The task of framing the Constitution of India was given to the Constituent Assembly, formed under the Cabinet Mission Plan of 1946. The inaugural meeting of the Constituent Assembly was held on December 9, 1946. Dr Sachidananda Sinha was dected provisional Chairman of the Constituent Assembly. On December 11, 1946, Dr. Rajendra Prasad was elected as the permanent chairman of the Constituent Assembly.

The Constitution of India was enacted, signed and adopted by the Constituent Assembly on November 26, 1949.

On January 26, 1950, the Constitution of India came into force on which date India also became a Republic. Our constitution makes detailed provisions for the following:

*Citizenship,
*Fundamental Rights,
*Directive Principles of State Policy,
*Structure of the Government,
*Parliament and State Legislatures,
*Supreme Court and High Courts,
*Relationship between the Union and the States,
*Services,
*Official Language and various other matters of basic importance

======================
The Preamble
=======================
The draft of the Preamble was prepared by Jawaharlal Nehru and is based on the American model. The 42nd Amendment added the words “Secular and Socialist” and now the preamble reads as follows.

“We the People of India, having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a Sovereign Socialist Secular Democratic Republic and to secure to all its citizens :

Justice; social, economic and political;
Liberty; of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship;
Equality; of status and of opportunity; and to promote among them all;
Fraternity; assuring the dignity of the individual and the unity and integrity of the nation;

In our Constituent Assembly, November 26, 1949, do hereby adopt, enact and give to ourselves this constitution.

Articles of the Constitution

Part             Article     Deals with

Part I             Articles 1-4     Territory of India,, admission,, establishment or formation of new states
Part II     Articles 5-11     Citizenship
Part III     Articles 12-35     Fundamental Rights
Part IV     Articles 36-51     Directive Principles of State Policy
Part IV A     Article 51-A     Duties of a citizen of India. It was added by the 42nd Amendment in 1976
Part V     Articles 52-151     Government at the Union level
Part VI     Articles 152-237     Government at the State level
Part VII     Article 238     Deals with states in Part B of the First Schedule. It was repealed by 7th Amendment in 1956
Part VIII     Articles 239-241     Administration of Union Territories
Part IX     Article 242-243     Territories in Part D of the First Schedule
and other territories. It was repealed by 7th Amendment in 1956
Part X             Articles 244-244 A     Scheduled and tribal areas
Part XI     Articles 245-263     Relations between the Union and States
Part XII     Articles 264-300     Finance,, property,, contracts and suits
Part XIII     Articles 301-307     Trade,, commerce and travel within the
territory of India
Part XIV     Articles 308-323     Services under the Union and States
Part XIV-A     Articles 323A-323B     Added by the 42nd Amendment in 1976
and deals with administrative tribunals to hear disputes and other complaints
Part XV     Articles 324-329     Election and Election Commission
Part XVI     Articles 330-342     Special provision to certain classes ST/SC
and Anglo Indians
Part XVII     Articles 343-351     Official languages
Part XVIII     Articles 352-360     Emergency provisions
Part XIX     Articles 361-367     Miscellaneous provision regarding exemption of the President and governors from                                          criminal proceedings
Part XX     Article 368             Amendment of Constitution
Part XXI     Articles 369-392     Temporary,, transitional and special provisions
Part XXII     Articles 393-395     Short title, commencement and repeal
of the Constitution

FIRST SCHEDULE : I. The State, II. The Union Territories.

SECOND SCHEDULE :
PART A.  Provisions to the President and the Governors of States
PART B. (Repeated)
PART C. Provisions as to the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker of the House of the People and the Chairman and the Deputy Chairman of the Council of States and the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Assembly and the Chairman and the Deputy Chairman of the Legislative Council of a State.
PART D. Provisions as to the Judges of the Supreme Court and of the High Courts.
PART E. Provisions as to the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India.

THIRD SCHEDULE :  Forms of Oaths or Affirmations.

