The Parliament — Union Legislature

✈️ POA06 · Indian Polity · AFCAT GA AFCAT Level ★ High Priority

📌 AFCAT Focus: (1) Lok Sabha vs Rajya Sabha — composition, strength, age, presiding officers; (2) Money Bill — where introduced, Rajya Sabha's role; (3) Joint Sitting (Article 108); (4) No-Confidence Motion (only Lok Sabha). Questions test specific facts: maximum strength of each house, who presides, which bills go where.

1. Composition of Parliament

⚖ Parliament of India = President + Lok Sabha + Rajya Sabha (Article 79)

📅 LOK SABHA — House of the People

Type: Lower House; directly elected by voters through universal adult franchise
Maximum strength: 552 (530 from states + 20 from UTs + 2 Anglo-Indian nominated — lapsed after 104th Amdt 2020)
Current strength: 543 seats
Term: 5 years; can be dissolved earlier by President on PM's advice
Minimum age for members: 25 years
Presiding Officer: Speaker — elected by Lok Sabha members; certifies Money Bills; presides over Joint Sitting
Exclusive powers: Only Lok Sabha can introduce Money Bills; pass No-Confidence Motion; CoM is responsible to Lok Sabha

📅 RAJYA SABHA — Council of States

Type: Upper House; indirectly elected (by State Legislative Assembly members — not MLCs, not public)
Maximum strength: 250 (238 elected + 12 nominated by President for art, literature, science, social service)
Current strength: 245 members
Nature: Permanent house — cannot be dissolved; 1/3 of members retire every 2 years
Member term: 6 years per elected member
Minimum age: 30 years
Presiding Officer: Chairman = Vice-President of India (ex-officio)
Special powers: Art 249 (resolve State List legislation); Art 312 (create All India Services)

2. Types of Bills & Legislative Procedures

Ordinary Bill

Introduced in either house

Can be introduced in either house
Passed by simple majority in both houses
If deadlock: President can summon Joint Sitting (Article 108)
Joint Sitting presided by Speaker of Lok Sabha
President: can withhold assent, return for reconsideration, or give assent

Money Bill (Article 110)

Only in Lok Sabha — Rajya Sabha has 14 days

Certified by Speaker of Lok Sabha as a Money Bill
Only introduced in Lok Sabha — NEVER in Rajya Sabha
Rajya Sabha cannot amend — can only recommend changes within 14 days
No joint sitting for Money Bills — Lok Sabha's decision is final
Covers: taxes, borrowing, Consolidated Fund, Contingency Fund

Constitutional Amendment Bill (Article 368)

Special majority — no joint sitting

Special majority: 2/3 of members present and voting + majority of total membership
Some amendments also need ratification by at least half of state legislatures
No joint sitting for Constitutional Amendment Bills
Can be introduced in either house

📈 Parliamentary Procedures

Question Hour: First hour of every parliamentary sitting; MPs ask questions to ministers about their departments
Zero Hour: After Question Hour (12 noon onwards); matters of urgent public importance without prior notice
Quorum: 1/10 of total membership of each house
Joint Sitting (Article 108): Summoned by President for ordinary bill deadlock; Speaker of Lok Sabha presides; decision by simple majority
No-Confidence Motion: Only in Lok Sabha; if passed, entire CoM must resign
Adjournment Motion: To adjourn normal business for urgent matter

📄 Key Articles — Parliament

Art 79: Constitution of Parliament (President + LS + RS)
Art 100: Quorum (1/10 of total members)
Art 108: Joint Sitting (deadlock resolution)
Art 110: Definition of Money Bill
Art 112: Annual Financial Statement (Budget)
Art 123: President's Ordinance power (when Parliament not in session)
Art 368: Amendment of Constitution (special majority)

📝 AFCAT PYQ Practice — POA06

Q1. A Money Bill can only be introduced in: AFCAT PYQ

(a) Rajya Sabha only(b) Lok Sabha only(c) Either House of Parliament(d) A joint session of Parliament

✔ Answer: (b) Lok Sabha only

Under Article 110, a Money Bill can only be introduced in the Lok Sabha — never in Rajya Sabha. After Lok Sabha passes it, it goes to Rajya Sabha which has only 14 days to consider it and can only recommend changes (not amend). If Rajya Sabha doesn't return it in 14 days, it is deemed passed. There is no joint sitting for Money Bills.

Q2. The maximum strength of the Rajya Sabha is: AFCAT PYQ

(a) 238(b) 245(c) 250(d) 552

✔ Answer: (c) 250

Maximum strength of Rajya Sabha = 250 (238 elected by state legislatures + 12 nominated by President). Current strength = 245. Max Lok Sabha = 552; current = 543. Rajya Sabha is a permanent house — cannot be dissolved; 1/3 of members retire every 2 years. Each member serves a 6-year term.

Q3. Under which Article does the President summon a joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament? AFCAT PYQ

(a) Article 100(b) Article 108(c) Article 110(d) Article 112

✔ Answer: (b) Article 108

Article 108 — Joint Sitting of both Houses, convened by the President to resolve a deadlock over ordinary bills (NOT Money Bills or Constitutional Amendment Bills). Presided by the Speaker of Lok Sabha. Decision by simple majority of total members present and voting. Art 100 = quorum; Art 110 = Money Bill definition; Art 112 = Annual Financial Statement (Budget).

Q4. The minimum age for membership of the Rajya Sabha is: AFCAT PYQ

(a) 21 years(b) 25 years(c) 30 years(d) 35 years

✔ Answer: (c) 30 years

The minimum age for Rajya Sabha membership is 30 years. For Lok Sabha, it is 25 years. For President and Vice-President, it is 35 years. For voting (universal adult franchise), it is 18 years (reduced from 21 by the 61st Amendment 1988). This age distinction between LS and RS is directly tested in AFCAT.

📋 Quick Reference — POA06

⚖ Lok Sabha

Max: 552; Current: 543
Directly elected; Term: 5 years
Age: 25+; Speaker presides
Exclusive: Money Bills, No-Confidence

⚖ Rajya Sabha

Max: 250; Current: 245
Permanent house; 1/3 retire every 2 yrs
Age: 30+; VP is Chairman (ex-officio)
12 nominated; term 6 years per member

📄 Bill Types

Ordinary: either house; joint sitting if deadlock
Money: Lok Sabha only; RS has 14 days
ConAmdt (Art 368): special majority; no joint sitting
Speaker certifies Money Bill

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