UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Monsoon Session likely to begin on July 20

Q1. Under the proviso to Article 85(1) of the Constitution, what is the maximum interval that may elapse between the last sitting of one session and the first sitting of the next session of Parliament?

  • A. Three months
  • B. Six months
  • C. Nine months
  • D. Twelve months

Q2. The power to summon each House of Parliament, to prorogue the Houses, and to dissolve the House of the People is formally vested in which authority under Article 85?

  • A. The Prime Minister
  • B. The President
  • C. The Speaker of the Lok Sabha and the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha acting jointly
  • D. The Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs

Q3. The scheduling of Parliament's sittings, notifying members, and coordinating government legislative business across the three annual sessions is operationally handled by which of the following?

  • A. Ministry of Home Affairs
  • B. Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs
  • C. Ministry of Law and Justice
  • D. The Election Commission of India

Q4. The practice of holding three parliamentary sessions each year — Budget, Monsoon and Winter — derives its authority from which of the following?

  • A. An express clause of Article 85 fixing exactly three sessions a year
  • B. Parliamentary convention, with no statutory or constitutional mandate fixing the number of sessions
  • C. The Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Lok Sabha
  • D. A specific statute enacted by Parliament

Q5. In the process of convening Parliament, the role of the Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs is best described as:

  • A. The body that constitutionally summons Members of Parliament in its own name
  • B. The body that decides the dates of a session, which are then formalised by a summons issued in the President's name
  • C. A parliamentary standing committee of both Houses that scrutinises government bills clause by clause
  • D. The authority that decides disqualification of members on the ground of defection

Q6. Under the Tenth Schedule, a 'merger' of a legislature party into another party is deemed to have taken place only when:

  • A. a simple majority (more than one-half) of its members agree to the merger
  • B. not less than two-thirds of the members of the legislature party agree to the merger
  • C. the Speaker grants recognition to the breakaway group
  • D. at least one-tenth of the total membership of the House join together

Q7. The Constitution (One Hundred and Sixth Amendment) Act, 2023 (Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam), providing one-third reservation for women, was introduced and piloted in Parliament by which ministry?

  • A. Ministry of Women and Child Development
  • B. Ministry of Law and Justice
  • C. Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs
  • D. Ministry of Home Affairs

Q8. Unless sooner dissolved, the House of the People continues for a fixed term from the date of its first meeting, on the expiry of which it stands automatically dissolved. That normal term is:

  • A. Four years
  • B. Five years
  • C. Six years
  • D. Two years

Q9. Under Article 100 of the Constitution, the quorum required to constitute a sitting of either House of Parliament is:

  • A. one-half of the total number of members of the House
  • B. one-tenth of the total number of members of the House
  • C. one-fourth of the members present and voting
  • D. fifty members, irrespective of the strength of the House