What is the composition of the Indian Parliament?

Parliament consists of the President and two Houses — the Lok Sabha (House of the People) and the Rajya Sabha (Council of States). The Lok Sabha can have up to 550 members (530 from states and 20 from Union Territories), is directly elected, and has a five-year term. The Rajya Sabha can have up to 250 members (238 representing states and UTs plus 12 nominated by the President); it is a permanent House, one-third of whose members retire every two years.

What is a Money Bill under Article 110?

A Money Bill deals only with matters such as taxation, borrowing and the Consolidated Fund of India, listed in Article 110. It can be introduced only in the Lok Sabha, on the recommendation of the President. The Speaker's certification that a bill is a Money Bill is final. The Rajya Sabha can only make recommendations, which the Lok Sabha may accept or reject, and must return the bill within 14 days. There is no joint sitting for a Money Bill.

What is the difference between the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha?

The Lok Sabha is directly elected, has a five-year term, is subject to dissolution, is presided over by the Speaker, and holds exclusive power over Money Bills and the survival of the government (no-confidence motion). The Rajya Sabha is indirectly elected by state legislatures, is a permanent House not subject to dissolution, is chaired by the Vice-President, and has special powers under Articles 249 and 312. On ordinary bills a deadlock is resolved by a joint sitting where the Lok Sabha's larger numbers usually prevail.

What did the Supreme Court rule about the anti-defection law in 2025?

In Padi Kaushik Reddy v. State of Telangana, the Supreme Court held that a Speaker deciding disqualification petitions under the Tenth Schedule acts as a tribunal and must decide within a reasonable time; it directed decisions within about three months and reiterated that the Speaker enjoys no immunity under Articles 122 or 212. The Court also urged Parliament to reconsider whether the Speaker should be the adjudicating authority at all.

What are the main parliamentary committees?

The key financial committees are the Public Accounts Committee, the Estimates Committee and the Committee on Public Undertakings. In addition there are 24 Department-Related Standing Committees that scrutinise ministries and bills, plus committees like Business Advisory, Privileges and Petitions. Committees allow detailed, less partisan scrutiny of legislation and spending.

GS-II · Polity · Union Legislature

Parliament — where India's laws are made.

The heaviest scoring chapter in polity, because it feeds three things at once: static composition questions, current-affairs on bills and motions, and Mains debates on legislative decline. Here is the whole institution — the two Houses, the money-bill machinery, the motions that topple governments, and the committees that do the real work.

The direct answer

Parliament = President + Lok Sabha + Rajya Sabha. The Lok Sabha (House of the People) is directly elected, up to 550 members, 5-year term. The Rajya Sabha (Council of States) is indirectly elected, up to 250 members, a permanent House where one-third retire every two years. Money power and the government's survival rest with the Lok Sabha.

The three parts

Parliament is not just the two Houses.

The President is an integral part of Parliament — a fact aspirants often forget.

The President

Part of Parliament

Not a member of either House, but an integral part — summons and prorogues sessions, dissolves the Lok Sabha, and gives assent to bills.

Lok Sabha

House of the People

Up to 550 members (530 states + 20 UTs), directly elected by universal adult franchise, five-year term, presided over by the Speaker.

Rajya Sabha

Council of States

Up to 250 members (238 elected by state legislatures + 12 nominated by the President), permanent, chaired by the Vice-President.

The comparison UPSC loves

Lok Sabha vs Rajya Sabha.

Sort each feature into the right House — the single most tested distinction here.

FeatureLok SabhaRajya Sabha

ElectionDirectly elected by the peopleIndirectly elected by state legislatures (+ 12 nominated)

Term5 years; subject to dissolutionPermanent House; 6-year term, one-third retire every 2 years

Presiding officerSpeakerVice-President (ex-officio Chairman)

Money BillsExclusive power — introduced only hereCan only recommend; must return in 14 days

Government survivalNo-confidence motion decides itCannot remove the government

Special powers—Articles 249 & 312 — can let Parliament legislate on State List / create All-India Services

The legislative process

How an ordinary bill becomes law.

1First reading — the bill is introduced and published in the Gazette.

2Second reading — the heart of the process: general discussion, optional referral to a committee, then clause-by-clause consideration.

3Third reading — the bill is voted on as a whole, then sent to the second House, which repeats the process.

4Deadlock — for an ordinary bill, disagreement between the Houses is resolved by a joint sitting (Article 108), presided over by the Speaker.

5President's assent — the President may assent, withhold assent, or return an ordinary bill for reconsideration (but must assent if passed again).

The most tested procedural topic

Money Bills — the Lok Sabha's monopoly.

Article 110 · the rules that trap aspirants

A Money Bill can be introduced only in the Lok Sabha, only on the President's recommendation. The Speaker's certification that a bill is a Money Bill is final and cannot be questioned. The Rajya Sabha cannot amend or reject it — it can only recommend changes within 14 days, which the Lok Sabha may ignore. There is no joint sitting for a Money Bill.

