Which of the following statements regarding the powers of the speaker of Lok Sabha are correct ? Choose the correct answer from the codes given below : (i) The speaker presides over a joint sitting of both the houses of Parliament. (ii) When a Money Bill is transferred from the Lower House to the Upper House, the speaker shall endorse on the bill his certificate that it is a Money Bill. (iii) While a resolution for his removal is under consideration, the speaker shall neither preside nor take part in its proceedings. (iv) The speaker does not vote in the House except when there is equality of votes. Codes :
- (1)Only (i) and (iii)
- (2)Only (i) and (ii)
- (3)Only (i), (ii) and (iv)
- (4)Only (i), (ii) and (iii)
Answer
Why
Correct — option (3), Only (i), (ii) and (iv).
(i) True. Article 118(4): at a joint sitting of the two Houses, "the Speaker of the House of the People ... shall preside".
(ii) True. Article 110(4): every Money Bill sent to the Council of States, and presented to the President, carries the Speaker's signed certificate that it is a Money Bill.
The booklet's Hindi column prints "वित्त विधेयक" here — the Hindi Constitution's term for a Financial Bill (Article 117) — not "धन विधेयक" (Money Bill).
Booklet instruction 12 covers this: "If there is any sort of ambiguity/mistake either of printing or factual nature then out of Hindi and English Versions of the question, the English Version will be treated as standard." So (ii) is read as printed in English.
(iii) False. Article 96(1) does stop the Speaker from presiding while a resolution for his removal is under consideration. But Article 96(2) gives him the right to speak in and otherwise take part in the proceedings — so "nor take part" is wrong.
(iv) True as the general rule. Article 100(1): the Speaker "shall not vote in the first instance" but has a casting vote in the case of an equality of votes.
True statements (i), (ii) and (iv) give Only (i), (ii) and (iv). Removal proceedings reverse the Speaker's usual position: he cannot preside, but may speak, take part and vote in the first instance.
Why the others are wrong
- (1)Only (i) and (iii) — This keeps statement (iii), which is false. Under Article 96(2) the Speaker has the right to speak in, and otherwise take part in, the proceedings on a resolution for his removal; he only loses the chair.
It also drops two true statements: (ii), the Money Bill certificate under Article 110(4), and (iv), the casting vote under Article 100(1).
- (2)Only (i) and (ii) — This leaves out statement (iv), which describes the Speaker's casting vote under Article 100(1): no vote in the first instance, a casting vote when votes are equal.
Article 96(2) makes one special case — during removal proceedings he may vote in the first instance but not on a tie. That exception does not undo the general rule the statement gives, and RPSC's key treats (iv) as correct.
- (4)Only (i), (ii) and (iii) — This swaps true statement (iv) for false statement (iii). The Speaker is not shut out of removal proceedings: Article 96(2) lets him speak, take part and vote in the first instance, though he may not preside.
Statement (iv), the casting vote under Article 100(1), is the one that belongs in the code.
Concept
The Speaker presides over the Lok Sabha and carries several powers the Constitution gives by name.
The Speaker presides over joint sittings of the two Houses (Article 118(4)), decides finally whether a Bill is a Money Bill (Article 110(3)) and certifies it (Article 110(4)), and votes only to break a tie (Article 100(1)).
A resolution to remove the Speaker needs a majority of all the then members of the House, after at least 14 days' notice (Article 94(c)). While it is under consideration, Article 96 bars him from the chair but lets him speak, take part and vote in the first instance — not on a tie.
RPSC's 2024 syllabus lists Parliament under the Indian Political System. The powers in this item come from a handful of articles — 96, 100, 110 and 118 — with the Speaker's election and removal in Articles 93 and 94.
The removal provision needs careful reading, because it changes three rules at once: the Speaker cannot preside, can participate, and votes in the first instance rather than on a tie.
Joint sittings under Article 108 are rare. By the exam date three had been held — in 1961 (Dowry Prohibition Bill), 1978 (Banking Service Commission (Repeal) Bill) and 2002 (Prevention of Terrorism Bill) — and the Speaker presides over them.
Key facts
- Article 118(4): the Speaker of the Lok Sabha presides at a joint sitting of the two Houses.
- Article 110(3) makes the Speaker's decision on whether a Bill is a Money Bill final; Article 110(4) requires the Speaker's certificate on it.
- Article 100(1): the Speaker does not vote in the first instance but has a casting vote on an equality of votes.
- Article 96: during a resolution for his removal, the Speaker cannot preside but may speak, take part and vote in the first instance.
- Joint sittings under Article 108 had been held three times by February 2025 — in 1961, 1978 and 2002.
True statements (i), (ii) and (iv) give option (3).
Study next
Common traps
- "Cannot preside" is not "cannot take part". During removal proceedings the Speaker loses only the chair; he may speak, take part and vote.
- The voting rule flips during removal: normally a casting vote only on a tie; on the removal resolution, a vote in the first instance but not on a tie.
- The Vice-President, as Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, does not preside over a joint sitting; the Speaker of the Lok Sabha does.
- A Money Bill (Article 110) and a Financial Bill (Article 117) are different classes. The Speaker's certificate under Article 110(4) is for Money Bills.
One shape lists powers of the Speaker as numbered statements and asks which are correct, with one statement overstating a restriction, as here.
Another can ask who presides over a joint sitting, or whose certificate a Money Bill carries.
A third contrasts the Speaker with the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha on voting, removal and presiding.
Related PYQs
UnlockIAS will link similar questions from RAS Pre 2023 and 2018 here once those papers are published on this site.
Practice
- practice — not a real PYQ
While a resolution for the removal of the Speaker of the Lok Sabha is under consideration, the Speaker:
- (a)may preside and vote in the first instance
- (b)must stay away from the House
- (c)cannot preside, but may speak, take part and vote in the first instance
- (d)cannot preside, and may vote only in the case of an equality of votes
Answer(3) — Article 96 bars the Speaker from presiding but lets him speak, take part and vote in the first instance. Option (1) is wrong because he cannot preside. Option (2) is wrong because Article 96(1) contemplates him being present and 96(2) lets him take part. Option (4) reverses the rule: he may vote in the first instance, not on a tie. - practice — not a real PYQ
Who presides over a joint sitting of the two Houses of Parliament?
- (a)The President of India
- (b)The Vice-President, as Chairman of the Council of States
- (c)The Speaker of the House of the People
- (d)The senior-most member of the Council of States
Answer(3) — Article 118(4) says the Speaker of the House of the People presides at a joint sitting.Option (1) is wrong because the President summons a joint sitting but does not preside. Option (2) is wrong because the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha is not named in Article 118(4). Option (4) is wrong because the Speaker's substitute is determined by rules made under Article 118(3), not by seniority in the Rajya Sabha.