Introduction

Constitution of India

The Constitution of India is the supreme law of India. The document lays down the framework that demarcates fundamental political code, structure, procedures, powers, and duties of government institutions and sets out fundamental rights, directive principles, and the duties of citizens. It is the longest written national constitution in the world. Dr. B. R. Ambedkar and Constitution of India on a 2015 postage stamp of India It was adopted by the Constituent Assembly of India on 26 November 1949 and became effective on 26 January 1950. The constitution replaced the Government of India Act 1935 as the country's fundamental governing document, and the Dominion of India became the Republic of India....

The Parliament

The Parliament of India, representing as it does all politically organized shades of public opinion at the national level, occupies a pre-eminent and pivotal position in the country's constitutional set-up. It has also, over the years, carved out for itself a unique place in the esteem and affection of the people as the forum through which they articulate and realize their grievances and aspirations and seek solutions to their problems. The Constitution of India provides for a bicameral Parliament consisting of the President and two Houses known as the Council of States (Rajya Sabha) and the House of the People (Lok Sabha)....

Opening of Parliament by the President

Article 87(1) of the Constitution provides: At the commencement of the first session after each general election to the House of the People and at the commencement of the first session of each year the President shall address both Houses of Parliament assembled together and inform Parliament of the causes of its summons. In the case of the first session after each general election to the Lok Sabha, the President addresses both Houses of Parliament assembled together after the Members have made and subscribed the oath or affirmation and the Speaker has been elected. It takes generally two days to complete these preliminaries. No other business is transacted till the President has addressed both Houses of Parlia...

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Question Hour in Lok Sabha

Generally, the first hour of a sitting of the Lok Sabha is devoted to Questions and that hour is called the Question Hour. It has a special significance in the proceedings of Parliament. Asking questions is an inherent and unfettered parliamentary right of Members. It is during the Question Hour that Members can ask questions on every aspect of administration and governmental activity. Government policies in the national as well as international spheres come into sharp focus as the Members try to elicit pertinent information during the Question Hour. The Government is put on trial during the Question Hour and every Minister whose turn it is to answer Questions has to stand up and answer for the administration's...

Budget in Parliament

Governments today have come to look after virtually every sphere of human life. They have to perform manifold functions from maintaining law and order, protecting their territories to implementation of plans for economic and social betterment. Besides, they provide a variety of social services like education, health, employment and housing to the people. Needless to say, Government requires adequate resources to discharge these functions effectively. Where is this money to come from and who is to sanction the funds? The necessary funds are mobilised from the country's resources by way of taxes-both direct and indirect, and loans- both long-term and short-term, to meet the governmental expenditure. In India, the...