Indian Polity & Constitution
🔒 Log in to trackParliament and the Judiciary
🔒 Log in to trackParliament is the President, the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha. A Money Bill starts only in the Lok Sabha, and the Rajya Sabha has 14 days to return it. The Supreme Court has 34 judges, and its judges are picked through the collegium.
Parliament: Articles 79-122
| Item | Lok Sabha | Rajya Sabha |
|---|---|---|
| Ceiling | 552 (530 states, 20 UTs) | 250 (238 elected, 12 nominated) |
| Minimum age | 25 | 30 |
| Term | 5 years | 6 years, one-third retire every 2 years |
| Dissolved? | Yes | No, it is permanent |
| Presiding officer | Speaker | Chairman (Vice-President) |
The two nominated Anglo-Indian Lok Sabha seats ended with the 104th Amendment (2020). The 12 Rajya Sabha nominees are chosen for literature, science, art and social service. MLAs elect the Rajya Sabha members by single transferable vote.
- The gap between two sessions cannot exceed 6 months.
- Quorum is one-tenth of the membership.
- The Speaker has a casting vote and certifies Money Bills. The Speaker also presides over joint sittings.
Joint sitting and Money Bills
Article 108 allows a joint sitting to break a deadlock on an ordinary bill. It never applies to Money Bills or Constitution Amendment Bills. Only three joint sittings have been held: Dowry Prohibition Bill (1961), Banking Service Commission (Repeal) Bill (1978) and POTA (2002).
A Money Bill (Article 110):
- Starts only in the Lok Sabha.
- Needs the President's recommendation.
- Goes to the Rajya Sabha, which returns it within 14 days and can only recommend.
- The Speaker's certificate is final.
Motions and committees
A no-confidence motion is moved only in the Lok Sabha. It needs the support of 50 members. Cut motions are policy cut (Rs 1), economy cut (a stated sum) and token cut (Rs 100).
| Committee | Members | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Public Accounts | 22 (15 LS + 7 RS) | Chairman from the Opposition. Examines CAG reports |
| Estimates | 30, all from Lok Sabha | Chairman from the ruling side |
| Public Undertakings | 22 (15 LS + 7 RS) |
The Supreme Court: Articles 124-147
The sanctioned strength is 34 judges including the CJI. The President appoints them on the collegium's advice (Second and Third Judges cases). The NJAC (99th Amendment, 2014) was struck down in 2015. Judges retire at 65.
Removal needs 'proved misbehaviour or incapacity' and a special majority of both Houses. The Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968 governs the process. It starts with 100 Lok Sabha or 50 Rajya Sabha members.
| Article | Jurisdiction |
|---|---|
| 131 | Original (Centre-state disputes) |
| 32 | Writs |
| 132-136 | Appellate. Article 136 is special leave to appeal |
| 137 | Review |
| 143 | Advisory (President's reference) |
| 141 | Law declared binds all courts |
The basic structure doctrine comes from Kesavananda Bharati (1973).
High Courts and Lok Adalats
- There are 25 High Courts. Calcutta, Bombay and Madras (1862) are the oldest.
- A High Court judge retires at 62. The President appoints after consulting the CJI and the Governor.
- Article 226 gives High Courts a writ power wider than Article 32. It covers legal rights too.
- Lok Adalat awards (Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987) are deemed civil-court decrees.
Note: As on the source date, the Lok Sabha Speaker is Om Birla (18th Lok Sabha). The CJI is Justice Surya Kant (53rd CJI, since 24 November 2025).
Question types you will see
Each type: how to recognise it, the method step by step, and one question to try.
Money Bill and bill procedures
The question asks where a Money Bill can start, how long the Rajya Sabha has, or whose certificate decides.
A Money Bill (Article 110) starts only in the Lok Sabha, on the President's recommendation.
The Rajya Sabha has 14 days and can only recommend.
The Speaker's certificate is final.
A joint sitting never applies to Money Bills.
The Money Bill route is fixed, and each step is asked separately.
The Rajya Sabha must return a Money Bill to the Lok Sabha within how many days?
Show solutionHide solution
It can only make recommendations.
The Lok Sabha may accept or reject them.
14 days
Motions and financial committees
The question asks how many members support a no-confidence motion, or which committee has only Lok Sabha members.
A no-confidence motion is moved only in the Lok Sabha, with 50 members' support.
Estimates has 30, all Lok Sabha. PAC and Public Undertakings have 22 each (15 + 7).
The PAC chairman is from the Opposition by convention.
Cut motions: policy Rs 1, economy a stated sum, token Rs 100.
Small numbers on committees are asked in statement form.
The Estimates Committee of Parliament consists of how many members?
