Master10
Indian Polity & Constitution Module

Union Executive & The Parliament of India

The Union Executive of India comprises the President, Vice-President, Prime Minister, Council of Ministers, and the Attorney General. Under Article 53, executive power is vested in the President, who acts on the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers headed by the Prime Minister (Article 74). The Parliament of India is a bicameral legislature consisting of the President, the Council of States (Rajya Sabha), and the House of the People (Lok Sabha). Rajya Sabha is a permanent continuing chamber representing the states, whereas Lok Sabha is directly elected by adult suffrage. Legislative procedures involve ordinary bills, money bills (governed exclusively by Article 110), and constitutional amendments under Article 368.

Key Concepts & Examination Highlights

  • The President of India is elected by an electoral college consisting of elected members of both Houses of Parliament and State Legislative Assemblies.
  • Money Bills can only be introduced in the Lok Sabha upon the prior recommendation of the President under Article 110.
  • A joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament is summoned by the President under Article 108 and presided over by the Speaker of Lok Sabha.
  • The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) consists of 22 members (15 Lok Sabha, 7 Rajya Sabha) and examines the reports of the CAG.
  • Under Article 74(1), the President is constitutionally bound to act in accordance with the aid and advice tendered by the Council of Ministers headed by the Prime Minister.
  • The maximum strength of the Lok Sabha is fixed at 550 members following the 104th Amendment Act of 2019, which discontinued the nomination of two Anglo-Indian members.
  • The Rajya Sabha is a permanent body not subject to dissolution, with one-third of its members retiring every second year under Article 83.
  • Article 123 empowers the President to promulgate Ordinances during the recess of Parliament, which must be approved by Parliament within six weeks of its reassembly.
  • Under Article 61, the President can be impeached only on the ground of 'violation of the Constitution', requiring a two-thirds majority of the total membership in both Houses.
  • The Estimates Committee is the largest parliamentary committee, consisting of 30 members drawn exclusively from the Lok Sabha for a one-year term.
  • The Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha under Article 75(3), meaning a passage of a No-Confidence Motion forces the entire ministry to resign.
  • The President can be impeached only for 'violation of the Constitution' under Article 61, requiring a resolution passed by a two-thirds majority of the total membership of each House.
  • Article 74 mandates that the President shall act in accordance with the advice tendered by the Council of Ministers headed by the Prime Minister, though the President may return advice once for reconsideration.
  • The 91st Constitutional Amendment Act, 2003, capped the total number of Ministers, including the Prime Minister, at 15 percent of the total strength of the Lok Sabha.
  • Article 78 outlines the duties of the Prime Minister to communicate all decisions of the Council of Ministers relating to Union administration and legislation to the President.
  • The Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha are elected under Article 93, and the Speaker casts a vote only in the case of an equality of votes (casting vote under Article 100).
  • The quorum to constitute a meeting of either House of Parliament is one-tenth (10%) of the total number of members of the House under Article 100(3).
  • Rajya Sabha is a permanent body not subject to dissolution, with one-third of its members retiring every second year, each serving a six-year tenure.
  • Under Article 249, the Rajya Sabha possesses exclusive power to authorize Parliament to make laws on a State List subject in national interest by a two-thirds majority.
  • Under Article 312, Parliament can create new All-India Services only if the Rajya Sabha passes a resolution supported by not less than two-thirds of members present and voting.
  • The Annual Financial Statement (Union Budget) is laid before Parliament under Article 112, consisting of charged expenditures and voted demands for grants.
  • The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) consists of 22 members (15 from Lok Sabha and 7 from Rajya Sabha), chaired by a member of the opposition to scrutinize CAG audit reports.
  • The Estimates Committee is the largest parliamentary committee with 30 members, all drawn exclusively from the Lok Sabha for a one-year term.
  • Question Hour occupies the first hour of a parliamentary sitting, followed by Zero Hour, an Indian parliamentary innovation introduced in 1962 for raising urgent public matters.
  • Article 105 grants parliamentary privileges, immunizing members from court proceedings regarding anything said or voted inside Parliament.
