UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — RS Chairman tells Rijiju to ‘echo the sentiments’ of the Opposition to Shah

Q1. With reference to the summoning of the Parliament of India, consider the following: 1. Article 85 requires that not more than six months shall intervene between the last sitting of one session and the first sitting of the next. 2. The dates of a session are decided by the Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs, and the President thereafter issues the summons. 3. The Constitution itself names the three sessions — Budget, Monsoon and Winter — and fixes the months in which each is to be held. 4. The provision now contained in Article 85 traces to the Government of India Act, 1935, which required the central legislature to be summoned at least once a year. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. Article 85 requires that not more than six months shall intervene between the last sitting of one session and the first sitting of the next.
  2. The dates of a session are decided by the Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs, and the President thereafter issues the summons.
  3. The Constitution itself names the three sessions — Budget, Monsoon and Winter — and fixes the months in which each is to be held.
  4. The provision now contained in Article 85 traces to the Government of India Act, 1935, which required the central legislature to be summoned at least once a year.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2, 3 and 4
  • C. 1, 2 and 4
  • D. 3 and 4 only

Q2. With reference to the annual calendar of sittings of the Indian Parliament, consider the following: 1. By convention Parliament holds three sessions in a year, of which the Budget Session is the longest. 2. The Monsoon Session is ordinarily held between July and August and typically runs for about three weeks. 3. The Constitution requires that Parliament shall meet at least thrice in every year. 4. A recommendation for a fixed parliamentary calendar was made by a General Purpose Committee in 1955 but was never given effect to. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. By convention Parliament holds three sessions in a year, of which the Budget Session is the longest.
  2. The Monsoon Session is ordinarily held between July and August and typically runs for about three weeks.
  3. The Constitution requires that Parliament shall meet at least thrice in every year.
  4. A recommendation for a fixed parliamentary calendar was made by a General Purpose Committee in 1955 but was never given effect to.
  • A. 1 and 2
  • B. 3 only
  • C. 2 and 4
  • D. 1, 3 and 4

Q3. With reference to the presiding arrangements of the Council of States, consider the following: 1. The Vice-President of India is ex officio Chairman of the Council of States and shall not hold any other office of profit. 2. The Deputy Chairman is chosen by the Council of States from amongst its own members. 3. The Panel of Vice-Chairmen is elected by the Council of States to preside in the absence of both the Chairman and the Deputy Chairman. 4. Where a joint sitting of the two Houses is held, it is presided over by the Chairman of the Council of States. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. The Vice-President of India is ex officio Chairman of the Council of States and shall not hold any other office of profit.
  2. The Deputy Chairman is chosen by the Council of States from amongst its own members.
  3. The Panel of Vice-Chairmen is elected by the Council of States to preside in the absence of both the Chairman and the Deputy Chairman.
  4. Where a joint sitting of the two Houses is held, it is presided over by the Chairman of the Council of States.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1, 3 and 4
  • D. 1, 2 and 4

Q4. Who is the appointing and disciplinary authority in respect of the officers and staff of the Rajya Sabha Secretariat?

  • A. The Union Public Service Commission, acting on a reference made through the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs
  • B. The Secretary-General of the Rajya Sabha, under rules framed by the Department of Personnel and Training
  • C. The Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, under the Recruitment and Conditions of Service Rules, 1957
  • D. The Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, under the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business

Q5. In the procedure of the Rajya Sabha, the expression 'naming' a member denotes which one of the following?

  • A. The Chairman directing a member whose conduct is grossly disorderly to withdraw immediately and stay away for the remainder of that day's sitting
  • B. The Chairman formally citing a member who persistently and wilfully obstructs business, upon which a motion for suspension may be moved in the House
  • C. The Chairman ordering that words used by a member be treated as unparliamentary and removed from the record of the proceedings
  • D. The Chairman designating a member of the House to preside over its sittings during the temporary absence of the Chair

Q6. The Question Hour of the Rajya Sabha was rescheduled from 11 a.m. to 12 noon in order to insulate it from disruption. In which year, and by what authority, was this change effected?

  • A. In 2019, on the recommendation of the Business Advisory Committee of the Rajya Sabha
  • B. In 2009, by a direction issued by the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs
  • C. In 2014, by an amendment to the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business adopted by the House
  • D. In 2014, by a decision of the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha

Q7. In Indian parliamentary practice, the expression 'Zero Hour' denotes which one of the following?

  • A. The opening hour of every sitting, set apart under the Rules of Procedure for Ministers to make suo motu statements on urgent matters
  • B. The interval preceding Question Hour, reserved under the Rules for the presiding officer to dispose of points of order and notices of privilege
  • C. The period adjoining Question Hour in which members raise matters of urgent public importance without advance notice, an Indian innovation unmentioned in the Rules
  • D. The closing period of a sitting allotted to private members' business, on time allocated by the Business Advisory Committee

Q8. The Monsoon Session of Parliament of 2026, which commenced on 20 July 2026, was originally scheduled to have how many sittings?

  • A. 15
  • B. 19
  • C. 21
  • D. 24

Q9. Under the Salary and Allowances of Leaders of Opposition in Parliament Act, 1977, the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha is the Leader in that House of which party, and recognised by whom?

  • A. The party in opposition to the Government having the greatest numerical strength in that House, recognised as such by the Prime Minister
  • B. The party in opposition to the Government having the greatest numerical strength in that House, recognised as such by the Chairman
  • C. The largest party in opposition having at least one-tenth of the total membership of that House, recognised as such by the Chairman
  • D. The largest pre-poll alliance in opposition to the Government in that House, recognised as such by the Deputy Chairman

Q10. Consider the following statements distinguishing the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs from parliamentary bodies: 1. The Business Advisory Committee recommends the allocation of time for the discussion of Government Bills and other business, whereas the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs constitutes Consultative Committees of Members of Parliament and arranges their meetings. 2. Consultative Committees attached to Ministries are constituted afresh upon the constitution of each Lok Sabha, and their number stood at 42 in 2025. 3. The National Youth Parliament Scheme portal is administered by the Rajya Sabha Secretariat, while the National e-Vidhan Application for State Legislatures is run by the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The Business Advisory Committee recommends the allocation of time for the discussion of Government Bills and other business, whereas the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs constitutes Consultative Committees of Members of Parliament and arranges their meetings.
  2. Consultative Committees attached to Ministries are constituted afresh upon the constitution of each Lok Sabha, and their number stood at 42 in 2025.
  3. The National Youth Parliament Scheme portal is administered by the Rajya Sabha Secretariat, while the National e-Vidhan Application for State Legislatures is run by the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q11. Which one of the following statements about the functioning of Parliament during the Monsoon Session of 2025 is correct?

  • A. Both Houses were adjourned sine die well ahead of schedule, and not a single Bill was passed during the entire session
  • B. The Rajya Sabha used up its whole scheduled Question Hour time, whereas the Lok Sabha lost all of its Question Hour to disruption
  • C. The session recorded the highest ever productivity of the Eighteenth Lok Sabha, with every listed Bill being passed by both Houses
  • D. Both Houses sat on all 21 scheduled days, but roughly two-thirds of the scheduled time was lost to disruption