FOURTH SCHEDULE : Allocation of Seats in the Council of States.

FIFTH SCHEDULE : Provisions as to the administration and Control of Scheduled Areas and Scheduled Tribes.

PART A. General
PART B. Administration and Control of Scheduled Areas and Scheduled Tribes
PART C. Scheduled Areas
PART D. Amendment of the Schedule

SIXTH SCHEDULE : Provisions as to the administration of Tribal Areas in the States of Assam,  Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram.

SEVENTH SCHEDULE :

LIST I. Union List
LIST II. State List
LIST III. Concurrent List

EIGHTH SCHEDULE : Languages

NINTH SCHEDULE : Article 31B

TENTH SCHEDULE : Provisions as to disqualification on the ground of defection

ELEVENTH SCHEDULE : Article 243G

TWELFTH SCHEDULE : Article 243W

1.      It is the longest written constitution in the world.
2.      Consisting of 22 Chapters, over 395 Articles and 12 Schedules.
3.       It proclaims India a Sovereign Democratic Republic.
4.      Fundamental Rights are guaranteed to all citizens of India.
5.      Directive Principles of State Policy are incorporated.
6.      It established the parliamentary system of government, i.e., the President of the Union is the constitutional head, the Council of Ministers or the Union Cabinet is the real executive and is responsible to the Lok Sabha.
7.      It is federal in form (in normal times) but unitary in spirit (in emergencies).
8.      It is neither too rigid (as some provisions can be amended by a simple majority) nor flexible (as some provisions require special majority for amendment).
9.      It declares India a secular state.
10.      It guarantees single citizenship to all citizens.
11.      It introduced adult franchise, i.e., every adult above 18 years has the right to vote and the system of joint electorates.
12.     It established an independent judiciary; the Supreme Court acts as a guardian of the Constitution in place of the Privy Council.

Parliament is the supreme legislative body of a country. Indain Parliament comprises of the President and the two Houses-Lok Sabha (House of the People) and Rajya Sabha (Council of States). The President has the power to summon and prorogue either House of Parliament or to dissolve Lok Sabha.

The Constitution of India came into force on January 26, 1950. The first general elections under the new Constitution were held during the year 1951-52 and the first elected Parliament came into being in April, 1952, the Second Lok Sabha in April, 1957, the Third Lok Sabha in April, 1962, the Fourth Lok Sabha in March, 1967, the Fifth Lok Sabha in March, 1971, the Sixth Lok Sabha in March, 1977, the Seventh Lok Sabha in January, 1980, the Eighth Lok Sabha in December, 1984, the Ninth Lok Sabha in December, 1989, the Tenth Lok Sabha in June, 1991, the Eleventh Lok Sabha in May, 1996, the Twelfth Lok Sabha in March, 1998, the Thirteenth Lok Sabha in October, 1999, the Fourteenth Lok Sabha in May, 2004 and the Fifteenth Lok Sabha in May, 2009.

LOK SABHA

Lok Sabha, as the name itself signifies, is the body of representatives of the people. Its members are directly elected, normally once in every five years by the adult population who are eligible to vote. The minimum qualifying age for membership of the House is 25 years. The present membership of Lok Sabha is 545. The number is divided among the different States and Union Territories as follows:

(1) Andhra Pradesh 42

(2) Arunachal Pradesh 2

(3) Assam 14

(4) Bihar 40

(5) Chhattisgarh 11

(6) Goa 2

(7) Gujarat 26

(8) Haryana 10

(9) Himachal Pradesh 4

(10) Jammu & Kashmir 6

(11) Jharkhand 14

(12) Karnataka 28

(13) Kerala 20

(14) Madhya Pradesh 29

(15) Maharashtra 48

(16) Manipur 2

(17) Meghalaya 2

(18) Mizoram 1

(19) Nagaland 1

(20) Orissa 21

(21) Punjab 13

(22) Rajasthan 25

(23) Sikkim 1

(24) Tamil Nadu 39

(25) Tripura 2

(26) Uttarakhand 5

(27) Uttar Pradesh 80

(28) West Bengal 42

(29) Andaman & Nicobar Islands 1

(30) Chandigarh 1

(31) Dadra & Nagar Haveli 1

(32) Daman & Diu 1

(33) NCT of Delhi 7

(34) Lakshadweep 1

(35) Pondicherry 1

(36) Anglo-Indians (if nominated 2 by the President under Article 331 of the Constitution)

