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Q50 (IAS/2017) Polity & Governance › Parliament › Parliamentary control mechanisms Official Key

The Parliament of India exercises control over the functions of the Council of Ministers through 1. Adjournment motion 2. Question hour 3. Supplementary questions Select the correct answer using the code given below :

Result
Your answer: —  ·  Correct: D
Explanation

The Constitution of India established a parliamentary form of government in which the Executive is responsible to the Parliament for its policies and acts, and the Parliament exercises control over the Executive through question-hour, zero hour, half-an-hour discussion, short duration discussion, calling attention motion, adjournment motion, no-confidence motion, censure motion and other discussions.[1]

**Adjournment motion** (Statement 1) is explicitly mentioned as one of the instruments through which Parliament controls the Executive. The first hour of every parliamentary sitting is slated for Question Hour, during which the members ask questions and the ministers usually give answers.[2] The question hour is perhaps the most effective method of keeping vigil on the executive and the administrative agencies of the government.[3]

**Supplementary questions** (Statement 3) are an integral part of the Question Hour mechanism. A starred question requires an oral answer and hence supplementary questions can follow.[2] These supplementary questions allow members to probe deeper into ministerial responses, thereby enhancing parliamentary control over the Executive.

Therefore, all three mechanisms—adjournment motion, question hour, and supplementary questions—enable Parliament to exercise control over the Council of Ministers, making **option D (1, 2 and 3)** the correct answer.

Sources
  1. [1] Laxmikanth, M. Indian Polity. 7th ed., McGraw Hill. > Chapter 23: Parliament > fil l E~ecutive Powers and Functions > p. 257
  2. [2] Laxmikanth, M. Indian Polity. 7th ed., McGraw Hill. > Chapter 23: Parliament > Question Hour > p. 240
  3. [3] Indian Constitution at Work, Political Science Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 5: LEGISLATURE > Instruments of Parliamentary Control > p. 115
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Q. The Parliament of India exercises control over the functions of the Council of Ministers through 1. Adjournment motion 2. Question hour 3…
At a glance
Origin: From standard books Fairness: High fairness Books / CA: 10/10 · 0/10

This is a non-negotiable 'Sitter'. It comes directly from the 'Devices of Parliamentary Proceedings' section in Laxmikanth. If you get this wrong, you are statistically out of the race because 95% of serious aspirants will mark this correctly.

How this question is built

This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.

