Parliamentary privileges are constitutional rights and immunities enjoyed by legislators to perform their duties without undue interference, codified under Article 105 for Parliament and Article 194 for State Legislatures. Individual privileges include complete freedom of speech in Parliament (Article 105(1)), immunity from judicial proceedings for anything said or any vote cast (Article 105(2)), and freedom from civil arrest 40 days before and after sessions under Section 135A of the Code of Civil Procedure. Collective privileges include the right to exclude strangers, publish proceedings, and punish members or outsiders for contempt or breach of privilege. In Sita Soren v. Union of India (2024), a seven-judge Constitution Bench overruled P.V. Narasimha Rao (1998), establishing that bribery is not protected by parliamentary immunity. Parliamentary oversight functions through specialized committees. The Public Accounts Committee (PAC), created in 1921 under the Government of India Act 1919, comprises 22 members (15 Lok Sabha, 7 Rajya Sabha) elected by proportional representation to examine CAG audit reports, traditionally chaired by an Opposition member since 1967. The Estimates Committee consists of 30 members exclusively from Lok Sabha, while 24 Departmentally Related Standing Committees (DRSCs) scrutinize budgetary demands and legislative bills.
High-yield conceptual summaries for competitive exams and rapid revision.
Articles 105 and 194 define the individual and collective privileges of Parliament and State Legislatures respectively.
In Sita Soren v. Union of India (2024), a 7-judge Supreme Court bench unanimously ruled that legislators taking bribes for speeches or votes enjoy no immunity under Article 105(2).
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC), established in 1921, consists of 22 members (15 Lok Sabha, 7 Rajya Sabha) and is customarily chaired by an Opposition MP.
The Estimates Committee, established in 1950 on Finance Minister John Mathai's recommendation, consists of 30 members drawn exclusively from the Lok Sabha.
There are 24 Departmentally Related Standing Committees (DRSCs) with 31 members each (21 LS, 10 RS) that conduct detailed legislative and budgetary scrutiny.
Showing 25 Curated Questions864 Total in Bank
1ID: GK-POL-00479
easyFundamental Rights, DPSP & Fundamental Duties
Fundamental Duties were incorporated into Part IV-A (Article 51A) of the Constitution upon the recommendation of which committee?
Verified Explanation
The Swaran Singh Committee (1976) recommended the inclusion of Fundamental Duties, which led to the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act.
2ID: GK-POL-00514
hardUnion Executive & Parliament
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament consists of 22 members. What is the exact proportional breakup between the two Houses?
Verified Explanation
The Public Accounts Committee consists of not more than 22 members—15 elected by Lok Sabha and 7 elected by Rajya Sabha—according to proportional representation by means of a single transferable vote.
3ID: GK-POL-00524
hardPanchayati Raj & Local Governance
Which committee appointed by the Janata Party Government in 1977 recommended a two-tier Panchayati Raj institutional model (Zilla Parishad and Mandal Panchayat)?
Verified Explanation
The Ashok Mehta Committee (appointed in Dec 1977, report in Aug 1978) recommended replacing the 3-tier structure with a 2-tier system comprising Zilla Parishad at the district level and Mandal Panchayat for a cluster of villages.
4ID: GK-POL-00539
easyFundamental Rights, DPSP & Fundamental Duties
Fundamental Duties were incorporated into Part IV-A (Article 51A) of the Indian Constitution on the recommendations of which committee?
Verified Explanation
The Swaran Singh Committee (1976) recommended the inclusion of Fundamental Duties, leading to the enactment of the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act.
5ID: GK-POL-00556
mediumPanchayati Raj & Local Governance
The Provisions of the Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 (PESA Act) was enacted on the recommendations of which committee?
Verified Explanation
The PESA Act of 1996 was passed following the recommendations of the Dileep Singh Bhuria Committee (1995) to extend local self-governance to Fifth Schedule areas.
6ID: GK-POL-00587
hardConstitutional & Statutory Bodies
The Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) was initially constituted in 1964 pursuant to the recommendations of which committee on prevention of corruption?