RAJYA SABHA

Rajya Sabha is the Upper House of Parliament. It has not more than 250 members. Members of Rajya Sabha are not elected by the people directly but indirectly by the Legislative Assemblies of the various States. Every State is allotted a certain number of members. No member of Rajya Sabha can be under 30 years of age.

Twelve of Rajya Sabha members are nominated by the President from persons who have earned distinction in the fields of literature, art, science and social service.

Rajya Sabha is a permanent body. It is not subject to dissolution but one-third of its members retire every two years. Rajya Sabha was duly constituted for the first time on April 3, 1952 and it held its first sitting on May 13, that year.

There are at present 245 members in Rajya Sabha, distributed among different States and Union Territories as follows:

(1) Andhra Pradesh 18

(2) Arunachal Pradesh 1

(3) Assam 7

(4) Bihar 16

(5) Chhattisgarh 5

(6) Goa 1

(7) Gujarat 11

(8) Haryana 5

(9) Himachal Pradesh 3

(10) Jammu & Kashmir 4

(11) Jharkhand 6

(12) Karnataka 12

(13) Kerala 9

(14) Madhya Pradesh 11

(15) Maharashtra 19

(16) Manipur 1

(17) Meghalaya 1

(18) Mizoram 1

(19) Nagaland 1

(20) Orissa 10

(21) Punjab 7

(22) Rajasthan 10

(23) Sikkim 1

(24) Tamil Nadu 18

(25) Tripura 1

(26) Uttarakhand 3

(27) Uttar Pradesh 31

(28) West Bengal 16

(29) NCT of Delhi 3

(30) Pondicherry 1

(31) Nominated by the President under 12 Article 80(1)(a) of the Constitution

Presiding Officers

Lok Sabha elects one of its own members as its Presiding Officer and he is called the Speaker. He is assisted by the  Deputy Speaker who is also elected by Lok Sabha. The conduct of business in Lok Sabha is the responsibility of the Speaker.

The Vice-President of India is the ex-officio Chairman of Rajya Sabha. He is elected by the members of an electoral college consisting of members of both Houses of Parliament. Rajya Sabha also elects one of its members to be the Deputy Chairman.

Functions of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha

The main function of both the Houses is to pass laws. Every Bill has to be passed by both the Houses and assented to by the President before it becomes law. The subjects over which Parliament can legislate are the subjects mentioned under the Union List in the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution of India. Broadly speaking, Union subjects are those important subjects which for reasons of convenience, efficiency and security are administered on all-India basis. The principal Union subjects are Defence, Foreign Affairs, Railways, Transport and Communications, Currency and Coinage, Banking, Customs and Excise Duties. There are numerous other subjects on which both Parliament and State Legislatures can legislate.

Under this category mention may be made of economic and social planning, social security and insurance, labour welfare, price control and vital statistics.

Besides passing laws, Parliament can by means of resolutions, motions for adjournment, discussions and questions addressed by members to Ministers exercise control over the administration of the country and safeguard people’s liberties.

Difference between Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha

(1) Members of Lok Sabha are directly elected by the eligible voters. Members of Rajya Sabha are elected by the elected members of State Legislative Assemblies in accordance with the system of proportional representation by means of single transferable vote.

(2) The normal life of every Lok Sabha is 5 years only while Rajya Sabha is a permanent body.

(3) Lok Sabha is the House to which the Council of Ministers is responsible under the Constitution. Money Bills can only be introduced in Lok Sabha. Also it is Lok Sabha which grants the money for running the administration of the country.

(4) Rajya Sabha has special powers to declare that it is necessary and expedient in the national interest that Parliament may make laws with respect to a matter in the State List or to create by law one or more all-India services common to the Union and the States.

1.What are essential conditions for the protection of Fundamental Rights?
(a) Right to move the Supreme court
(b) Eternal Vigilance and Political Consciousness
(c) Both (d) Neither

Answer : C

2.What is the necessity of the Declaration of Fundamental Rights in the Constitution?
(a) Individual is greater than the State
(b) Rights should be kept above the tyranny of democratic majorities
(c) Constitutional Rights have a great Psychological value
(d) All of the above

Answer : D

3.What does the Citizenship Act of December 1955 confer?
(a) Citizenship by Birth (b) Citizenship by Descent
(c) Citizenship by Registration (d) All of the above

Answer : D

4.Who is a citizen of India?
(a) Those who are born in India
(b) Those who have a permanent home in India
(c) Those who have a migrated to India from Pakistan
(d) All of the above

Answer : D

5.What kind of democracy is India?
(a) Basic Democracy
(b) Presidential Democracy
(c) Absolute Democracy
(d) Parliamentary Democracy

Answer : D

6.What are the salient features of the Indian Constitution?
(a) The Constitution of Indian is a comprehensive document and perhaps the lengthiest in the world
(b) The Constitution of India was framed by a body which was highly representative in character
(c) Both (d) Neither

Answer : C

7.Why the Indian Constitution has ‘Unitary Bias’?
(a) The Union list has 97 items while the States list has 66 items.
(b) Article 248 confers on the Union Parliament all the Residuary Powers.
(c) Article 253 empowers the Parliament to legislate for the whole of the country
(d) All of the above

Answer : D

8.What does a Unitary State symbolize?
(a) A monarchical government
(b) Dictatorship
(c) The concentration of government authority
(d) Union of independent states

Answer : C

9.What is a Federation?
(a) A voluntary federation of  autonomous states
(b) An autonomous federation of voluntary states
(c) Both (d) Neither

Answer : A

10.What the Indian Federation has been called in the Indian Constitution?
(a) Union of States (b) The Indian Union
(c) Union of India (d) Indian Federal Union

Answer : A

11.Who was the Chairman of the States Reorganization Commission?
(a) Shri H.N. Kunzru (b) Shri. K.M. Pannikar
(c) Syed Fazel Ali (d) None of the above

Answer : C

12.When was the States Reorganization Commission constituted?
(a) December 29, 1953 (b) December 29, 1952
(c) December 29, 1951 (d) None of the above

Answer : A

13.Who was the Chairman of the Drafting Committee of the Constitution of India?
(a) Dr. B.R. Ambedkar (b) Dr. Rajendra Prasad
(c) Rajegopalachari (d) Jawaharlal Nehru

Answer : A

14.Why was India partitioned in 1947?
(a) Because Muslim refugees came to India
(b) Because Muslim refugees went to Pakistan
(c) Because Muslims wanted a separate homeland
(d) Because Hindus wanted Hindi-Hindu-Hindustan

: C

15.Who was the first President of India?
(a) Mahatma Gandhi (b) Rajendra Prasad
(c) Rajagoplachari (d) Sardar Patel

Answer : B

1.Who is known as the sculptor of the constitution of India’?
(a) Rajendra Prasad (b) V.V. Giri
(c) B.R. Ambedkar (d) Dr. S. Radhakrishnan

Answer : C

2.What is known as the “Little India”?
(a) City (b) Town (c) Village (d) State

Answer : C

3.A major obstacle to democracy is:
(a) Poverty of the people (b) Illiteracy
(c) Bureaucracy (d) Corruption

Answer : D

4.What is the function of the Gram Panchayat?
(a) To maintain law and order (b) To develop agriculture
(c) To maintain Sanitation (d) All of the above

Answer : D

5.Who is a “Lumbardar”?
(a) The head of a regiment (b) Head of Village
(c) Head of labourers (d) Nominee of the government

Answer : B

6.What is the lowest stage of the local government?
(a) Gram Panchayat (b) Panchayat samiti
(c) Zila Panchayat (d) District Council

Answer : A

7.What is known as the “Little India”?
(a) City (b) Town (c) Village (d) State

Answer : C

8.The mayor of the Corporation is:
(a) Elected by the people
(b) Elected by the members of the Corporation
(c) Appointed by the Chief Minister
(d) Appointed by the Government

Answer : B

9.Who collects the House Tax?
(a) Municipality or corporation (b) State Government
(c) Central government (d) District magistrate

Answer : A

10.What is the head of a Corporation known as
(a) President (b) Chairman (c) Alderman (d) Mayor

Answer : D

11.What is a Corporation?
(a) It is the same as municipality
(b) It is the municipality of a very big city
(c) It is a business undertaking (d) It is a limited company

Answer : B

12.What is the duty of the Municipality?
(a) To maintain law and order
(b) To keep the city neat and clean
(c) To collect taxes (d) To suppress crime

Answer : B

13.What is Local Self-Government?
(a) Government of the wife (b) Government of the husband
(c) Municipal government (d) Mental government

Answer : C

14.Who was the last Governor-General of India?
(a) Lord Mountbatten (b) Rajagopalachari
(c) Dr. Rajendra Prasad (d) Sarojini Naidu

Answer : B

15.Who is a gazetted officer?
(a) An officer with the red tape
(b) Bureaucrat
(c) Deputy Secretary
(d) The high officer of a department whose transfer is gazetted

Answer : D

16.Which is the most important and highest service?
(a) Indian Administrative Service (b) Indian Foreign Service
(c) Indian Police Service (d) Indian Information Service

Answer : B

17.Which is not an essential part of the Government?
(a) Cabinet (b) The Supreme Court
(c) Parliament (d) Indian Administrative Service

Answer : D

18.The Governor of a State is appointed by
(a) The State legislature (b) The Prime Minister
(c) The President (d) The Parliament

Answer : C

19.Who appoints the Chief Minister?
(a) The Governor of the State (b) The Prime Minister
(c) The Legislative Assembly (d) The Supreme Court

Answer : C

20.Who is a Chief Minister?
(a) Deputy Prime Minister
(b) The leader of the Union Territory
(c) The Leader of the Legislative Assembly in a State
(d) None of the above

Answer : C

21.Who elects the Prime Minister?
(a) The people (b) The President
(c) The Parliament (d) All of the above

Answer : C

22.The President of India is elected by:
(a) The members of Parliament
(b) The Members of Legislative Assemblies
(c) Both (d) Neither

Answer : B

23.The judges of the Supreme Court are appointed by
(a) The Prime Minister of India
(b) The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
(c) The President of India (d) The Indian parliament

Answer : C

24.When the President can declare emergency?
(a) When there is a breakdown of the constitutional machinery
(b) When security of India is threatened
(c) When financial stability is endangered
(d) Any or all of the above

Answer : D

25.Who is the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces in India?
(a) The Prime Minister (b) The Commander-in-chief
(c) The President of India (d) Minister of Defence

Answer : C

26.Who Presides over the Rajya Sabha?
(a) The President of India (b) The Speaker of Lok sabha
(c) The Vice-President (d) None of them

Answer : C

27.Which body makes laws?
(a) The President (b) The Prime Minister
(c) The Parliament (d) The Supreme Court

Answer : C

28.In whom is the real power invested in India?
(a) The President (b) The Prime Minister
(c) Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
(d) All of them together

Answer : B

29.What are the essential elements of a republic?
(a) Independence (b) Sovereignty
(c) Democracy (d) All of the above

Answer : D

30.The function of the judiciary is:
(a) To make laws (b) To enforce laws
(c) To interpret laws (d) All of the above

Answer : C

31.What is law-making authority of the government called?
(a) Legislature (b) Executive
(c) Judiciary (d) None of the above

Answer : A

32.In democracy:
(a) All people are equal
(b) All people are equal politically
(c) All people are equal economically
(d) None of the above is true

Answer : B

33.What is a government of the people, for the people and by the people?
(a) Dictatorship (b) Aristocracy
(c) Mobocracy (d) Ram Rajya

Answer : C

34.Which is a government of the people, by the people and for the people?
(a) Monarchy (b) Bureaucracy
(c) Oligarchy (d) Democracy

Answer : D

35.Who is a citizen?
(a) A person who lives in a city
(b) A citizen is one who enjoys full legal rights in a country
(c) Both (d) Neither

Answer : B

36.What are the qualifications of a judge of the High Court?
(a) Should have held a judicial office for not less than ten years
(b) Should have been advocate in a High Court for not less ten years
(c) Either (d) Neither

Answer : C

37.What are the qualifications of a member of Parliament?
(a) A citizen of India
(b) Not less than 25 years of age
(c) An elector of any parliamentary constituency
(d) All of the above

Answer : D

38.What are the functions of the Prime Minister?
(a) Constituting the Cabinet
(b) Presiding over the Cabinet
(c) Leadership of the House of the People
(d) All of the above

Answer : D

39.What are the basis principles of the Cabinet Government?
(a) Political homogeneity (b) Ministerial responsibility
(c) Leadership of the Prime Minister
(d) All of the above

Answer : D

40.What are the Emergency Powers of the President
(a) Emergency caused by war or internal disturbances
(b) Emergency Because of the failure of the Constitution
(c) Financial emergencies
(d) All of the above

Answer : D

41.What are the qualifications of the President of India?
(a) A citizen of India
(b) Over 35 years of age
(c) Eligible for election as a member of the Parliament
(d) All of the above

Answer : D

42.What is common between the President of India and the President of America?
(a) Name (b) Powers (c) Both (d) Neither

Answer : A

43.What are the Directive Principles for promoting International Peace?
(a) Promote International peace and security
(b) Maintain honourable relations between nations
(c) Foster respect for international law
(d) All of the above

Answer : D

44.What are the Directive Principles for shaping India into a Gandhian State?
(a) Organization of village panchayts
(b) promotion of prohibition
(c) Promotion of Khadi and village industries
(d) All of the above

Answer : D

45.What are the Directive Principle of developing India as a Welfare State?
(a) Fair distribution of Wealth
(b) Equal pay for equal work to men and women
(c) Free and compulsory education for children up to 14 years
(d) All of the above

Answer : D

46.What are Writs?
(a) Habeas Corpus (b) mandamus
(c) Quo warranto (d) All of the above

Answer : D

47.What is Right against Exploitation?
(a) Traffic in human beings is forbidden
(b) Forced labour is prohibited
(c) Children under fourteen years of age cannot be employed in factories
(d) All of the above

Answer : D

48.What is Right to Freedom?
(a) Right of speech and expression
(b) Right to assemble peacefully
(c) Right to form associations and unions
(d) All of the above

Answer : D

49.What does Article 17 of the Constitution Say?
(a) Untouchability is abolished
(b) The practice of untouchability is forbidden
(c) Practice untouchability is an offence
(d) All of the above

Answer : D

50.What are the Fundamental Rights?
(a) Right to property (b) Right to equality
(c) Right to Freedom of Religion (d) All of the above

Answer : D

Parliament is the supreme legislative body of a country. Our Parliament comprises of the President and the two Houses-Lok Sabha (House of the People) and Rajya Sabha (Council of States). The President has the power to summon and prorogue either House of Parliament or to dissolve Lok Sabha.

The Constitution of India came into force on January 26, 1950. The first general elections under the new Constitution were held during the year 1951-52 and the first elected Parliament came into being in April, 1952, the Second Lok Sabha in April, 1957, the Third Lok Sabha in April, 1962, the Fourth Lok Sabha in March, 1967, the Fifth Lok Sabha in March, 1971, the Sixth Lok Sabha in March, 1977, the Seventh Lok Sabha in January, 1980, the Eighth Lok Sabha in December, 1984, the Ninth Lok Sabha in December, 1989, the Tenth Lok Sabha in June, 1991, the Eleventh Lok Sabha in May, 1996, the Twelfth Lok Sabha in March, 1998, the Thirteenth Lok Sabha in October, 1999, the Fourteenth Lok Sabha in May, 2004 and the Fifteenth Lok Sabha in May, 2009.

LOK SABHA

Lok Sabha, as the name itself signifies, is the body of representatives of the people. Its members are directly elected, normally once in every five years by the adult population who are eligible to vote. The minimum qualifying age for membership of the House is 25 years. The present membership of Lok Sabha is 545. The number is divided among the different States and Union Territories as follows:

(1) Andhra Pradesh 42

(2) Arunachal Pradesh 2

(3) Assam 14

(4) Bihar 40

(5) Chhattisgarh 11

(6) Goa 2

(7) Gujarat 26

(8) Haryana 10

(9) Himachal Pradesh 4

(10) Jammu & Kashmir 6

(11) Jharkhand 14

(12) Karnataka 28

(13) Kerala 20

(14) Madhya Pradesh 29

(15) Maharashtra 48

(16) Manipur 2

(17) Meghalaya 2

(18) Mizoram 1

(19) Nagaland 1

(20) Orissa 21

(21) Punjab 13

(22) Rajasthan 25

(23) Sikkim 1

(24) Tamil Nadu 39

(25) Tripura 2

(26) Uttarakhand 5

(27) Uttar Pradesh 80

(28) West Bengal 42

(29) Andaman & Nicobar Islands 1

(30) Chandigarh 1

(31) Dadra & Nagar Haveli 1

(32) Daman & Diu 1

(33) NCT of Delhi 7

(34) Lakshadweep 1

(35) Pondicherry 1

(36) Anglo-Indians (if nominated 2 by the President under Article 331 of the Constitution)

RAJYA SABHA

Rajya Sabha is the Upper House of Parliament. It has not more than 250 members. Members of Rajya Sabha are not elected by the people directly but indirectly by the Legislative Assemblies of the various States. Every State is allotted a certain number of members. No member of Rajya Sabha can be under 30 years of age.

Twelve of Rajya Sabha members are nominated by the President from persons who have earned distinction in the fields of literature, art, science and social service.

Rajya Sabha is a permanent body. It is not subject to dissolution but one-third of its members retire every two years. Rajya Sabha was duly constituted for the first time on April 3, 1952 and it held its first sitting on May 13, that year.

There are at present 245 members in Rajya Sabha, distributed among different States and Union Territories as follows:

(1) Andhra Pradesh 18

(2) Arunachal Pradesh 1

(3) Assam 7

(4) Bihar 16

(5) Chhattisgarh 5

(6) Goa 1

(7) Gujarat 11

(8) Haryana 5

(9) Himachal Pradesh 3

(10) Jammu & Kashmir 4

(11) Jharkhand 6

(12) Karnataka 12

(13) Kerala 9

(14) Madhya Pradesh 11

(15) Maharashtra 19

(16) Manipur 1

(17) Meghalaya 1

(18) Mizoram 1

(19) Nagaland 1

(20) Orissa 10

(21) Punjab 7

(22) Rajasthan 10

(23) Sikkim 1

(24) Tamil Nadu 18

(25) Tripura 1

(26) Uttarakhand 3

(27) Uttar Pradesh 31

(28) West Bengal 16

(29) NCT of Delhi 3

(30) Pondicherry 1

(31) Nominated by the President under 12 Article 80(1)(a) of the Constitution

Presiding Officers

Lok Sabha elects one of its own members as its Presiding Officer and he is called the Speaker. He is assisted by the  Deputy Speaker who is also elected by Lok Sabha. The conduct of business in Lok Sabha is the responsibility of the Speaker.

