CAPF AC 2020 Q70: Indian Polity – Parliament & State Legislatures
Which one of the following statements with regard to Censure Motion is NOT correct?
- (a) A leave of the House is required to move it
- (b) The Government is free to fix time and date for its discussion
- (c) It can also be moved against the entirety of the Council of Ministers
- (d) The Speaker decides whether the motion is in order
Answer: (a) A leave of the House is required to move it
Explanation
Censure Motion
How to think: compare it with the No-Confidence Motion.
The features are opposite.
Leave of the House is needed for a no-confidence motion, not for a censure motion.
| Point | Censure Motion | No-Confidence Motion |
|---|---|---|
| Reasons | Must state the reasons | Need not state reasons |
| Against whom | One Minister, a group, or the whole Council of Ministers | Only the whole Council of Ministers |
| Leave of the House | Not required | Required; 50 members must support |
| If passed | Council need not resign | Council must resign |
The options checked:
| Option | Verdict |
|---|---|
| (a) A leave of the House is required to move it | NOT correct |
| (b) The Government is free to fix time and date for its discussion | True |
| (c) It can also be moved against the entirety of the Council of Ministers | True |
| (d) The Speaker decides whether the motion is in order | True |
Answer: (a) A leave of the House is required to move it.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) CORRECT. This is the wrong statement: no leave of the House is needed for a censure motion.
- (b) Incorrect. This statement is true: the Government fixes the time and date for discussion.
- (c) Incorrect. This statement is true: it can be against one Minister or the whole Council.
- (d) Incorrect. This statement is true: the Speaker decides if the motion is in order.
Key point
Censure Motion: states reasons, against a Minister or the whole Council, no leave of the House, no resignation if passed. No-Confidence Motion: no reasons, whole Council only, leave of the House (50 members), must resign.
Remember
Censure: reasons yes, leave of House no, resignation no.
Common mistakes
- Swapping the features of the censure and no-confidence motions.
- Thinking a passed censure motion forces the Government to resign.
- Forgetting that both motions can be moved only in the Lok Sabha.
Exam tip
Make a two-column table in your head. Whatever the no-confidence motion needs, the censure motion does not.
Sources
- Lok Sabha Secretariat — Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha (motions)
- M. Laxmikanth — Indian Polity, chapter on Parliament (motions)