UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Most common word used by Speaker is ‘no’: Opposition

Q1. Under Article 94(c) of the Constitution of India, the Lok Sabha Speaker can be removed by 'a majority of all the then members of the House'. Which of the following correctly explains the term 'all the then members' as used in this provision?

• A. All 543 members constituting the full sanctioned strength of the Lok Sabha, regardless of vacancies
• B. All members who are present and voting at the sitting on which the resolution is put to vote
• C. All members whose seats are filled at the time the vote is taken, excluding any currently vacant seats
• D. All members belonging to parties that gave notice of the resolution, excluding abstentions

Q2. Consider the following statements about the procedure for removing the Lok Sabha Speaker under the Constitution of India and the Rules of Procedure of Lok Sabha. Which of the above statements is/are NOT correct?

1. A written notice of at least 14 days must be given before a resolution for the removal of the Speaker can be moved in the House.
2. The Speaker is constitutionally prohibited from being physically present in the House during the sitting at which the removal resolution is debated.
3. During the debate on a resolution for the Speaker's removal, the Speaker retains the right to speak in the House and to vote in the first instance.
4. The removal resolution requires a majority of all the then members of the House, a threshold stricter than a simple majority of members present and voting.

• A. 1 only
• B. 2 only
• C. 1 and 4
• D. 2 and 3

Q3. Consider the following statements about the constitutional position and conventions associated with the office of the Lok Sabha Speaker. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. Under Article 100 of the Constitution, the Lok Sabha Speaker does not vote on any question in the first instance but exercises a casting vote only in the event of an equality of votes.
2. By constitutional mandate, the Lok Sabha Speaker must resign their political party membership upon election to the office, mirroring the UK parliamentary convention.
3. Article 96 of the Constitution creates an exception allowing the Speaker to both speak and vote in the first instance during the debate on a resolution for their own removal.
4. The Speaker's term is co-terminus with the life of the Lok Sabha and does not carry the security of tenure enjoyed by the judges of the Supreme Court of India.

• A. 1 and 2 only
• B. 2 and 3 only
• C. 1, 3 and 4
• D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q4. Article 94 of the Constitution of India specifies the grounds on which a member holding the office of Lok Sabha Speaker vacates that office. How many distinct grounds for vacation of office are enumerated in Article 94?

• A. Two
• B. Three
• C. Four
• D. Five

Q5. The Lok Sabha Secretariat provides administrative support to the Speaker's office. Under which constitutional provision is the Lok Sabha Secretariat constituted as a separate secretarial body?

• A. Article 93, which establishes the offices of Speaker and Deputy Speaker
• B. Article 98, which provides for separate secretarial staff for each House of Parliament
• C. Article 77, which deals with conduct of business of the Government of India
• D. Article 105, which confers powers, privileges and immunities on members of Parliament

Q6. Om Birla was re-elected as Speaker of the 18th Lok Sabha in June 2024, making him only the second Speaker in Indian parliamentary history to serve consecutive complete terms. How many Lok Sabha Speakers before Om Birla had served two or more consecutive complete terms since the 1st Lok Sabha was constituted in 1952?

• A. None
• B. One
• C. Two
• D. Three

Q7. When the no-confidence motion against Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla was debated in March 2026, approximately how many hours did the House spend debating the motion before it was rejected by voice vote?

• A. Approximately 5 hours
• B. Approximately 9 hours
• C. Approximately 13 hours
• D. Approximately 18 hours

Q8. Consider the following statements about the no-confidence motion moved by the INDIA bloc against Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla in March 2026. Which of the above statements is/are NOT correct?

1. The motion was admitted after at least 50 members rose in their places in support when it was moved on the floor of the House.
2. The resolution required a two-thirds majority of members present and voting to succeed in removing the Speaker.
3. The Speaker was constitutionally barred from presiding over the House during the entire duration of the debate on the removal motion.
4. The motion was ultimately rejected by a voice vote, defeating the Opposition's attempt to remove the Speaker.

• A. 1 and 4
• B. 2 only
• C. 3 only
• D. 1, 2 and 3

Q9. Balram Jakhar holds a unique distinction in the history of the Lok Sabha Speaker's office. Which of the following correctly identifies his primary superlative record in that office?

• A. He was the first Speaker of the Lok Sabha to be elected unanimously without any contest from the opposition
• B. He was the longest-serving Lok Sabha Speaker in Indian parliamentary history, having presided over two consecutive full-term Lok Sabhas
• C. He was the first Speaker who successfully adjudicated a no-confidence motion moved against himself without being removed
• D. He was the first Speaker elected from a constituency outside of Maharashtra or Uttar Pradesh

Q10. Under Rule 198 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha, which procedural requirement constitutes the PRIMARY gate that determines — at the moment of moving — whether a no-confidence motion against the Speaker proceeds to scheduled debate?

• A. The motion must be signed by members collectively representing at least one-tenth of the total membership of the House
• B. At least 50 members must rise in their places in support of the motion when the Speaker puts it to the House
• C. The motion must be countersigned by the Leader of the Opposition as the recognised head of the principal opposition party
• D. The motion must receive prior sanction of the Parliamentary Affairs Committee before being admitted for reading

Q11. Consider the following statements comparing the constitutional positions of the Lok Sabha Speaker and the Deputy Speaker with respect to removal and presiding functions. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. Both the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha are removed from office under the same constitutional provision, namely Article 94 of the Constitution.
2. When a resolution for the removal of the Deputy Speaker is under consideration, the Deputy Speaker shall not preside but may be present in the House, speak, and vote in the first instance.
3. The Deputy Speaker requires a higher majority for removal than the Speaker, reflecting the Speaker's greater constitutional seniority.
4. Under Article 95, the Deputy Speaker performs the duties of the Speaker whenever the office of Speaker is vacant or whenever the Speaker is absent from a sitting.

• A. 1 and 2 only
• B. 3 and 4 only
• C. 1, 2 and 4
• D. 2, 3 and 4

Q12. Consider the following statements about the conventions and constitutional rules governing the conduct of the Lok Sabha Speaker. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. Unlike the Speaker of the UK House of Commons, the Lok Sabha Speaker is not required by law or convention to resign their political party membership upon assumption of office.
2. The Lok Sabha Speaker exercises a casting vote on all Money Bills and Constitutional Amendment Bills in order to ensure that the will of the elected government is reflected in the final count.
3. The Lok Sabha Speaker's term is co-terminus with the life of the Lok Sabha and does not enjoy security of tenure comparable to that of a Supreme Court judge.
4. Under Article 96 of the Constitution, the Lok Sabha Speaker may speak and vote in the first instance during the debate on a motion for their own removal, which is an exception to Article 100.

• A. 1 and 2 only
• B. 2 and 4 only
• C. 1, 3 and 4
• D. 1, 2, 3 and 4