Theme T93 · Constitution & Polity

Parliament: role of MPs, executive accountability, Rajya Sabha, privileges

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What UPSC asks

UPSC asks about decline of MPs' role, anti-defection's effect on debate, cabinet dominance, parliamentary privileges, joint sittings, Legislative Councils, Rajya Sabha's transformation, and executive accountability.

Prepare these

• Anti-defection law (Tenth Schedule)
• Parliamentary privileges codification
• Joint sitting (Art 108)
• Legislative Councils (Art 169)
• Tools of accountability

Answer writing

• Use data on sittings and bills

Directive words in these PYQs: Discuss (2), Enumerate (2), Elucidate (1), To what extent (1), Explain (1), Highlight (1).

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Syllabus lines covered

• GS2-L5 — Parliament and State Legislatures - structure, functioning, conduct of business, powers & privileges and issues arising out of these.
• GS2-L6 — Structure, organization and functioning of the Executive and the Judiciary Ministries and Departments of the Government; pressure groups and formal/informal associations and their role in the Polity.

All 9 PYQs, newest first

1. GS2202410 marks · 150 wordsGS2-POL-11-M2024-Q03

   "The growth of cabinet system has practically resulted in the marginalisation of the parliamentary supremacy." Elucidate.

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2. GS2202210 marks · 150 wordsGS2-POL-10-M2022-Q04

   Discuss the role of the Vice President of India as the chairman of Rajya Sabha.

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3. GS22021GS2-POL-10-M2021-S01

   To what extent, in your view, the Parliament is able to ensure accountability of the executive in India?

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4. GS22021GS2-POL-10-M2021-S02

   Explain the constitutional provisions under which Legislative Councils are established. Review the working and current status of Legislative Councils with suitable illustrations.

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5. GS22020GS2-POL-10-M2020-S02

   Rajya Sabha has been transformed from a ‘useless stepney tyre’ to the most useful supporting organ in past few decades. Highlight the factors as well as the areas in which this transformation could be visible.

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6. GS22019GS2-POL-10-M2019-S01

   “Individual Parliamentarian’s role as the national law maker is on a decline, which in turn, has adversely impacted the quality of debates and their outcome.” Discuss.

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7. GS22017GS2-POL-10-M2017-S02

   The Indian Constitution has provisions for holding a joint session of the two houses of the Parliament. Enumerate the occasions when this would normally happen and also the occasions when it cannot, with reasons thereof.

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8. GS22014GS2-POL-10-M2014-S01

   The ‘Powers, Privileges and Immunities of Parliament and its Members’ as envisaged in Article 105 of the Constitution leave room for a large number of un-codified and un-enumerated privileges to continue. Assess the reasons for the absence of legal codification of the ‘parliamentary privileges’. How can this problem be addressed?

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9. GS22013GS2-POL-10-M2013-S01

   The role of individual MPs (Members of Parliament) has diminished over the years and as a result healthy constructive debates on policy issues are not usually witnessed. How far can this be attributed to the anti-defection law which was legislated but with a different intention?

   Also needs: T95 Presiding officers & anti-defectionCopyReport a typo