1
"Zero Hour" in Parliament is:
Correct answer: C. the time right after Question Hour when members raise urgent matters
Zero Hour is an Indian innovation; it is not mentioned in the Rules of Procedure.
medium
Parliamentary Procedures, Motions and Funds MCQs
Solved MCQs on how Parliament works: Zero Hour, quorum, motions, the pro tem Speaker, money bills, cut motions, parliamentary committees and the Consolidated and Contingency Funds.
20 MCQsUpdated 27 October 2026
This set explains how Parliament works day to day: Zero Hour and Question Hour, starred and unstarred questions, motions, the guillotine, the gap between sessions, and the Consolidated, Contingency and Public Accounts funds.
Procedure questions are about exact terms. Read each explanation to learn what the term means and when it is used, since options are often other procedures that sound similar.
- 2
The quorum needed for a sitting of either House of Parliament is:
Correct answer: A. one-tenth of total members
Under Article 100, the quorum is one-tenth of the total number of members of the House.
medium - 3
A no-confidence motion against the Council of Ministers can be moved only in the:
Correct answer: D. Lok Sabha
The Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha (Article 75), so only it can remove the government.
Read detailseasy - 4
An adjournment motion is moved to:
Correct answer: D. draw the attention of the House to a definite matter of urgent public importance
If admitted, it sets aside the normal business of the House; it needs the support of at least 50 members in the Lok Sabha.
Read detailsmedium - 5
A starred question in Parliament is one that:
Correct answer: C. needs an oral answer, and supplementary questions may follow
Unstarred questions get written answers and allow no supplementaries.
medium - 6
The pro tem Speaker of a newly elected Lok Sabha mainly:
Correct answer: A. presides over the first sitting and administers the oath to new members
The President appoints a senior member as pro tem Speaker until the House elects its Speaker.
medium - 7
A "whip" in parliamentary practice is:
Correct answer: D. an official of a party who makes sure its members attend and vote as the party decides
Defying the party whip can lead to disqualification under the anti-defection law (Tenth Schedule).
easy - 8
A "policy cut" motion seeks to reduce a demand for grant to:
Correct answer: D. ₹1
A policy cut reduces the demand to ₹1 to show disapproval of a policy; an economy cut and a token cut (₹100) are the other kinds.
Read detailshard - 9
The "guillotine" in Parliament refers to:
Correct answer: B. putting all remaining demands for grants to vote without discussion on the last day
When the time allotted for discussing demands runs out, the Speaker puts all remaining demands to vote together.
hard - 10
Who decides finally whether a bill is a Money Bill?
Correct answer: B. The Speaker of the Lok Sabha
Under Article 110(3), the Speaker's decision on whether a bill is a Money Bill is final.
medium - 11
The Rajya Sabha can delay a Money Bill for a maximum of:
Correct answer: B. 14 days
It must return the bill within 14 days, with or without recommendations, which the Lok Sabha may reject.
easy - 12
A joint sitting of both Houses to resolve a deadlock over an ordinary bill is provided for in:
Correct answer: B. Article 108
Article 108 lets the President call a joint sitting; it cannot be used for Money Bills or constitutional amendments.
medium - 13
Under Article 85, the gap between two sessions of Parliament must not exceed:
Correct answer: A. six months
Article 85 requires that six months must not pass between the last sitting of one session and the first sitting of the next.
Read detailsmedium - 14
The President addresses both Houses together at the start of the first session after each general election and at the start of:
Correct answer: B. the first session of each year
This special address is required by Article 87.
medium - 15
By convention, the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament is chaired by a member of the:
Correct answer: C. opposition
The PAC examines the reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General on government spending.
medium - 16
All revenues received by the Government of India are credited to the:
Correct answer: A. Consolidated Fund of India
The Consolidated Fund (Article 266) receives revenues and loans; no money can be withdrawn from it without Parliament's approval.
Read detailsmedium - 17
The Contingency Fund of India, for unforeseen expenses, is placed at the disposal of the:
Correct answer: B. President
Under Article 267, the President can make advances from it, and Parliament approves the spending later.
medium - 18
An ordinary bill (not a Money Bill) can be introduced in:
Correct answer: C. either House of Parliament
Ordinary bills can start in either House; Money Bills can be introduced only in the Lok Sabha.
easy - 19
Who summons and prorogues the sessions of Parliament?
Correct answer: D. The President
Under Article 85 the President, on the advice of the Council of Ministers, summons and prorogues both Houses and can dissolve the Lok Sabha.
Read detailseasy - 20
To be recognised as Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, a party has by convention needed at least what share of the House's seats?
Correct answer: A. One-tenth
The convention requires about 10% of the seats (55 of 543); the post carries the rank of a Cabinet Minister.
hard