  • Article 52 establishes the office of the President of India as the head of state and the first citizen of the country.
  • The President is elected under Article 54 by an electoral college consisting of elected members of both Houses of Parliament and elected members of State Legislative Assemblies, including Delhi and Puducherry.
  • The system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote is prescribed under Article 55 for presidential elections.
  • Article 61 prescribes the procedure for the impeachment of the President on grounds of 'violation of the Constitution', requiring a resolution passed by a two-thirds majority of the total membership of each House.
  • Article 72 empowers the President to grant pardons, reprieves, respites, or remissions of punishment, or to suspend, remit, or commute the sentence of any person convicted of any offence.
  • Article 63 establishes the office of the Vice-President of India, who acts as the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha under Article 64.
  • The Vice-President is elected under Article 66 by an electoral college consisting of all members of both Houses of Parliament, including nominated members.
  • Article 74 mandates that there shall be a Council of Ministers with the Prime Minister at the head to aid and advise the President, whose advice is binding after one reconsideration.
  • The 91st Constitutional Amendment Act, 2003, limited the size of the Union Council of Ministers to 15 percent of the total number of members of the Lok Sabha.
  • Article 76 provides for the appointment of the Attorney General for India, the highest law officer in the country, who has the right of audience in all courts in India.
  • The maximum strength of the Lok Sabha is fixed at 550 members following the 104th Amendment Act, 2019, which discontinued Anglo-Indian nominations.
  • The maximum strength of the Rajya Sabha is 250 members, out of which 12 members are nominated by the President for literature, science, art, and social service.
  • Article 108 provides for a Joint Sitting of both Houses of Parliament convened by the President and presided over by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha to resolve deadlocks on Ordinary Bills.
  • Joint sittings cannot be summoned for Money Bills under Article 110 or Constitution Amendment Bills under Article 368.
  • A Money Bill can only be introduced in the Lok Sabha on the prior recommendation of the President under Article 117(1), and the Rajya Sabha has only 14 days to return it.
  • Under Article 110(3), the decision of the Speaker of the Lok Sabha on whether a bill is a Money Bill is final and conclusive.
  • Article 112 mandates the presentation of the Annual Financial Statement (Union Budget) before both Houses of Parliament.
  • The Public Accounts Committee (PAC), created in 1921, consists of 22 members (15 from Lok Sabha, 7 from Rajya Sabha) and examines the reports of the CAG.
  • The Estimates Committee, first constituted in 1950 on the recommendation of John Mathai, consists of 30 members drawn exclusively from the Lok Sabha.
  • The Committee on Public Undertakings was established in 1964 on the recommendation of the Krishna Menon Committee.
  • Under Article 123, the President can promulgate Ordinances when both Houses of Parliament are not in session, which must be approved within six weeks of reassembly.
  • A Starred Question in Parliament requires an oral answer and permits supplementary questions, whereas an Unstarred Question requires a written answer with no supplementaries.
  • Zero Hour is an informal Indian parliamentary innovation starting at 12 noon, introduced in 1962, allowing members to raise matters of urgent public importance without notice.
  • Article 105 confers parliamentary privileges and immunities on members of Parliament, shielding them from court proceedings for anything said or voted in the House.
  • The quorum to constitute a meeting of either House of Parliament is one-tenth of the total number of members of the House under Article 100(3).
Curriculum & Reference Sources: Constitution of India (Articles 52–123), Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha, Subhash Kashyap's 'Our Parliament'.

Sample Solved Questions & Concept Explanations

8 Verified Concept Questions
Q1.EASY

Who was the first President of Independent India?

Q2.EASY

Who is the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha (Council of States)?

Q3.EASY

Who is the Supreme Commander of the Indian Armed Forces?

Q4.EASY

What is the maximum term of a Lok Sabha unless dissolved earlier?

Q5.EASY

Who administers the oath of office to the President of India?

Q6.EASY

What is the minimum age required to contest elections for the Lok Sabha?

Q7.MEDIUM

How many members can the President nominate to the Rajya Sabha for distinguished contributions?

Q8.MEDIUM

Under the Anti-Defection Law (Tenth Schedule), who decides on the disqualification of a Lok Sabha MP?