UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Modi endorses Birla, days before LS takes up motion seeking Speaker’s removal

Q1. In the context of the removal of the Lok Sabha Speaker under Article 94, the resolution must be carried by a 'majority of all the then members of the House'. This requirement is best described as which one of the following?

  • A. Simple majority of members present and voting
  • B. Absolute majority of the total sanctioned strength of the House
  • C. Effective majority, i.e. a majority of the total members of the House excluding vacancies
  • D. Special majority of not less than two-thirds of members present and voting

Q2. With reference to the Opposition's 2026 motion seeking the removal of Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, consider the following grievances said to have been cited in the notice: 1. Suspension of members and restricted speaking opportunities 2. Switching off of microphones of members 3. Continued vacancy of the office of the Deputy Speaker 4. Refusal by the Speaker to admit a no-confidence motion against the Council of Ministers Which of the above is/are NOT correctly listed as a cited grievance?

  1. Suspension of members and restricted speaking opportunities
  2. Switching off of microphones of members
  3. Continued vacancy of the office of the Deputy Speaker
  4. Refusal by the Speaker to admit a no-confidence motion against the Council of Ministers
  • A. 1 and 2
  • B. 3 only
  • C. 4 only
  • D. 2 and 4

Q3. Consider the following statements comparing the 2026 motion against Speaker Om Birla with the earlier 1966 attempt against Speaker Sardar Hukam Singh: 1. The 2026 motion was only the second occasion on which such a removal/no-confidence debate was taken up against a sitting Lok Sabha Speaker. 2. Unlike the 1966 attempt, which did not fructify on the floor, the 2026 motion was actually put to the House and decided by a vote. 3. Both the 1966 and the 2026 motions ultimately succeeded in removing the Speaker from office. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The 2026 motion was only the second occasion on which such a removal/no-confidence debate was taken up against a sitting Lok Sabha Speaker.
  2. Unlike the 1966 attempt, which did not fructify on the floor, the 2026 motion was actually put to the House and decided by a vote.
  3. Both the 1966 and the 2026 motions ultimately succeeded in removing the Speaker from office.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q4. Under which Article of the Constitution of India may the Speaker of the Lok Sabha be removed by a resolution of the House, as invoked in the 2026 motion against Om Birla?

  • A. Article 93
  • B. Article 94
  • C. Article 95
  • D. Article 96

Q5. The Government's reply to the Opposition's 2026 no-confidence/removal motion against Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla was led, on behalf of the Treasury benches, by which one of the following Union Ministers?

  • A. Home Minister Amit Shah
  • B. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh
  • C. Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju
  • D. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman