RRB NTPC – General Awareness & Current Affairs
Topic: Parliament & Judiciary
Target audience: Aspirants for RRB NTPC.
Time to read: 20‑25 minutes
1. Simple Explanation
| Term | What it means in plain words |
|---|---|
| Parliament | The supreme law‑making body of India, made up of the President, the Lok Sabha (House of the People) and the Rajya Sabha (Council of States). |
| Lok Sabha | The lower house, directly elected by the people. Holds most power: money bills, confidence motions, etc. |
| Rajya Sabha | The upper house, indirectly elected by state legislatures. Reviews and amends bills, but cannot stop money bills. |
| Judiciary | The system of courts that interprets laws and protects rights. Consists of the Supreme Court, High Courts, and subordinate courts. |
| Supreme Court | Highest court, ultimate interpreter of the Constitution. |
| High Court | Highest court in each state/union territory. |
| Subordinate Courts | District & subordinate courts that handle day‑to‑day cases. |
2. Key Points
A. Parliament
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Constitutional Basis | Articles 79–122. |
| Composition | President (Speaker of both houses), 543 members Lok Sabha, 245 members Rajya Sabha (incl. 12 nominated). |
| Powers | • Legislation (all types of bills) • Money Bills (only Lok Sabha) • Budget & Appropriations • Oversight (Question Hour, Debates, Committees) • Amend Constitution (by 2/3rd majority) |
| Types of Bills | • Money Bills • Ordinary Bills • Constitutional Amendment Bills |
| Legislative Process | 1️⃣ Introduction ➜ 2️⃣ First Reading ➜ 3️⃣ Second Reading ➜ 4️⃣ Committee Stage ➜ 5️⃣ Third Reading ➜ 6️⃣ Approval (both houses) ➜ 7️⃣ Presidential assent |
| Important Committees | Joint Committee on Bills, Public Accounts Committee, Estimates Committee, etc. |
| Recent (2024) Highlights | • Bharat Bill (2024) – re‑organisation of central ministries. • PM’s 2024 Budget – ₹5.5 trillion growth target. • Parliamentary reforms – introduction of video‑streaming of all sessions. |
B. Judiciary
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Constitutional Basis | Articles 124–152. |
| Hierarchy | 1️⃣ Supreme Court 2️⃣ High Courts 3️⃣ Subordinate Courts (District, Magistrate, etc.) |
| Supreme Court | • 14 justices (incl. Chief Justice). • Original, appellate, and advisory jurisdiction. • Powers: Judicial review, writs (Art. 32). |
| High Courts | • One per state (or union territory). • Original jurisdiction over civil & criminal cases; appellate over lower courts. |
| Subordinate Courts | Divided into civil and criminal courts; Magistrate courts handle minor cases, Sessions courts handle serious offenses. |
| Judicial Appointments | • Supreme Court: 3/5 senior judges. • High Courts: 2/3 senior judges. • Subordinate: Chief Justice of India and Governor. |
| Key Judicial Principles | • Rule of law, separation of powers, judicial independence, constitutional supremacy. |
| Recent (2024) Highlights | • Supreme Court: 2024‑25 “E‑Court” pilot, 1.5 million cases pending. • High Courts: 2024 “Digital Litigation” initiative. • Recent judgments: “Right to Digital Education” (Supreme Court, Sept 2024). |
3. Worked Example
Scenario
The Parliament passes a “Digital Data Protection Bill” in 2024.
The bill is introduced in the Lok Sabha, passed there, sent to the Rajya Sabha, where it faces opposition. The bill is amended and passed again. It returns to the Lok Sabha for final approval. After both houses approve, it is sent to the President for assent. The President gives assent on 15‑Feb‑2025.
Question: Identify which stages of the legislative process are involved and explain the role of each house.
Answer
| Stage | Where it occurs | What happens | House’s role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Introduction | Lok Sabha | Bill is read by the Speaker | Initiation of debate |
| 2. First Reading | Lok Sabha | Bill is tabled | No debate yet |
| 3. Second Reading | Lok Sabha | Detailed discussion & amendments | Decision to pass or reject |
| 4. Committee Stage | Lok Sabha | Bills sent to committee for detailed scrutiny | Committee may recommend changes |
| 5. Third Reading | Lok Sabha | Final vote | Approval (if passed) |
| 6. Rajya Sabha review | Rajya Sabha | Same stages as above | Amend or reject |
| 7. Second Passage | Rajya Sabha | If amended, return to Lok Sabha | Final approval |
| 8. Presidential assent | Executive | President signs | Formal enactment |
Key take‑away:
Lok Sabha has the ultimate say in financial matters and can initiate legislation.
Rajya Sabha acts as a revising chamber, ensuring state interests are considered.
4. Quick Revision Summary
| Topic | Quick Facts |
|---|---|
| Parliament | • 2 houses: Lok Sabha (directly elected, 543 members) & Rajya Sabha (indirect, 245). • Money Bills only in Lok Sabha. • Amendment of Constitution requires 2/3rd majority. |
| Bill Process | 1️⃣ Intro ➜ 2️⃣ 1st Reading ➜ 3️⃣ 2nd Reading ➜ |