The Vice-President of India is the ex-officio Chairman of Rajya Sabha. He is elected by the members of an electoral college consisting of members of both Houses of Parliament. Rajya Sabha also elects one of its members to be the Deputy Chairman.

Functions of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha

The main function of both the Houses is to pass laws. Every Bill has to be passed by both the Houses and assented to by the President before it becomes law. The subjects over which Parliament can legislate are the subjects mentioned under the Union List in the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution of India. Broadly speaking, Union subjects are those important subjects which for reasons of convenience, efficiency and security are administered on all-India basis. The principal Union subjects are Defence, Foreign Affairs, Railways, Transport and Communications, Currency and Coinage, Banking, Customs and Excise Duties. There are numerous other subjects on which both Parliament and State Legislatures can legislate.

Under this category mention may be made of economic and social planning, social security and insurance, labour welfare, price control and vital statistics.

Besides passing laws, Parliament can by means of resolutions, motions for adjournment, discussions and questions addressed by members to Ministers exercise control over the administration of the country and safeguard people’s liberties.

Difference between Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha

(1) Members of Lok Sabha are directly elected by the eligible voters. Members of Rajya Sabha are elected by the elected members of State Legislative Assemblies in accordance with the system of proportional representation by means of single transferable vote.

(2) The normal life of every Lok Sabha is 5 years only while Rajya Sabha is a permanent body.

(3) Lok Sabha is the House to which the Council of Ministers is responsible under the Constitution. Money Bills can only be introduced in Lok Sabha. Also it is Lok Sabha which grants the money for running the administration of the country.

(4) Rajya Sabha has special powers to declare that it is necessary and expedient in the national interest that Parliament may make laws with respect to a matter in the State List or to create by law one or more all-India services common to the Union and the States.

Source and courtesy ,National Portal of India

Indian Prime Ministers - From First to the Latest

1st .Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru (August 15, 1947 – May 27, 1964 )- Party (Congress)

2nd .Shri Gulzarilal Nanda (May 27, 1964 – June 9, 1964 and January 11, 1966 – January 24, 1966)- Party (Congress)

3rd .Lal Bahadur Shastri (June 9, 1964 – January 11, 1966) – Party(Congress)

4th  .Smt. Indira Gandhi (January 24, 1966 – March 24, 1977 and January 14, 1980 – October 31, 1984) – Party(Congress & Congress[I])

5th  . Shri Morarji Desai (March 24, 1977 – July 28, 1979) – Party (Janta Party)

6th .Shri Charan Singh (July 28, 1979 – January 14, 1980) – Party(Janta Party)

7th. Mr. Rajiv Gandhi (October 31, 1984 – December 2, 1989) – Party (Congress[I])

8th. Shri V. P. Singh (December 2, 1989 – November 10, 1990) – Party(Janta Dal)

9th. Shri Chandra Shekhar (November 10, 1990 – June 21, 1991) Party (Janta Dal[S])

10th. P. V. Narasimha Rao (June 21, 1991- May 16, 1996) – Party (Congress[I])

11th. Shri H. D. Deve Gowda (June 1, 1996 – April 21, 1997) – Party (Janta Dal)

12th. Shri Inder Kumar Gujral (April 21, 1997 – March 19, 1998) – Party (Janta Dal)

13th. Atal Bihari Vajpayee (May 16, 1996 – June 1, 1996 and March 19, 1998 – May 22, 2004) – Party (BJP)

14th. Dr. Manmohan Singh (May 22, 2004 – till date) – Party (INC)