Supreme Court can review:
Parliamentary legislation
Constitutional amendments
Parliamentary privileges in appropriate cases
Tenth Schedule decisions
Money Bill classification in appropriate constitutional proceedings
49. Basic Structure Doctrine
The Basic Structure Doctrine was established in:
Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala, 1973
Parliament has broad amending power but cannot:
Destroy the Basic Structure
50. Important Supreme Court Judgments
Shankari Prasad, 1951
Broad amending power recognised.
Sajjan Singh, 1965
Reaffirmed amendment power.
Golaknath, 1967
Held, as then understood, that Fundamental Rights could not be amended.
Kesavananda Bharati, 1973
Basic Structure Doctrine
Indira Gandhi v. Raj Narain, 1975
Free and fair elections and Basic Structure
Minerva Mills, 1980
Limited amending power
Waman Rao, 1981
Ninth Schedule and Basic Structure
Kihoto Hollohan, 1992
Anti-Defection + Judicial Review
S.R. Bommai, 1994
Judicial review of Article 356
Raja Ram Pal, 2007
Parliamentary Privileges + Judicial Review
Nabam Rebia, 2016
Speaker's constitutional position
K.S. Puttaswamy (Aadhaar), 2018
Money Bill issue
Rojer Mathew, 2019
Money Bill classification
Keisham Meghachandra, 2020
Delay in defection decisions
51. High-Value Article Revision
79 → Parliament
80 → Rajya Sabha
81 → Lok Sabha
83 → Duration
84 → Qualifications
89 → Rajya Sabha Presiding Officers
93 → Lok Sabha Presiding Officers
105 → Parliamentary Privileges
108 → Joint Sitting
109 → Money Bill Procedure
110 → Money Bill Definition
112 → Annual Financial Statement
113 → Demands for Grants
114 → Appropriation
115 → Supplementary, Additional and Excess Grants
116 → Vote on Account, Credit and Exceptional Grant
117 → Financial Bills
123 → Ordinance
249 → State List in National Interest
312 → All India Services
368 → Constitutional Amendment
52. High-Value Numbers
Rajya Sabha nominated → 12
Rajya Sabha member term → 6 years
Lok Sabha normal term → 5 years
Rajya Sabha minimum age → 30
Lok Sabha minimum age → 25
Money Bill return period → 14 days
PAC → 22 members
Estimates Committee → 30 members
COPU → 22 members
Merger → 2/3
Token Cut → Rs. 100
53. High-Value Amendments
52nd Amendment, 1985
→ Anti-Defection Law
→ Tenth Schedule
91st Amendment, 2003
→ Removed Split Exception
→ Retained Merger Exception
42nd Amendment, 1976
→ Major constitutional changes
→ Subject to Basic Structure review
54. Most Important Prelims Distinctions
Starred vs Unstarred
Starred
→ Oral
→ Supplementary questions
Unstarred
→ Written
→ No supplementary questions
No-Confidence vs Censure
No-Confidence
→ Tests government confidence
Censure
→ Specific criticism
Committee vs Forum
Committee
→ Detailed scrutiny
Forum
→ Discussion + Awareness
Rajya Sabha vs Lok Sabha
Rajya Sabha
→ Federal representation
→ Permanent
→ Special powers
Lok Sabha
→ Popular representation
→ Financial supremacy
→ Government accountability
55. Top Prelims Traps
President is not part of Parliament.
False
President is a component of Parliament.
Rajya Sabha can be dissolved.
False
It is permanent.
Rajya Sabha can reject a Money Bill.
False
It can only recommend amendments.
Joint Sitting applies to Constitutional Amendment Bills.
False
No Joint Sitting.
Zero Hour is mentioned in the Constitution.
False
It developed through parliamentary practice.
Charged expenditure cannot be discussed.
False
It cannot be voted upon but can be discussed.
One-third split remains an exception.
False
It was removed by the 91st Amendment.
Two-thirds split is the correct constitutional exception.
False
The exception is a two-thirds merger.
Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to Rajya Sabha.
False
It is responsible to Lok Sabha.
Parliamentary privileges are completely beyond judicial review.
False
They remain subject to constitutional limitations.
56. One-Minute Revision
PARLIAMENT
↓
President + Rajya Sabha + Lok Sabha
RAJYA SABHA
↓
Permanent
↓
Federal Representation
↓
30 years
↓
6 years
↓
12 nominated
↓
Articles 249 + 312
LOK SABHA
↓
Direct Representation
↓
25 years
↓
5 years
↓
Financial Supremacy
↓
Government Accountability
BILLS
↓
Ordinary → Either House
↓
Money → Lok Sabha
↓
Constitutional Amendment → Either House
↓
Joint Sitting → Article 108
FINANCE
↓
Budget → Article 112
↓
Demands for Grants → Lok Sabha
↓
Appropriation → Article 114
↓
PAC → CAG + Expenditure
ACCOUNTABILITY
↓
Question Hour
↓
Zero Hour
↓
Motions
↓
Committees
↓
Opposition
ANTI-DEFECTION
↓
52nd Amendment
↓
Tenth Schedule
↓
Merger = 2/3
↓
Split Exception Removed
JUDICIAL LIMIT
↓
Kesavananda
↓
Basic Structure
57. Final Conceptual Summary
The Indian Parliament combines:
Popular Representation
through Lok Sabha,
with:
Federal Representation
through Rajya Sabha.
It performs:
Law-making + Financial Control + Executive Accountability + Representation + Deliberation
However, Parliament operates within:
Constitutional Supremacy
The Supreme Court's Basic Structure Doctrine ensures that Parliament's constitutional amending power remains subject to fundamental constitutional limitations.
The effectiveness of Parliament ultimately depends on:
Adequate debate + Strong committees + Effective Opposition + Responsible Government + Respect for parliamentary procedures
Therefore:
Strong Parliament = Strong Democratic Accountability