Statement 1
Do adjournment motions in the Parliament of India enable Parliament to exercise control over the functions of the Council of Ministers?
Origin: Direct from books Fairness: Straightforward Book-answerable
From standard books
Laxmikanth, M. Indian Polity. 7th ed., McGraw Hill. > Chapter 23: Parliament > fil l E~ecutive Powers and Functions > p. 257
Presence: 5/5
“The Constitution of India established a parliamentary form of government in which the Executive is responsible to the Parliament for its policies and acts. Hence, the Parliament exercises control over the Executive through question-hour, zero hour, half-an-hour discussion, short duration discussion, calling attention motion, adjournment motion, no-confidence motion, censure motion and other discussions. The ministers are collectively responsible to the Parliament in general and to the Lok Sabha in particular. As a part of collective responsibility, there is individual responsibility, that is, each minister is individually responsible for the efficient administration of the ministry under his/her charge. This means that they continue in office so long as they enjoy the confidence of the majority members in the Lok Sabha. no-confidence motion.”
Why this source?
  • Explicitly lists 'adjournment motion' among the parliamentary devices through which Parliament exercises control over the Executive.
  • States ministers are collectively and individually responsible to Parliament/Lok Sabha, placing adjournment motion in the context of executive accountability.
Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 23: Parliament > Adjournment > p. 236
Presence: 3/5
“A session of Parliament consists of many meetings. Each meeting of a day consists of two sittings, that is, a morning sitting from 11 am to 1 pm and post-lunch sitting from 2 pm to 6 pm. A Sitting of Parliament can be terminated by adjournment or adjournment sine die or prorogation or dissolution (in the case of the Lok Sabha). An adjournment suspends the work in a sitting for a specified time, which may be hours, days or weeks. Adjournment Sine Die Adjournment sine die means terminating a sitting of Parliament for an indefinite period. Table 23.1 Adjournment vs Prorogation In other words, when the House is adjourned without naming a day for reassembly, it is called adjournment sine die.”
Why this source?
  • Defines 'adjournment' as suspension of a sitting for a specified time, providing procedural context for an adjournment motion.
  • Gives the formal meaning of adjournment, which helps explain how such a motion can interrupt proceedings and focus attention on executive actions.
Democratic Politics-I. Political Science-Class IX . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 4: WORKING OF INSTITUTIONS > Two Houses of Parliament > p. 63
Presence: 4/5
“3 Most importantly, the Lok Sabha controls the Council of Ministers. Only a person who enjoys the support of the majority of the members in the Lok Sabha is appointed the Prime Minister. If the majority of the Lok Sabha members say they have 'no confidence' in the Council of Ministers, all ministers including the Prime Minister, have to quit. The Rajya Sabha does not have this power.”
Why this source?
  • Affirms that the Lok Sabha controls the Council of Ministers and can remove them by no-confidence, establishing the broader framework of parliamentary control.
  • Supports the relevance of parliamentary instruments (including adjournment motion as per other snippets) because the Lok Sabha holds authority over ministers.
Statement 2
Does Question Hour in the Parliament of India enable Parliament to exercise control over the functions of the Council of Ministers?
Origin: Direct from books Fairness: Straightforward Book-answerable
From standard books
Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 23: Parliament > fil l E~ecutive Powers and Functions > p. 257
Presence: 5/5
“The Constitution of India established a parliamentary form of government in which the Executive is responsible to the Parliament for its policies and acts. Hence, the Parliament exercises control over the Executive through question-hour, zero hour, half-an-hour discussion, short duration discussion, calling attention motion, adjournment motion, no-confidence motion, censure motion and other discussions. The ministers are collectively responsible to the Parliament in general and to the Lok Sabha in particular. As a part of collective responsibility, there is individual responsibility, that is, each minister is individually responsible for the efficient administration of the ministry under his/her charge. This means that they continue in office so long as they enjoy the confidence of the majority members in the Lok Sabha. no-confidence motion.”
Why this source?
  • Explicitly states Parliament exercises control over the Executive through question-hour.
  • Lists question-hour among instruments used to keep the Executive accountable.
  • Connects ministerial responsibility to Parliament/Lok Sabha, implying Question Hour helps enforce that responsibility.
Indian Constitution at Work, Political Science Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 5: LEGISLATURE > Instruments of Parliamentary Control > p. 115
Presence: 5/5
“The Question Hour, which is held every day during the sessions of Parliament, where Ministers have to respond to searching questions raised by the members; Zero Hour where members are free to raise any matter that they think is important (though the ministers are not bound to reply), half-an-hour discussion on matters of public importance, adjournment motion, etc., are some instruments of exercising control. Perhaps the question hour is the most effective method of keeping vigil on the executive and the administrative agencies of the government. Members of Parliament have”
Why this source?
  • Describes Question Hour as the daily period where ministers must respond to searching questions from MPs.
  • Calls Question Hour 'perhaps the most effective method of keeping vigil on the executive', directly linking it to control.
Exploring Society:India and Beyond ,Social Science, Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 6: The Parliamentary System: Legislature and Executive > 3) Executive accountability > p. 148
Presence: 4/5
“The Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers are part of the Union Executive. They are: • primarily responsible for implementing and enforcing laws and overseeing the effective running of the government;• take decisions regarding the day-to-day functioning of the government based on the principles laid out in the Constitution and its laws;• answerable to the Lok Sabha, through mechanisms like the Question Hour which require ministers to justify their actions and decisions. The Question Hour in the Lok Sabha is a select period (typically the first hour of a Parliamentary session) where MPs can ask the ministers questions about government policies and activities.”
Why this source?
  • States ministers are answerable to the Lok Sabha through mechanisms like the Question Hour, which require justification of actions.
  • Defines Question Hour as the stage when MPs ask ministers about government policies and activities, indicating oversight function.
Statement 3
Do supplementary questions asked during Question Hour in the Parliament of India enable Parliament to exercise control over the functions of the Council of Ministers?
Origin: Direct from books Fairness: Straightforward Book-answerable
From standard books
Laxmikanth, M. Indian Polity. 7th ed., McGraw Hill. > Chapter 23: Parliament > fil l E~ecutive Powers and Functions > p. 257
Presence: 5/5
“The Constitution of India established a parliamentary form of government in which the Executive is responsible to the Parliament for its policies and acts. Hence, the Parliament exercises control over the Executive through question-hour, zero hour, half-an-hour discussion, short duration discussion, calling attention motion, adjournment motion, no-confidence motion, censure motion and other discussions. The ministers are collectively responsible to the Parliament in general and to the Lok Sabha in particular. As a part of collective responsibility, there is individual responsibility, that is, each minister is individually responsible for the efficient administration of the ministry under his/her charge. This means that they continue in office so long as they enjoy the confidence of the majority members in the Lok Sabha. no-confidence motion.”
Why this source?
  • Explicitly states Parliament exercises control over the Executive through Question Hour among other instruments.
  • Links parliamentary control mechanisms to ministerial responsibility, implying Question Hour aids oversight of the Council of Ministers.
Laxmikanth, M. Indian Polity. 7th ed., McGraw Hill. > Chapter 23: Parliament > Question Hour > p. 240
Presence: 5/5
“The first hour of every parliamentary sitting is slated for this. During this time, the members ask questions and the ministers usually give answers. The questions are of three kinds, namely, starred, unstarred and short notice. A starred question (distinguished by a n asterisk) requires an oral answe r and hence supplementary questions can fo llow. An unstarred question, on the other hand, requires a written answer and hence, supplementary questions cannot follow.”
Why this source?
  • Specifies that starred questions require an oral answer and that supplementary questions can follow.
  • Shows the procedural enabling detail that allows MPs to ask follow-ups, strengthening scrutiny during Question Hour.
Indian Constitution at Work, Political Science Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 5: LEGISLATURE > Instruments of Parliamentary Control > p. 115
Presence: 4/5
“The Question Hour, which is held every day during the sessions of Parliament, where Ministers have to respond to searching questions raised by the members; Zero Hour where members are free to raise any matter that they think is important (though the ministers are not bound to reply), half-an-hour discussion on matters of public importance, adjournment motion, etc., are some instruments of exercising control. Perhaps the question hour is the most effective method of keeping vigil on the executive and the administrative agencies of the government. Members of Parliament have”
Why this source?
  • Describes Question Hour as a daily period where ministers respond to searching questions and highlights it as an effective method to keep vigil on the executive.
  • Provides corroborating emphasis that Question Hour facilitates parliamentary oversight of administrative action.
Pattern takeaway: UPSC consistently tests the 'toolkit' of the Parliament. The pattern is to mix procedural devices (Question Hour) with substantive motions (Adjournment) to see if you recognize them all as instruments of accountability.
How you should have studied
  1. [THE VERDICT]: Sitter. Direct lift from Laxmikanth Chapter 23 (Parliament) > 'Devices of Parliamentary Proceedings'.
  2. [THE CONCEPTUAL TRIGGER]: Article 75(3) - Collective Responsibility. The question tests the *mechanisms* that enforce this constitutional principle.
  3. [THE HORIZONTAL EXPANSION]: Memorize the 'Exclusivity List': Adjournment, Censure, and No-Confidence motions are Lok Sabha ONLY. Contrast: Calling Attention (Indian innovation, in Rules) vs Zero Hour (Indian innovation, NOT in Rules). Know the support needed (50 members for Adjournment/No-Confidence).
  4. [THE STRATEGIC METACOGNITION]: Do not read motions in isolation. Group them by function: 'To get info' (Question Hour, Calling Attention) vs 'To scold/remove' (Censure, Adjournment, No-Confidence). The question asked for 'control', which encompasses both scrutiny and removal.
Concept hooks from this question
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S1
👉 Instruments of Parliamentary Control over the Executive
💡 The insight

