With reference to the Parliament of India, which of the following Parliamentary Committees scrutinizes and reports to the House whether the powers to make regulations, rules, sub-rules, by-laws, etc. conferred by the Constitution or delegated by the Parliament are being properly exercised by the Executive within the scope of such delegation ?
- A.Committee on Government Assurances
- B.Committee on Subordinate Legislation
- C.Rules Committee
- D.Business Advisory Committee
Correct answer
Explanation
The correct answer is B, Committee on Subordinate Legislation. This committee checks whether the rules, regulations and by-laws made by the executive under delegated powers stay within the limits Parliament set.
Parliament passes laws in broad terms and lets the government fill in the details through rules and regulations, called delegated or subordinate legislation. To keep this power in check, each House has a Committee on Subordinate Legislation. In the Lok Sabha it has 15 members nominated by the Speaker, and a minister cannot be a member; the Rajya Sabha has a similar committee. It examines whether the rules follow the parent Act and the Constitution, whether they impose taxes or give retrospective effect without authority, and whether they are clear, and then reports to the House.
A is wrong: the Committee on Government Assurances checks whether promises made by ministers on the floor of the House are kept.
C is wrong: the Rules Committee considers the House's own rules of procedure.
D is wrong: the Business Advisory Committee fixes the timetable of the House's business.
Exam tip: delegated legislation is watched by the Committee on Subordinate Legislation; ministers' promises by the Committee on Government Assurances.
Practice Questions
View allWith reference to Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha, consider the following statements : 1. As per the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha, the election of Deputy Speaker shall be held on such date as the Speaker may fix.
2. There is a mandatory provision that the election of a candidate as Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha shall be from either the principal opposition party or the ruling party.
3. The Deputy Speaker has the same power as of the Speaker when presiding over the sitting of the House and no appeal lies against his rulings.
4. The well established parliamentary practice regarding the appointment of Deputy Speaker is that the motion is moved by the Speaker and duly seconded by the Prime Minister. Which of the statements given above are correct ?
- A.1 and 3 only
- B.1, 2 and 3
- C.3 and 4 only
- D.2 and 4 only
Show answer
The Speaker fixes the date of the Deputy Speaker's election, and a presiding Deputy Speaker has the full powers of the Speaker; statements 2 and 4 describe rules that do not exist.
Read the full explanation →With reference to the writs issued by the Courts in India, consider the following statements :
1. Mandamus will not lie against a private organisation unless it is entrusted with a public duty.
2. Mandamus will not lie against a Company even though it may be a Government Company.
3. Any public minded person can be a petitioner to move the Court to obtain the writ of Quo Warranto.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
- A.1 and 2 only
- B.2 and 3 only
- C.1 and 3 only
- D.1, 2 and 3
Show answer
Mandamus reaches anyone who owes a public duty, including government companies, and quo warranto can be sought by any interested person, not only the aggrieved one.
Read the full explanation →Which one of the following is not a function of the Constitution of India ?
- A.To ensure participation of good people in politics
- B.To guarantee a set of rights to citizens
- C.To define the power of the different organs of government
- D.To create conditions for a just society
Show answer
A constitution can set rules and limits, but it cannot guarantee that good people will enter politics. A constitution is the basic set of rules by which a country is governed.
Read the full explanation →Which one of the following is not a part of Fundamental Rights ?
- A.Right to education
- B.Right to establish educational institutions by minorities
- C.Right to be conferred with titles
- D.Right against untouchability
Show answer
The Constitution does the opposite: Article 18 abolishes titles, so receiving a title is not a Fundamental Right. Article 18 forbids the State from conferring any title other than a military or academic distinction, and bars citizens from accepting a title from a foreign State.
Read the full explanation →Which one of the following statements about the Parliament of India is correct ?
- A.A majority of members of Rajya Sabha are elected by a system of proportional representation by means of single transferable vote
- B.The Deputy Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha is nominated by the President from among the members of the Rajya Sabha
- C.The Lok Sabha cannot be dissolved before the completion of its five year term
- D.The members of Lok Sabha also vote in the election of the members of Rajya Sabha
Show answer
Most members of the Rajya Sabha are elected indirectly by the elected members of the State Legislative Assemblies through proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote.
Read the full explanation →