UPSC Prelims 2025 Q87: Lok Sabha Speaker Vacation & Removal Explained

Consider the following statements:

I. On the dissolution of the House of the People, the Speaker shall not vacate his/her office until immediately before the first meeting of the House of the People after the dissolution.

II. According to the provisions of the Constitution of India, a Member of the House of the People on being elected as Speaker shall resign from his/her political party immediately.

III. The Speaker of the House of the People may be removed from his/her office by a resolution of the House of the People passed by a majority of all the then Members of the House, provided that no resolution shall be moved unless at least fourteen days' notice has been given of the intention to move the resolution.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

I and II only
II and III only
I and III only
I, II and III

Answer: (c) I and III only

Statement-wise explanation

I: correct — This statement copies the second proviso to Article 94. When the Lok Sabha is dissolved, the Speaker does not vacate office until immediately before the first meeting of the newly elected House. This avoids a gap in the office: the outgoing Speaker continues and the Lok Sabha Secretariat keeps working under the Speaker during elections.
II: incorrect — Nothing in the Constitution requires a newly elected Speaker to resign from their political party. Paragraph 5 of the Tenth Schedule (anti-defection law) gives only an exemption. A member who voluntarily gives up party membership on becoming Speaker is not disqualified for doing so, but there is no duty to resign. In practice, Lok Sabha Speakers have stayed members of their parties. The idea of a neutral Speaker who cuts party ties is a British convention, not an Indian constitutional rule.
III: correct — Article 94(c) says the Speaker may be removed by a resolution of the House of the People passed by 'a majority of all the then members of the House'. This is called an effective majority, meaning a majority of the House's actual strength, with vacancies left out. The first proviso to Article 94 adds that no such resolution can be moved unless at least 14 days' notice has been given.

How to eliminate

Statement II is the weak link. It says 'according to the provisions of the Constitution' and adds 'immediately'. Strict wording like this about something that is only a convention is usually false. Most aspirants also know the Speaker is elected on a party ticket, the Indian Speaker remains a party member in practice, and only the British Speaker gives up party ties. Once II is ruled out, three options fall away because they all include II. Only the option with I and III is left, so you need not verify I or III. If you are unsure about II, remember the anchor fact: Article 94 gives only three exits (ceasing to be a member, resigning in writing to the Deputy Speaker, and removal by an effective-majority resolution with 14 days' notice) and one continuity rule (the Speaker stays in office through a dissolution). The Constitution says nothing about the Speaker leaving their party.

Know more

Article 94: how the Speaker's office falls vacant

The Speaker is elected by the Lok Sabha from among its members (Article 93). Article 94 lists the only ways the office ends:

Route	Provision	Key detail
Ceases to be a member of the Lok Sabha	Art. 94(a)	e.g. disqualification
Resignation	Art. 94(b)	In writing, addressed to the Deputy Speaker
Removal	Art. 94(c)	Resolution passed by a majority of all the then members (effective majority)
Notice for removal	1st proviso	At least 14 days' notice
Dissolution of the House	2nd proviso	Speaker continues until immediately before the first meeting of the new House

While a removal resolution is under consideration (Article 96):

The Speaker cannot preside, even if present.
The Speaker can speak and take part in the proceedings.
The Speaker can vote in the first instance, but has no casting vote if the votes are tied.

Speaker and party membership. Under paragraph 5 of the Tenth Schedule, a Speaker who gives up party membership on election is not disqualified, and may rejoin the party after leaving office. This is an option, not a duty.

Three majorities to keep apart:

Simple majority: of members present and voting. Used for the Speaker's election and for ordinary bills.
Effective majority: of all the then members. Used to remove the Speaker or Deputy Speaker, and in the Rajya Sabha for removing the Vice-President.
Special majority: under Article 368. Used for constitutional amendments.

Precedents. Before 2026, removal motions were moved against three Speakers: G.V. Mavalankar (1954), Hukam Singh (1966) and Balram Jakhar (1987). All three failed. In March 2026 the Lok Sabha debated a fourth, against Om Birla, and no Speaker has ever been removed.

In the news

The question is mainly static. The Speaker's office was in the news before the exam: Om Birla was re-elected Speaker of the 18th Lok Sabha on 26 June 2024, and the Deputy Speaker's post stayed vacant. This may have prompted a question on Article 94.

NCERT Concepts to Revise

Removal of the Speaker: One statement tests the exact majority and notice period that Article 94(c) sets for removing the Speaker.
Dissolution of the Lok Sabha: One statement asks what happens to the Speaker's office when the Lok Sabha itself ends through dissolution.
Speaker of the Lok Sabha: All three statements concern the Speaker's office, so this sets out what the presiding officer is and does.
Deputy Speaker: The Speaker resigns in writing to the Deputy Speaker, who presides when the Speaker cannot, for example during a removal debate.