UPSC Static Quiz – Polity : 12 May 2026

Solution: C

• Statement 1 is incorrect. The office of the Leader of the Opposition in the Parliament of India is not mentioned in the Constitution of India. It is a statutory office, not a constitutional one.
• Statement 2 is correct. The office received statutory recognition through the Salary and Allowances of Leaders of Opposition in Parliament Act, 1977. The Act defines the Leader of the Opposition as the leader of the largest party in opposition having the greatest numerical strength and recognized as such by the Speaker or Chairman.
• Statement 3 is incorrect. There is no statutory requirement of 15% strength. Conventionally, recognition is linked to the rule that a party should have at least 10% of the total membership of the House to be recognized as the official opposition party, though this rule itself is based on parliamentary practice and directions, not the Constitution.

Solution: B

A dilatory motion in the context of the Indian Parliament is specifically intended to delay or postpone discussion on a matter. It includes motions such as adjournment of debate, postponement, or referral to a committee. These are procedural tools used by members—often the opposition—to slow down legislative business and allow more time for discussion or political negotiation.

Solution: C

• The committees of the Parliament of India play an essential role in ensuring detailed legislative scrutiny, administrative accountability, and smooth parliamentary functioning.
• Pair 1 is incorrect. There is no parliamentary committee officially called the “Committee on Parliamentary Affairs.” The confusion usually arises with the Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs, which is an executive body formed by the Union Government. It is not a committee of Parliament and therefore does not function under parliamentary procedure. Moreover, it is not permanently chaired by the Home Minister.
• Pair 2 is correct. The Departmentally Related Standing Committees (DRSCs) system was introduced to strengthen legislative oversight over ministries. At present, there are 24 DRSCs that collectively examine the working of all central ministries and departments. They scrutinize Demands for Grants, Bills, annual reports, and long-term policy documents.
• Pair 3 is correct. The Committee on Privileges examines cases involving breach of parliamentary privileges or contempt of the House. It protects the authority, dignity, and functioning of Parliament and its members.
• Pair 4 is correct. The Business Advisory Committee is responsible for allocating time for government bills and other legislative business, thereby ensuring orderly conduct of proceedings and efficient management of parliamentary time.

Solution: C

• Statement I is correct. Article 114 of the Constitution provides that no money can be withdrawn from the Consolidated Fund of India except under appropriation made by law. After the Demands for Grants are voted by the Lok Sabha, the government introduces the Appropriation Bill to authorize withdrawal of funds from the Consolidated Fund for expenditure during the financial year. Thus, parliamentary approval through law is mandatory before any expenditure can occur.
• Statement II is incorrect. The Appropriation Bill is a type of Money Bill. Once the Lok Sabha has voted on the Demands for Grants, the amounts included in the bill cannot be altered through amendments in either House. No amendment can be proposed that would vary the amount of any grant, change the destination of the grant, or alter charged expenditure. The Rajya Sabha can only make recommendations on a Money Bill and cannot amend it. Even in the Lok Sabha, amendments altering grants are not permitted at the Appropriation Bill stage because the voting on grants has already been completed earlier.

Solution: D

• Statement 1 is incorrect. The term Leader of the House is not defined in the Constitution of India. It is defined in the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business of the respective Houses of Parliament of India.
• Statement 2 is correct. In the Lok Sabha, if the Prime Minister is a member of that House, he is the Leader of the House. If the Prime Minister belongs to the Rajya Sabha, then another minister who is a member of the Lok Sabha is appointed as the Leader of the House in the Lok Sabha.
• Statement 3 is incorrect. A member of the Rajya Sabha cannot be nominated as the Leader of the House in the Lok Sabha because the Leader of the House in a particular House must necessarily be a member of that House. Therefore, only a Lok Sabha member can hold that position in the Lok Sabha.
• The office of the Leader of the House is important for coordinating government business, scheduling legislative work, and maintaining liaison between the government and the presiding officer. The position reflects the principle that parliamentary business in each House must be managed by a representative belonging to that House itself.