Verified Explanation
The Central Vigilance Commission was set up in February 1964 following the recommendations of the Committee on Prevention of Corruption chaired by K. Santhanam.
7ID: GK-POL-00608
easyFundamental Rights, DPSP & Fundamental Duties
Fundamental Duties were incorporated into Part IV-A (Article 51A) of the Constitution on the recommendations of which committee via the 42nd Amendment Act, 1976?
Verified Explanation
The Swaran Singh Committee (1976) recommended incorporating Fundamental Duties; initially 10 duties were enacted, and an 11th duty was added by the 86th Amendment in 2002.
8ID: GK-POL-00623
mediumPanchayati Raj & Local Governance
The Ashok Mehta Committee (appointed in December 1977) recommended replacing the 3-tier Panchayati Raj framework with which alternative structure?
Verified Explanation
The Ashok Mehta Committee recommended a 2-tier system consisting of a Zilla Parishad at the district level and a Mandal Panchayat covering a cluster of villages with a population of 15,000 to 20,000.
9ID: GK-POL-00636
hardPanchayati Raj & Local Governance
The Provisions of the Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 (PESA) was enacted on the recommendations of which expert committee?
Verified Explanation
The Dilip Singh Bhuria Committee (1995) recommended extending local governance to Fifth Schedule tribal areas, leading to the enactment of the PESA Act, 1996 recognizing Gram Sabha authority over natural resources.
10ID: GK-POL-00639
hardUnion Executive & Parliament
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Indian Parliament consists of 22 members elected by proportional representation. What is the exact composition of its membership across the two Houses?
Verified Explanation
The Public Accounts Committee consists of 22 members (15 elected from the Lok Sabha and 7 from the Rajya Sabha) for a term of one year, traditionally chaired by a leader of the Opposition.
11ID: GK-POL-00640
hardFundamental Rights, DPSP & Fundamental Duties
Which judicial committee appointed by the Government of India in 1999 identified existing statutory provisions for the operationalisation and enforcement of Fundamental Duties?
Verified Explanation
The Justice Verma Committee on Fundamental Duties of Citizens (1999) identified existing legal provisions (such as the Representation of the People Act, Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, IPC) that enforce Fundamental Duties.
12ID: GK-POL-00648
hardConstitutional & Statutory Bodies
The Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) was originally established in February 1964 pursuant to the recommendations of which anti-corruption committee?
Verified Explanation
The Committee on Prevention of Corruption (headed by K. Santhanam, 1962–1964) recommended the creation of the CVC; it was later conferred statutory status by the CVC Act, 2003.
13ID: GK-AGRI-00003
hardRural Credit, NABARD & Agro-Schemes
National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) was established in July 1982 based on the recommendations of which committee?
Verified Explanation
NABARD was set up on 12 July 1982 under the NABARD Act 1981 upon the recommendations of the Committee to Review Arrangements For Institutional Credit for Agriculture and Rural Development (CRAFICARD), chaired by B. Sivaraman.
14ID: GK-AGRI-00058
hardRural Credit, NABARD & Agro-Schemes
The Lead Bank Scheme was introduced by the Reserve Bank of India in late 1969 based on the recommendations of which study group/committee?
Verified Explanation
The Lead Bank Scheme was introduced in December 1969 following recommendations of the Study Group on Organizational Framework for the Implementation of Social Objectives (chaired by D. R. Gadgil) and a Committee headed by F. K. F. Nariman.
15ID: GK-AGRI-00170
hardRural Credit, NABARD & Agro-Schemes
Which Committee on Doubling Farmers' Income (DFI), constituted in April 2016, submitted a comprehensive 14-volume roadmap to shift agricultural policy from production to income security?
Verified Explanation
The Committee on Doubling Farmers' Income was headed by Ashok Dalwai (IAS), submitting 14 detailed strategy volumes focusing on post-production value addition and supply chain reforms.
