UPSC Essentials : Daily subject-wise quiz | Polity and Governance MCQs on Women’s representation in the Lok Sabha, oath of an MPs and more (Week 66)

1. The latest change which added that the oath-takers would uphold India’s sovereignty and integrity was done through the Sixteenth Amendment Act, 1963.

2. MPs are not allowed to take oath in the name of God.

3. MPs in jail cannot take an oath in Parliament.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

Explanation

— The five-year term of a Lok Sabha MP begins when the Election Commission of India (ECI) declares the results according to Section 73 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.

— Winning the election and starting the term does not automatically allow an MP to participate in House proceedings. To debate and vote in Lok Sabha, an MP has to take her seat in the House by making and subscribing to an oath or affirmation prescribed in the Constitution (Article 99).

— An individual can become a minister without being elected to Parliament. They have six months to secure a seat in either Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha. During this time, they can participate but not vote in House proceedings.

— The Constitution’s third schedule contains the text of the parliamentary oath.

— The last change in the oath was the Constitution (Sixteenth Amendment) Act, 1963, which added that the oath-takers would uphold India’s sovereignty and integrity. The amendment was made on the recommendations of the National Integration Council. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— MPs can subscribe to the oath or affirmation in English or any of the 22 languages specified in the Constitution.

— Oaths and affirmations are a matter of personal choice for MPs. In the last Lok Sabha, 87% of MPs swore in the name of God, and the other 13% affirmed their allegiance to the Constitution. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

— The Constitution specifies that if an MP does not attend Parliament for 60 days, their seat can be declared vacant. Courts have used this ground to allow MPs in jail to take an oath in Parliament. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.

— For example, in June 2019, during the oath-taking for the last Lok Sabha, Atul Kumar Singh, MP from Ghosi in Uttar Pradesh, was in jail for serious criminal charges. The court allowed him to take oath in Parliament in January 2020, and Singh affirmed his allegiance to the Constitution in Hindi.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 2

With reference to the women’s representation in the Lok Sabha, consider the following statements:

1. The number of women contesting elections has consistently increased in the past three elections.

2. The number of women candidates elected for the Lok Sabha has consistently increased in the past three elections.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Explanation

— The 16th Lok Sabha (2014-’19) had 61 women MPs. It jumped to 78 in 2019 and this time the figure has dropped to 74. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

— Across the 2014, 2019 and 2024 elections, there has been an upward trend in the number of women contesting, with 669 candidates in 2014, 725 in 2019, and 779 this year. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— The average women’s voter turnout in the recent election was 69.24%, the lowest across the last three elections. This is a drop of 2.13 percentage points from 71.37% in 2019 and even lower than the 2014 turnout of 71.14%.

— Three states have reported a consistent decline in women candidates – Uttar Pradesh (from 126 in 2014 to 79 in 2024), Assam (16 to 12), and Rajasthan (27 to 19).

— Eight states have reported a consistent rise: Tamil Nadu (55 to 77), Delhi (13 to 24), West Bengal (51 to 72), Karnataka (20 to 42), Odisha (17 to 33), and Maharashtra (69 to 111).

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 3

Consider the following statements:

1. A Bill pending in Parliament shall lapse by reason of the prorogation of the Houses.

2. A Bill pending in the Council of States which has not been passed by the House of the People shall lapse on a dissolution of the House of the People.

3. A Bill which is pending in the House of the People, or which having been passed by the House of the People is pending in the Council of States, shall lapse on a dissolution of the House of the People.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 2 only

(b) 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 2 and 3 only

Explanation

— In Article 107 of the Constitution of India, there is a provision as to introduction and passing of Bills.

— Subject to the provisions of articles 109 and 117 with respect to Money Bills and other financial Bills, a Bill may originate in either House of Parliament.

— A Bill shall not be deemed to have been passed by the Houses of Parliament unless it has been agreed to by both Houses, either without amendment or with such amendments only as are agreed to by both Houses.

— A Bill pending in Parliament shall not lapse by reason of the prorogation of the Houses. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.

— A Bill pending in the Council of States which the House of the People has not passed shall not lapse on a dissolution of the House of the People. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

— A Bill which is pending in the House of the People, or which having been passed by the House of the People is pending in the Council of States, shall, subject to the provisions of article 108, lapse on a dissolution of the House of the People. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

(Other Source: Constitution of India)

QUESTION 4

The Delimitation Commission has been set up in:

1. 1952

2. 1992

3. 2002

4. 2012

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 2 and 4 only

Explanation

— The Election Commission defines delimitation as the process of drawing boundaries of constituencies for elected bodies based on the population in the most recent Census.

— Article 82 of the Constitution states that after every Census is completed, the allocation of Lok Sabha seats to each state must be adjusted based on population changes.

— The Commission is appointed by the President of India and comprises a retired judge of the Supreme Court or a high court, the Chief Election Commissioner and the State Election Commissioner.

— The Commission, in consultation with State Election Commissions, examines changes in the population to redraw constituencies or create new ones.

— The Commission’s orders are final and, as per the Delimitation Commission Act 1952 and Article 329A of the Constitution, have the “full force of law and shall not be called into question in any court”.

— Delimitation also affects the number of seats reserved for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs), which are determined on a state-by-state basis as per the share of these communities’ populations in each state.

— The Delimitation Commission has been set up on only four occasions – 1952, 1963, 1973 and 2002.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 5

With reference to the money bill, consider the following statements:

1. The money bill is defined in Article 109 of the Constitution of India.

2. The House of the People may either accept or reject all or any of the recommendations of the Council of States.

3. If a Money Bill passed by the House of the People and transmitted to the Council of States for its recommendations is not returned to the House of the People within a period of fourteen days, it shall be deemed to have been passed by both Houses.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

Explanation

— Article 109 of the Constitution of India provides for special procedure in respect of Money Bills.

— A Money Bill shall not be introduced in the Council of States.

— After a Money Bill has been passed by the House of the People it shall be transmitted to the Council of States for its recommendations. The House of the People may either accept or reject all or any of the recommendations of the Council of States. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

— If the House of the People accepts any of the recommendations of the Council of States, the Money Bill shall be deemed to have been passed by both Houses with the amendments recommended by the Council of States and accepted by the House of the People.

— If the House of the People does not accept any of the Council of States’ recommendations, the Money Bill is regarded to have been enacted by both Houses in its original form, with no revisions requested by the Council of States.

— If a Money Bill passed by the House of the People and transmitted to the Council of States for its recommendations is not returned to the House of the People within the fourteen-day period, it is deemed to have been passed by both Houses at the end of the period in the form in which it was passed by the House of the People. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

— Article 110 of the Constitution of India provides for the definition of Money Bills. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

(Other Source: Constitution of India)

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