Which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. A Bill pending in the Lok Sabha lapses on its prorogation. 2. A Bill pending in the Rajya Sabha, which was not been passed by the Lok Sabha, shall not lapse on dosslution of the Lok Sabha. Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Contents8
- A1 only
- B2 only
- CBoth 1 and 2
- DNeither 1 nor 2
Show answer
Answer: (B) 2 only
Answer: (b) 2 only
Statement 1 (✗ WRONG): A bill does NOT lapse on prorogation.
Prorogation just ends a session - all pending business carries forward to the next session.
Statement 2 (✓ CORRECT): A bill pending in Rajya Sabha but NOT yet passed by Lok Sabha does NOT lapse on dissolution of Lok Sabha.
The bill is in Rajya Sabha's domain and Rajya Sabha is a permanent house.
Key rules when Lok Sabha dissolves:
- LAPSES: Bill pending in Lok Sabha
- LAPSES: Bill passed by Lok Sabha but pending in Rajya Sabha
- DOES NOT LAPSE: Bill pending in Rajya Sabha but not passed by Lok Sabha
- DOES NOT LAPSE: Bill passed by both Houses but pending President's assent
- DOES NOT LAPSE: Bill returned by President for reconsideration
Memory trick: Dissolution kills everything 'in or passed by' Lok Sabha. Rajya Sabha is permanent - its pending work survives.
The Rajya Sabha is a permanent house that never dissolves, while the Lok Sabha dissolves every 5 years, creating different rules for what happens to pending bills.
Bills lapse based on which house they are currently pending in - if a bill is only in Rajya Sabha's domain and has not yet involved Lok Sabha, Lok Sabha's dissolution cannot affect it.
Prorogation vs Dissolution of Parliament
Indian Polity prorogation dissolution
Prorogation vs Dissolution: Key Differences & Effects
Prorogation ends a session; dissolution ends the entire Lok Sabha term
Prorogation has no effect on pending bills - they continue in next session
Dissolution lapses bills pending in or passed by Lok Sabha
Rajya Sabha is permanent - its pending bills survive Lok Sabha dissolution
Prorogation and dissolution are two different ways Parliament business can be interrupted, with completely different effects on pending legislation.
Prorogation vs Dissolution
Aspect | Prorogation | Dissolution |
|---|---|---|
What it does | Ends current session | Ends entire Lok Sabha term |
Who orders it | President on PM's advice | President on PM's advice |
Effect on pending bills | No effect - bills continue | Bills lapse (with exceptions) |
Next step | New session begins | Fresh elections held |
Frequency | Multiple times per year | Once every 5 years (or earlier) |
Rajya Sabha impact | None - RS continues | None - RS is permanent |
The question tests a common confusion: students often think prorogation affects bills, but it doesn't. Statement 1 is wrong because prorogation merely ends a session - all pending work automatically continues in the next session.
Trap: Thinking prorogation lapses bills - it doesn't, only dissolution does
Trap: Assuming all bills lapse on Lok Sabha dissolution - Rajya Sabha bills survive
Trap: Confusing 'pending in Rajya Sabha' with 'passed by Lok Sabha' - different rules apply
Bill Lapsing Rules on Lok Sabha Dissolution
Indian Polity Bill pending lapses dissolution
When Bills Lapse vs Survive Lok Sabha Dissolution
Bills pending in Lok Sabha always lapse on dissolution
Bills passed by Lok Sabha but pending in Rajya Sabha also lapse
Bills pending in Rajya Sabha only (not passed by LS) do NOT lapse
Bills pending President's assent do NOT lapse
When Lok Sabha dissolves, the fate of pending bills depends on which stage they have reached in the legislative process. The key principle: Rajya Sabha is permanent, so its independent work survives.
Bill Status & Lapsing Rules
Bill Status | Lapses on LS Dissolution? | Reason |
|---|---|---|
Pending in Lok Sabha | ✓ YES | Lok Sabha ceases to exist |
Passed by LS, pending in RS | ✓ YES | LS connection causes lapse |
Pending in RS (not passed by LS) | ✗ NO | RS is permanent house |
Passed by both Houses, pending President's assent | ✗ NO | Legislative process complete |
Returned by President for reconsideration | ✗ NO | Under reconsideration process |
Statement 2 in the question is correct because a bill pending in Rajya Sabha that was never passed by Lok Sabha has no connection to the dissolved house. Since Rajya Sabha is permanent, such bills continue unchanged.
Bill Lapsing Decision Process
%%{init: {"flowchart": {"wrappingWidth": 460}}}%%
flowchart TD
s1["`**Lok Sabha dissolves**
Check status of all pending bills`"]
s2["`**Is bill in/from Lok Sabha?**
Has Lok Sabha touched this bill?`"]
s3["`**If YES → Bill lapses**
Any LS involvement causes lapse`"]
s4["`**If NO → Bill survives**
Pure RS bills continue`"]
s1 --> s2
s2 --> s3
s3 --> s4Memory trick: Dissolution kills everything 'in or passed by' Lok Sabha
Trap: Statement says 'not been passed by Lok Sabha' - this means pure RS bill, so it survives
Trap: Don't confuse with Money Bills - they can only originate in Lok Sabha
Rajya Sabha as Permanent House
Indian Polity Rajya Sabha
Rajya Sabha: The Permanent Upper House
Rajya Sabha never dissolves - it's a permanent house
Members serve 6-year terms with 1/3rd retiring every 2 years
Provides continuity when Lok Sabha is dissolved
Maximum strength is 250 members (currently 245)
Rajya Sabha is permanent by constitutional design, ensuring continuity of Parliament even when Lok Sabha is dissolved for elections. This permanence explains why its pending bills survive dissolution.
Lok Sabha vs Rajya Sabha: Key Differences
Feature | Lok Sabha | Rajya Sabha |
|---|---|---|
Nature | Temporary (dissolves) | Permanent (never dissolves) |
Term | 5 years (or earlier) | 6 years (staggered) |
Retirement | All members at once | 1/3rd every 2 years |
Election | Direct by voters | Indirect by MLAs |
Maximum strength | 552 members | 250 members |
Money Bill powers | Full powers | Limited (14 days only) |
Why Rajya Sabha is Permanent
# Rajya Sabha Permanence
## Constitutional Design
- Represents states
- Federal structure
- Check on populism
## Staggered Terms
- 6 year terms
- 1/3rd retire every 2 years
- Continuity maintained
## Legislative Impact
- Bills survive LS dissolution
- Parliament never fully vacant
- Institutional memoryKey: RS permanence is why Statement 2 in the question is correct
Trap: Don't assume 'upper house' means less important - RS has equal legislative power except money bills
Confusion: RS members retire in batches, but the house itself never dissolves