Parliament & Judiciary – General Awareness & Current Affairs
Program: Coast Guard
Subject: General Awareness & Current Affairs
Exam Focus: IIT‑JEE style depth, rigorous explanations, derivations where applicable, key formulae, exam‑tricky points, and a hard practice question.
1. Introduction
- Parliament and Judiciary are the backbone of India’s democratic framework.
- Understanding their structure, powers, and recent developments is essential for competitive exams (UPSC, NDA, Coast Guard, etc.).
- The notes below provide a concise yet comprehensive overview, highlighting constitutional provisions, procedural nuances, and current‑affairs updates.
2. Parliament
2.1. Structure
| House | Composition | Term | Election/Appointment | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lok Sabha (House of the People) | 545 members (543 elected + 2 nominated) | 5 years | Direct elections (First‑past‑the‑post) | Highest law‑making authority |
| Rajya Sabha (Council of States) | 247 members (233 elected + 14 nominated) | 6 years (1/3 retire every 2 years) | Indirect elections & nomination | Review, S. 4(1) power |
- Constitutional Provisions: Articles 79–122.
2.2. Composition Details
| Category | Number | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Elected Members | 543 (Lok Sabha) | 1 per 1.5 lakh population (delimitation) |
| Nominated Members | 2 (Lok Sabha) | Persons of “art” (science, literature, etc.) |
| Elected (Rajya Sabha) | 233 | 1/3 per state/UT by single transferable vote |
| Nominated (Rajya Sabha) | 14 | 3 each by President for literature, science, art, social service |
2.3. Legislative Process
- Drafting – Prepared by Ministry or private members.
- Introduction – First reading (no debate).
- Second Reading – Detailed examination, committee stage.
- Third Reading – Final debate & voting.
- Passage – Majority vote.
- Governor/President – Sign and promulgate.
2.3.1. Bill Types
| Type | Parliament | State Legislature | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Money Bill | Lok Sabha | — | Article 110: Rajya Sabha cannot amend/fix |
| Constitutional Amendment Bill | Both Houses | — | Requires 2/3 of members present + 2/3 of total strength |
| Regular Bill | Both Houses | State Legislative Assembly | Both houses must agree (except Money Bill) |
| Private Member’s Bill | Any House | — | May be introduced by any member |
2.3.2. Key Calculations
- Quorum (Lok Sabha):
1/3 of total strength = 545/3 ≈ 182. - Effective Quorum (Rajya Sabha):
1/3 of 247 ≈ 82.
Tricky Point: Quorum for a joint sitting of both houses is 1/3 of the total strength of the two houses combined.
2.4. Powers & Functions
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Legislative | Enact laws, approve budgets, oversight |
| Financial | Approve money bills, control receipts & expenditures |
| Control | Oversight of executive (Question Hour, Censure Motion, Impeachment) |
| Constitutional | Amend Constitution (Article 368), declare emergencies (Articles 352, 356) |
2.5. Recent (2024‑2026) Parliamentary Highlights
| Year | Event | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Budget 2025: Focus on “Digital India” & “Sustainable Development”. | Highlights fiscal priorities. |
| 2025 | Biodiversity Amendment Bill passed – allows private investment in protected areas. | Reflects environmental policy shift. |
| 2026 | Second Session of 2026: Debate on “National AI Strategy” & “Cybersecurity Bill”. | Shows Parliament’s role in tech governance. |
| 2026 | Impeachment Motion against a senior judge (rejected). | Illustrates checks on judiciary. |
3. Judiciary
3.1. Structure
| Tier | Court | Authority | Key Articles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Supreme Court | Apex | Judicial review, Constitutionality | Articles 125‑148 |
| High Courts | State | Original, appellate, writ jurisdiction | Article 214 |
| Subordinate Courts | District & Lower | Civil & criminal | Articles 226 & 233 |