Show solutionHide solution
It is drawn only from one House.
That House is the Lok Sabha.
30 members, all from the Lok Sabha
Parliament's structure: numbers, ages, sessions
The question asks the maximum strength of the Rajya Sabha, the minimum age, the nominated members or the gap between sessions.
Recall the numbers: Lok Sabha 552, Rajya Sabha 250 (238 elected + 12 nominated).
Recall the ages: 25 for the Lok Sabha and 30 for the Rajya Sabha.
Recall the terms: Lok Sabha 5 years, Rajya Sabha 6 years with one-third retiring every 2 years.
The gap between sessions is at most 6 months. Quorum is one-tenth.
Structural numbers are asked directly.
The Rajya Sabha can have at most how many members?
Show solutionHide solution
Some are elected and some are nominated.
Add 238 and 12.
250
Supreme Court: appointment, removal, jurisdiction
The question asks how judges are appointed, why they can be removed, or which Article gives advisory jurisdiction.
The strength is 34. The President appoints on the collegium's advice. The NJAC was struck down in 2015.
Removal: proved misbehaviour or incapacity, special majority of both Houses, Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968.
Anchor the Articles: 131 original, 136 special leave, 137 review, 141 binding, 143 advisory.
Judges retire at 65.
Each jurisdiction has its own Article number.
Under which jurisdiction does the Supreme Court answer questions of law referred by the President?
Show solutionHide solution
The President makes a reference.
The court gives an opinion, not a judgment.
Advisory jurisdiction (Article 143)
High Courts and Lok Adalats
The question asks the retirement age of a High Court judge, who appoints, or what a Lok Adalat award is.
High Court judges retire at 62. The President appoints after consulting the CJI and the Governor.
Article 226 is wider than Article 32.
A Lok Adalat award is deemed a civil-court decree, and no appeal lies on merits.
These small facts fill out the statement questions.
Every Lok Adalat award is deemed to be what?
Show solutionHide solution
Lok Adalats are set up under the 1987 Act.
The award is binding on the parties.
A decree of a civil court
Joint sittings held so far
The question asks how many joint sittings have been held, or which bills they were on.
Article 108 provides for a joint sitting.
Three have been held: Dowry Prohibition Bill (1961), Banking Service Commission (Repeal) Bill (1978), POTA (2002).
It is never used for Money Bills or Constitution Amendment Bills.
The three bills are a stock question.
Which 2002 measure was passed at a joint sitting of Parliament?
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It was an anti-terror law.
Its short name is POTA.
POTA (Prevention of Terrorism Bill)
Shortcuts that save time
PAC has 22, Public Undertakings has 22, Estimates has 30. Estimates is drawn only from the Lok Sabha.
Which parliamentary committee examines the CAG's reports?
Show solutionHide solution
The CAG audits accounts.
The Public Accounts Committee reads the audit reports.
The Public Accounts Committee
H-M-P-C-Q stands for Habeas, Mandamus, Prohibition, Certiorari, Quo warranto. Prohibition stops a case early. Certiorari quashes after.
Which writ stops a lower court from exceeding its jurisdiction before it decides?
Show solutionHide solution
The word 'before' points to prohibition.
Certiorari works after the order is passed.
Prohibition
Mistakes to avoid
Where most students lose marks on this subtopic.
Thinking a joint sitting can pass a Constitution Amendment Bill.
Article 108 excludes Money Bills and Constitution Amendment Bills.
Thinking the Rajya Sabha can be dissolved.
It is permanent. One-third retire every two years.
Saying the sanctioned strength of the Supreme Court is 31.
It is 34, including the CJI.
Thinking the Rajya Sabha can reject a Money Bill.
It can only recommend. It has 14 days to return the bill.
Mixing the retirement ages.
Supreme Court judges retire at 65. High Court judges retire at 62.
Quick revision
Read this the night before the exam.
Lok Sabha: age 25, term 5 years. Rajya Sabha: max 250, age 30, permanent, 6-year terms.
Gap between sessions: at most 6 months. Quorum: one-tenth.
Money Bill: Lok Sabha only, President's recommendation, 14 days for the Rajya Sabha, Speaker certifies.
Three joint sittings so far. Never for Money Bills or Constitution Amendment Bills.
PAC: 22, Opposition chairman. Estimates: 30, all Lok Sabha.
Supreme Court: 34 judges, retirement 65, collegium. High Court: retirement 62.
Jurisdictions: 131 original, 136 special leave, 137 review, 141 binding law, 143 advisory.
Practice: 13 questions
Sets of 10, mixed across the question types above. Every answer has a step-by-step explanation.
Topic test · 13 questions
Suggested time 5 min · wrong answers go to your mistake notebook automatically.