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Questions and Answers
What is the total number of seats in the Rajya Sabha?
How are members of the Rajya Sabha chosen?
What is one of the powers of the Rajya Sabha?
Who appoints the Council of Ministers in India?
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Which of the following is a function of the Union Executive?
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How is the President of India elected?
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Which house of the Indian Parliament represents the people directly through elected Members of Parliament?
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What is the total number of seats in the Lok Sabha, including the Anglo Indian nominees appointed by the President?
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Which house of Parliament holds members who serve for six years with one-third retiring every second year?
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Which house of Parliament is responsible for initiating money bills, approving the budget, passing legislation, and providing confidence to the Council of Ministers?
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What are the eligibility criteria for becoming a member of the Lok Sabha?
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Which part of the government is led by the Prime Minister and requires confidence from the Lok Sabha?
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Study Notes
Understanding India's Legislative Branch: ICSE Civics Perspective on Union Legislature
In our democratic republic of India, two houses make up the Union Legislature—the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha—each playing crucial roles in shaping laws and government policies. To grasp these institutions better, let's delve into their functions, composition, and distinctions within this ICSE Civics perspective.
Lok Sabha
The Lok Sabha is India's lower house of Parliament, where members serve five-year terms unless there is an early dissolution due to political reasons. This chamber represents the people of India directly through elected Members of Parliament (MPs) who must qualify by winning elections based on universal adult suffrage (UAS).
Key Points:
- Total seats: 545 (including 2 Anglo Indian nominees appointed by President)
- Composition: Members from each state proportionate to population + nominated MPs from the states with fewer seats
- Powers: Initiate money bills, approves budget, passes legislation, and provides confidence to the Council of Ministers led by the Prime Minister
- Eligibility criteria: Must be above 25 years old, possess Indian citizenship, and have lived within constituency for last six months before election
Rajya Sabha
The Rajya Sabha serves as the upper house of Parliament, comprising representatives of various regions across the country. Members hold offices for six years with one-third retiring every second year. Unlike the Lok Sabha, members aren't chosen via direct voting; instead, they're selected indirectly by the State Legislatures, Presidential Nomination, or by Elected Members of Lok Sabha representing territories without legislatures.
Key Points:
- Total seats: 245
- Composition: Two members per state plus additional representation for larger states like Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu
- Powers: Delays money bills for one year, proposes amendments, has equal rights with Lok Sabha in passing other bills, and confirms presidential appointments
- Eligibility criteria: None
Union Executive
The third limb of the Indian democracy is the Union Executive, which consists primarily of the President and the Council of Ministers headed by the Prime Minister. Together, they oversee the implementation of legislations passed by Parliament, execute policy decisions, and function as the chief diplomatic agents of the nation.
Key Points:
- President: Directly elected by an electoral college consisting of elected members of both Houses of Parliament, state Assemblies and Union Territory Legislative Assemblies
- Council of Ministers: Appointed by the president after consulting the party(s)/coalition holding majority support in Lok Sabha
- Functions: Execute laws, administer oaths to office-bearers and make treaties/agreements with foreign countries
Understanding these three fundamental components of the Union Legislature—Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, and Union Executive—is essential for grasping how India's parliamentary system operates in practice. Armed with such knowledge, we can appreciate the nuances and complexities behind India's civic landscape shaped by these entities working together towards common goals and objectives.
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Description
Delve into the functions, composition, and distinctions between the Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, and Union Executive in India's Union Legislature from an ICSE Civics perspective. Learn about the roles, powers, and eligibility criteria of these key institutions.
