With reference to the Parliament of India, consider the following statements: 1. A private member's bill is a bill presented by a Member of Parliament who is not elected but only nominated by the President of India. 2. Recently, a private member's bill has been passed in the Parliament of India for the first time in its history. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Contents10
- A1 only
- B2 only
- CBoth 1 and 2
- DNeither 1 nor 2
Show answer
Answer: (D) Neither 1 nor 2
Both statements are incorrect.
Statement 1 is incorrect:
A Private Member's Bill is a bill introduced by any Member of Parliament who is NOT a minister.
It has nothing to do with whether the member is elected or nominated.
Both elected and nominated members can introduce private member's bills — the only criterion is that the member should not be a minister.
The distinction is between 'Government Bills' (introduced by ministers) and 'Private Member's Bills' (introduced by non-minister MPs).
A private member's bill requires one month's notice for introduction, and its drafting is the responsibility of the member concerned (unlike government bills, which are drafted by the concerned ministry).
Statement 2 is incorrect:
Private member's bills have been passed by Parliament before — this is not a first-time event.
The last Private Member's Bill passed by Parliament was the Supreme Court (Enlargement of Criminal Appellate Jurisdiction) Bill, 1968, which became an Act in 1970.
What happened recently (in 2015) was that the Rights of Transgender Persons Bill, 2014 was passed by the Rajya Sabha — this was notable because it was the first private member's bill to get the upper house's approval in 45 years, but it was NOT the first time ever in India's parliamentary history.
The question uses 'for the first time in its history' which makes it wrong.
Since both statements are incorrect, the answer is (d).
(Source: Laxmikant, Chapter on Parliament)
A Private Member's Bill is introduced by any MP who is not a minister, regardless of whether they are elected or nominated by the President.
The Rights of Transgender Persons Bill passed Rajya Sabha in 2015 as the first private member's bill in 45 years, making it a significant current affairs development that UPSC likely used to frame this question.
The question tests whether students can distinguish between the minister vs non-minister classification and the elected vs nominated classification of MPs.
Private Member's Bill - Definition & Process
Indian Polity private member's bill Member of Parliament
Private Member's Bill: Definition, Process & Key Features
Private Member's Bill is introduced by any MP who is NOT a minister - whether elected or nominated
Requires one month's notice for introduction in Parliament
Member drafts the bill (unlike government bills drafted by ministries)
Last passed bill was Supreme Court Act 1970 (introduced in 1968)
Core Definition
A Private Member's Bill is legislation introduced by any Member of Parliament who is not a minister. The key distinction is ministerial status, not how the member reached Parliament.
Both elected and nominated members can introduce such bills
The member personally handles drafting (no ministry support)
Requires one month advance notice before introduction
Government vs Private Member's Bills
Aspect | Government Bill | Private Member's Bill |
|---|---|---|
Introduced by | Ministers only | Non-minister MPs (elected or nominated) |
Drafting | Concerned Ministry | Member's responsibility |
Notice required | 7 days | 1 month |
Time allocation | Government time | Private member time (Fridays) |
Success rate | Very high | Extremely low |
Financial implications | Can involve expenditure | Cannot involve expenditure from Consolidated Fund |
Historical Context
Supreme Court (Enlargement of Criminal Appellate Jurisdiction) Bill, 1968 was the last private member's bill to become law (enacted in 1970)
Rights of Transgender Persons Bill, 2014 passed Rajya Sabha in 2015 - first private member's bill to clear upper house in 45 years
Only 14 private member's bills have become Acts since independence
Most private member's bills are either withdrawn, lapsed, or rejected
Trap: Private member's bill is NOT about elected vs nominated status - it's about minister vs non-minister status
Trap: Recent passage claims - no private member's bill has become law recently, though some passed individual houses
Trap: Don't confuse 'first time in 45 years' (Rajya Sabha passage) with 'first time in history' (becoming law)
Trap: Both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha members can introduce private member's bills
Elected vs Nominated Members of Parliament
Indian Polity elected nominated President of India
Parliamentary Composition: Elected vs Nominated Members
Lok Sabha: 543 elected + 2 nominated (Anglo-Indian community by President)
Rajya Sabha: 233 elected + 12 nominated (arts, literature, science, social service by President)
Both elected and nominated members have equal legislative powers including bill introduction
Composition of Parliament
House | Elected Members | Nominated Members | Nominated By | Criteria for Nomination |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Lok Sabha | 543 | 2 | President | Anglo-Indian community representation |
Rajya Sabha | 233 | 12 | President | Arts, literature, science, social service expertise |
Powers & Status
Nominated members have same legislative powers as elected members - can vote, speak, introduce bills
Exception: Nominated Rajya Sabha members cannot vote in Presidential elections (only elected MPs can)
Anglo-Indian nomination to Lok Sabha expired in 2020 after 70 years (104th Amendment extended it from 60 to 70 years)
Rajya Sabha nominations often include renowned personalities from various fields
Trap: Nominated members have same bill introduction rights as elected members - no distinction in legislative powers
Trap: 2 Anglo-Indian nominees in Lok Sabha (not 1 or 3) - but this provision has now expired
Trap: 12 nominated in Rajya Sabha covers diverse fields, not just one area
Trap: Nominated members cannot vote in Presidential elections but can in Vice-Presidential elections
Parliamentary Legislative Process & Bill Types
Indian Polity Parliament of India bill
Legislative Process: Types of Bills & Parliamentary Procedure
Four types: Ordinary, Money, Financial, Constitutional Amendment Bills
Money Bills can only be introduced in Lok Sabha by a minister
Bills pass through three readings in each house before becoming law
Classification of Bills
# Types of Bills
## **Ordinary Bill**
- Non-financial matters
- Equal powers to both houses
- Joint sitting possible
## **Money Bill**
- Article 110 definition
- Lok Sabha exclusive
- Rajya Sabha 14 days only
## **Financial Bill**
- Type I - Money Bill procedure
- Type II - Ordinary Bill procedure
- Contains financial provisions
## **Constitutional Amendment**
- Article 368
- Special majority needed
- Some need state ratificationBill to Act Process
%%{init: {"flowchart": {"wrappingWidth": 460}}}%%
flowchart TD
s1["`****Introduction****
First reading - bill title and main features presented`"]
s2["`****General Discussion****
Second reading - detailed clause-by-clause discussion`"]
s3["`****Voting****
Third reading - final vote on the bill as a whole`"]
s4["`****Other House****
Same three-stage process in the second house`"]
s5["`****Presidential Assent****
President signs the bill (can return once for reconsideration)`"]
s6["`****Act of Parliament****
Bill becomes law after presidential assent`"]
s1 --> s2
s2 --> s3
s3 --> s4
s4 --> s5
s5 --> s6Trap: Money Bills start only in Lok Sabha, but Ordinary Bills can start in either house
Trap: Constitutional Amendment Bills need special majority (>50% total + 2/3rd present and voting)
Trap: Joint sitting not possible for Money Bills or Constitutional Amendment Bills
Trap: President must give assent to Constitutional Amendment Bills - no discretion to refuse