Mains Practice Questions

Approach

• Write a brief introduction about the parliament as a legislative body.
• Mention the mechanisms that contribute to the effective functioning of the Parliament.
• Write a conclusion.

Body

Introduction

The Parliament of India is the supreme legislative body of the Republic of India, and consists of two houses: the Lok Sabha (House of the People) and the Rajya Sabha (Council of States). The Parliament performs various functions and powers, such as legislative, executive, financial, electoral, and constitutional functions.

Body

Mechanisms that contribute to the effective functioning of the Parliament:

• Questions: Questions are written or oral queries raised by the MPs to the ministers on matters related to their portfolios. Questions can be of different types, such as starred, unstarred, short notice, or supplementary. Questions help the MPs to seek information, clarify doubts, expose irregularities, and elicit commitments from the government.
• No confidence motion: It is a motion moved by the opposition to express their lack of trust in the government. If the motion is passed by a majority of the members present and voting, the government has to resign. This ensures that the government is accountable to the Parliament and the people.
• Cut motions: They are moved by the members to reduce the amount of a demand for grant proposed by the government. They are of three types: policy cut, economy cut, and token cut. They represent the disapproval of the policy, the economy, or the specific grievance underlying the demand. They also provide an opportunity for the members to raise issues of public importance and initiate legislative reforms.
• Parliamentary committees: These are groups of members from both Houses who examine various aspects of the functioning of the government, such as bills, demands for grants, annual reports, and long-term plans of ministries/departments. They also scrutinize the implementation of policies and programmes and suggest improvements. They facilitate inter-ministerial coordination and improve the quality of legislation and oversight.

Conclusion

An effective Parliament thrives on a complex interplay of mechanisms, functions, and supporting factors. It requires constant vigilance, active engagement from all stakeholders, and a commitment to ethical and transparent practices. By strengthening these elements, Parliament can truly fulfill its role as the cornerstone of a healthy democracy, safeguarding the rights of citizens and shaping the nation's future.