16ID: GK-AGRI-00177
hardRural Credit, NABARD & Agro-Schemes
The Committee on Comprehensive Financial Services for Small Businesses and Low Income Households (2014), which conceptualized Payments Banks and Small Finance Banks for rural reach, was headed by:
Verified Explanation
The Nachiket Mor Committee recommended specialized differentiated banks (Payments Banks and Small Finance Banks) to provide universal financial access to unbanked rural populations.
17ID: GK-AGRI-00345
easyRural Credit, NABARD & Agro-Schemes
The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) was established on 12 July 1982 based on the recommendations of which high-level committee?
Verified Explanation
NABARD was set up on 12 July 1982 under Act 61 of 1981, implementing the recommendations of the Committee to Review Arrangements for Institutional Credit for Agriculture and Rural Development (CRAFICARD) headed by B. Sivaraman.
18ID: GK-AGRI-00404
easyRural Credit, NABARD & Agro-Schemes
NABARD (National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development) was established on 12 July 1982 based on the recommendations of which committee?
Verified Explanation
NABARD was set up on 12 July 1982 by an Act of Parliament (NABARD Act, 1981) to implement the recommendations of the Committee to Review Arrangements for Institutional Credit for Agriculture and Rural Development (CRAFICARD) headed by B. Sivaraman.
19ID: GK-AGRI-00406
easyRural Credit, NABARD & Agro-Schemes
The Kisan Credit Card (KCC) scheme was introduced in August 1998 by NABARD and RBI on the recommendations of which committee to provide timely credit to farmers?
Verified Explanation
The Kisan Credit Card (KCC) scheme was formulated in 1998 based on the recommendations of the R. V. Gupta Committee to meet the short-term agricultural credit needs of farmers.
20ID: GK-AGRI-00466
easyRural Credit, NABARD & Agro-Schemes
The Kisan Credit Card (KCC) Scheme was formulated in 1998 by NABARD to ensure timely institutional credit to farmers on the recommendations of which committee?
Verified Explanation
The Kisan Credit Card (KCC) scheme was introduced in August 1998 by the Government of India and NABARD based on the recommendations of the R.V. Gupta Committee on agricultural credit.
21ID: GK-AGRI-00471
mediumRural Credit, NABARD & Agro-Schemes
NABARD was set up in 1982 on the recommendations of the Committee to Review Arrangements for Institutional Credit for Agriculture and Rural Development (CRAFICARD) headed by:
Verified Explanation
The CRAFICARD committee, appointed by the Reserve Bank of India in 1979 under the chairmanship of former Planning Commission member B. Sivaraman, recommended the creation of NABARD.
22ID: GK-AGRI-00531
mediumRural Credit, NABARD & Agro-Schemes
Which committee appointed by the Reserve Bank of India in 1979 recommended the establishment of NABARD?
Verified Explanation
The Committee to Review Arrangements For Institutional Credit for Agriculture and Rural Development (CRAFICARD), chaired by B. Sivaraman, recommended the creation of NABARD.
23ID: GK-AGRI-00599
hardRural Credit, NABARD & Agro-Schemes
Which committee, appointed by the Ministry of Agriculture in April 2016, submitted a comprehensive 14-volume roadmap on 'Doubling Farmers' Income (DFI)'?
Verified Explanation
The Committee on Doubling Farmers' Income was headed by Ashok Dalwai (then Additional Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture); it submitted its 14-volume report between 2017 and 2018.
24ID: GK-BANK-00009
easyRBI Functions, Repo Rates & Monetary Policy
How many total members constitute India's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) responsible for setting the benchmark policy interest rate?
Verified Explanation
The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) consists of 6 members: 3 from the Reserve Bank of India (including the Governor as Chairperson) and 3 external members appointed by the Central Government.
25ID: GK-BANK-00018
easyHistory of Indian Banking & Nationalisation
National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) was established on 12 July 1982 on the recommendations of which committee?
Verified Explanation
NABARD was set up on 12 July 1982 on the recommendations of the Committee to Review Arrangements for Institutional Credit for Agriculture and Rural Development (CRAFICARD) headed by B. Sivaraman.