Parliament of India MCQ: Guillotine, Money Bills & Parliamentary Privileges

Attempt the quiz above first, then review every question with its correct answer and a short explanation below.

1. Q1.Which mechanism is used to cut short the debate on a matter and put it to vote?

   • A.Closure Motion✓ Correct Answer
   • B.Point of Order
   • C.Privilege Motion
   • D.Guillotine

   Explanation: Closure is a motion moved by a member to cut short the debate on a matter before the House. If approved, the debate is stopped and the matter is put to vote.

2. Q2.Which of the following expenditures is NOT charged on the Consolidated Fund of India?

   • A.Salary of the President
   • B.Salary of Judges of Supreme Court
   • C.Salary of Prime Minister✓ Correct Answer
   • D.Pensions of Judges of High Courts

   Explanation: The salary of the Prime Minister is voted by the Parliament and is not a charged expenditure. Pensions of High Court judges are charged on CFI, but their salaries are charged on State Consolidated Fund.

3. Q3.What happens if a Money Bill passed by Lok Sabha is not returned by Rajya Sabha within 14 days?

   • A.The bill lapses
   • B.The Lok Sabha must pass it again
   • C.It is deemed to have been passed by both Houses✓ Correct Answer
   • D.President calls a joint sitting

   Explanation: If the Rajya Sabha does not return a Money Bill within 14 days, the bill is deemed to have been passed by both Houses in the form it was originally passed by the Lok Sabha.

4. Q4.Who acts as the channel of communication between the President and the Parliament?

   • A.Speaker of Lok Sabha
   • B.Chairman of Rajya Sabha
   • C.Prime Minister✓ Correct Answer
   • D.Minister of Parliamentary Affairs

   Explanation: As the head of the government, the Prime Minister acts as the channel of communication between the President and the Parliament.

5. Q5.The 'Committee on Public Undertakings' was created in 1964 on the recommendation of which committee?

   • A.Santhanam Committee
   • B.Krishna Menon Committee✓ Correct Answer
   • C.Ashok Mehta Committee
   • D.Sarkaria Commission

   Explanation: The Committee on Public Undertakings was created in 1964 on the recommendation of the Krishna Menon Committee.

6. Q6.Can a person who is not a member of Parliament be appointed as a Minister?

   • A.No, never
   • B.Yes, but only for 3 months
   • C.Yes, but only for 6 months✓ Correct Answer
   • D.Yes, indefinitely

   Explanation: A person who is not a member of either House of Parliament can also be appointed as a minister, but within six months, he must become a member of either House, otherwise he ceases to be a minister.

7. Q7.Which article of the Constitution deals with the 'Special Address by the President'?

   • A.Article 85
   • B.Article 86
   • C.Article 87✓ Correct Answer
   • D.Article 88

   Explanation: Article 87 provides for the Special Address by the President at the commencement of the first session after each general election and the first session of each year.

8. Q8.What is the quorum to constitute a meeting of a Parliamentary Committee?

   • A.One-half of total members
   • B.One-third of total members✓ Correct Answer
   • C.One-fourth of total members
   • D.One-tenth of total members

   Explanation: The quorum to constitute a sitting of a Committee is one-third of the total number of members of the Committee.

9. Q9.Which of the following is NOT a ground for disqualification under the Tenth Schedule?

   • A.Voluntarily giving up membership
   • B.Voting against party whip
   • C.Independent member joining a party
   • D.Expulsion from the political party✓ Correct Answer

   Explanation: Expulsion from the political party does not automatically result in disqualification under the Tenth Schedule unless the member subsequently gives up membership or defies a whip.

10. Q10.The 'Guillotine' is applied when?

    • A.Time allotted for discussion is over✓ Correct Answer
    • B.A minister resigns
    • C.Quorum is incomplete
    • D.A bill is rejected

    Explanation: On the last day of the allotted days for voting on demands for grants, the Speaker puts all the remaining demands to vote without discussion. This is known as Guillotine.

11. Q11.How much notice period is required to introduce a Private Member's Bill in the Parliament?

    • A.7 days
    • B.14 days
    • C.1 month✓ Correct Answer
    • D.3 months

    Explanation: To introduce a Private Member's Bill, a notice of one month is required. For a public bill (government bill), only 7 days notice is needed.

12. Q12.Which type of question requires an oral answer on the floor of the House?

    • A.Unstarred Question
    • B.Starred Question✓ Correct Answer
    • C.Short Notice Question
    • D.Written Question

    Explanation: A Starred Question (distinguished by an asterisk) requires an oral answer and supplementary questions can follow.

13. Q13.An 'Unstarred Question' in Parliament is one which:

    • A.Requires an oral answer
    • B.Permits supplementary questions
    • C.Requires a written answer✓ Correct Answer
    • D.Is asked to private members

    Explanation: An Unstarred Question requires a written answer and hence, no supplementary questions can follow.

14. Q14.What happens if the 'Motion of Thanks' on the President's address is defeated in the Lok Sabha?

    • A.President resigns
    • B.Government resigns✓ Correct Answer
    • C.Parliament is dissolved
    • D.Prime Minister is censured

    Explanation: The Motion of Thanks must be passed in the House. Its defeat amounts to a lack of confidence in the government and leads to the resignation of the government.

15. Q15.A 'Point of Order' is raised when:

    • A.Information is needed from a Minister
    • B.There is a breach of the rules of procedure of the House✓ Correct Answer
    • C.Quorum is incomplete
    • D.A member wants to resign

    Explanation: A member can raise a Point of Order when the proceedings of the House do not follow the normal rules of procedure. It is usually raised by the opposition.

16. Q16.Which among the following is a 'Collective Privilege' of the Parliament?

    • A.Freedom from arrest
    • B.Freedom of speech
    • C.Exemption from jury service
    • D.Right to hold secret sittings✓ Correct Answer

    Explanation: The right to exclude strangers from galleries and hold secret sittings is a collective privilege of the House. Others listed are individual privileges.

17. Q17.For how many days is a member of Parliament immune from arrest in civil cases before and after a session?

    • A.14 days
    • B.30 days
    • C.40 days✓ Correct Answer
    • D.60 days

    Explanation: Members enjoy freedom from arrest in civil cases during the session of Parliament and 40 days before the beginning and 40 days after the end of a session.

18. Q18.Which authority creates new Departmental Standing Committees?

    • A.President
    • B.Parliamentary Affairs Ministry
    • C.Rules Committee of Lok Sabha/Rajya Sabha✓ Correct Answer
    • D.Speaker/Chairman

    Explanation: The Departmental Standing Committees work under the directions of the Speaker/Chairman, but they are constituted on the recommendation of the Rules Committee of the Houses.

19. Q19.What is the primary function of the 'Committee on Subordinate Legislation'?

    • A.To examine the estimates
    • B.To examine reports of CAG
    • C.To examine if the powers to make rules delegated by Parliament are being properly exercised✓ Correct Answer
    • D.To examine public undertakings

    Explanation: It examines and reports to the House whether the powers to make regulations, rules, sub-rules, and bye-laws delegated by the Parliament are being properly exercised by the Executive.

20. Q20.Who is the chairman of a Consultative Committee attached to various ministries?

    • A.Cabinet Secretary
    • B.Minister/Minister of State in charge of the Ministry✓ Correct Answer
    • C.Senior-most MP in the committee
    • D.Speaker of Lok Sabha

    Explanation: The Minister / Minister of State in charge of the Ministry concerned acts as the chairman of the Consultative Committee attached to that ministry.