Money Bill vs Financial Bill · the classic confusion

Every Money Bill is a financial bill, but not every financial bill is a Money Bill. A Financial Bill (I) contains Article 110 matters plus other matters; a Financial Bill (II) involves expenditure from the Consolidated Fund. Unlike Money Bills, financial bills can be amended and rejected by the Rajya Sabha.

The tools of accountability

Motions & parliamentary devices.

Each device does a different job — mixing them up is a favourite trap.

No-Confidence MotionLok Sabha onlyIf passed, the entire Council of Ministers must resign. It needs no reason and can be moved against the whole government.

Adjournment MotionLok SabhaDraws attention to an urgent matter of public importance; involves an element of censure of the government.

Cut MotionsBudgetDisapproval of policy (Policy Cut), economy (Economy Cut) or a grievance (Token Cut) during demands for grants.

Question & Zero HourDaily devicesQuestion Hour (Starred, Unstarred, Short-notice questions) is constitutional; Zero Hour is an Indian innovation, not mentioned in the rules.

Where the real work happens

Parliamentary committees.

"Mini-parliaments" that scrutinise laws and spending away from the noise of the House.

PACPublic Accounts Committee — examines the CAG's audit reports; by convention chaired by a member of the Opposition. Cannot question policy, only execution.

EstimatesEstimates Committee — the largest committee; suggests economies in public expenditure ("continuous economy committee"). Members only from the Lok Sabha.

CoPUCommittee on Public Undertakings — examines the reports and accounts of public sector undertakings.

DRSCs24 Department-Related Standing Committees — scrutinise the budgets and bills of specific ministries; the backbone of detailed legislative oversight.

Current affairs · Parliament in the news

The live debates around Parliament.

The static institution keeps generating fresh, examinable developments.

2025Anti-defection — Padi Kaushik ReddyThe Supreme Court held the Speaker acts as a tribunal under the Tenth Schedule and must decide disqualification petitions in a reasonable time (about three months), with no immunity under Articles 122/212.

2023106th — Women's ReservationThe Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam reserves 33% of Lok Sabha and assembly seats for women, operative after a census and delimitation.

2024–One Nation, One ElectionThe 129th Amendment Bill for simultaneous elections is before a 39-member Joint Parliamentary Committee — a live test of the federal legislative balance.

ThemeDeclining scrutinyFalling sitting days, fewer bills sent to committees and frequent disruptions are a recurring Mains theme on the health of Parliament.

Every bill, motion and verdict lands mapped to this topic on the daily current-affairs feed.

Prelims · test yourself

Practice the exact trap-style.

With reference to a Money Bill, consider: 1) It can be introduced in either House. 2) The Rajya Sabha must return it within 14 days. Which is/are correct?

A. 1 only
B. 2 only
C. Both 1 and 2
D. Neither

Answer: B

A Money Bill can be introduced only in the Lok Sabha (not either House), so statement 1 is wrong. The Rajya Sabha must return it within 14 days — statement 2 is correct.

Who presides over a joint sitting of the two Houses of Parliament?

A. The President
B. The Vice-President (Chairman of Rajya Sabha)
C. The Speaker of the Lok Sabha
D. The senior-most member

Answer: C

A joint sitting (Article 108) is presided over by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, not the Vice-President.

Which statement about the Rajya Sabha is correct?

A. It can be dissolved by the President
B. It is a permanent House and cannot be dissolved
C. Its members have a 5-year term
D. It can initiate a no-confidence motion

Answer: B

The Rajya Sabha is a permanent House — it is never dissolved; one-third of its members retire every two years. A no-confidence motion can be moved only in the Lok Sabha.

Questions

Parliament, answered straight.

Is the President part of Parliament?

Yes. Parliament consists of the President and the two Houses. Though not a member of either House, the President summons and prorogues sessions, dissolves the Lok Sabha and assents to bills.

Why is the Rajya Sabha called a permanent House?

Because it is never fully dissolved. Members serve six-year terms and one-third retire every two years, so the House always continues.

Can the Rajya Sabha reject a Money Bill?

No. It can only make recommendations within 14 days, which the Lok Sabha may accept or reject. The Speaker's certification of a Money Bill is final.

What is Zero Hour?

An Indian parliamentary innovation (not mentioned in the rules) that follows Question Hour, where members raise urgent matters without notice. It starts at noon — hence "zero hour".

What are the special powers of the Rajya Sabha?

Article 249 ke tehat Rajya Sabha, State List ke kisi vishay par Parliament ko kanoon banane ki anumati de sakti hai; Article 312 ke tehat nayi All-India Services bana sakti hai. Ye powers sirf Rajya Sabha ke paas hain.

The chapter that scores
in Prelims and Mains.

Static composition + har naye bill ka current affairs — ek system me.

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