UPSC Prelims 2017 Q1: Indian Polity – Parliament & State Legislatures
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 ?
- (a) 1 only
- (b) 2 only
- (c) Both 1 and 2
- (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Explanation
Private Members' Bills
| Statement | Verdict | Fact |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Moved by an MP who is nominated, not elected | Incorrect | Any MP who is not a Minister, elected or nominated, can move a private member's bill |
| 2. Recently passed for the first time ever | Incorrect | 14 private members' bills have become law since 1952; the last was in 1970 |
Private member's bill vs Government bill:
| Feature | Private member's bill | Government bill |
|---|---|---|
| Moved by | Any non-Minister MP | A Minister |
| Notice | One month | Seven days |
| Taken up | Only on Fridays (private members' business) | Any sitting day |
The last one to pass was the Supreme Court (Enlargement of Criminal Appellate Jurisdiction) Act, 1970.
Answer: (d) Neither 1 nor 2.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. Statement 1 is false: any non-Minister MP, elected or nominated, can move one.
- (b) Incorrect. Statement 2 is false: 14 such bills became law, the last in 1970.
- (c) Incorrect. Both statements misstate the rules and history of private members' bills.
- (d) CORRECT. Private bills come from any non-Minister MP, and 14 have passed since 1952.
Key point
Private member's bill = moved by any non-Minister MP; 14 enacted since 1952, the last in 1970.
Remember
Private bill = non-Minister MP; 14 passed, last in 1970.
Common mistakes
- Reading 'private member' as 'nominated member'; it only means 'not a Minister'.
- Believing no private member's bill has ever passed; 14 have.
- Confusing a recent Rajya Sabha passage (the Transgender Persons bill, 2015) with enactment into law.
Exam tip
'Private' here contrasts with 'Minister', not with 'elected'.
Sources
- Lok Sabha — Rules of Procedure, Chapter on Private Members' Business
- PRS Legislative Research — Private Members' Bills