Reference [1] lists adjournment motion alongside question-hour, no-confidence, censure and others as means by which Parliament controls the Executive.

High-yield for UPSC: frequently tested in polity questions about parliamentary oversight and accountability. Links to topics on separation of powers, legislative procedures and executive responsibility; enables answering questions comparing tools (e.g., no-confidence vs adjournment). Master by memorising key instruments and their purposes.

📚 Reading List :
  • Laxmikanth, M. Indian Polity. 7th ed., McGraw Hill. > Chapter 23: Parliament > fil l E~ecutive Powers and Functions > p. 257
  • Indian Constitution at Work, Political Science Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 5: LEGISLATURE > Instruments of Parliamentary Control > p. 117
🔗 Anchor: "Do adjournment motions in the Parliament of India enable Parliament to exercise ..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S1
👉 Collective Responsibility to the Lok Sabha
💡 The insight

References (e.g., [1], [9]) state that the Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha, which is the constitutional basis for parliamentary control.

Core concept for UPSC polity: explains why parliamentary devices (motions, debates) matter. Connects to formation/dismissal of government, confidence motions, and Lok Sabha supremacy in executive accountability. Enables answers on ministerial responsibility, stability of government, and differences between Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha powers.

📚 Reading List :
  • Laxmikanth, M. Indian Polity. 7th ed., McGraw Hill. > Chapter 23: Parliament > fil l E~ecutive Powers and Functions > p. 257
  • Democratic Politics-I. Political Science-Class IX . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 4: WORKING OF INSTITUTIONS > Two Houses of Parliament > p. 63
🔗 Anchor: "Do adjournment motions in the Parliament of India enable Parliament to exercise ..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S1
👉 Adjournment Motion — Procedural Character
💡 The insight

Reference [5] defines adjournment (suspension of sitting), while [1] names adjournment motion as a control device — together they show its procedural role in oversight.

Useful for UPSC to distinguish types of parliamentary motions (procedural vs substantive). Helps answer questions on how parliamentary procedures are used to hold the executive to account and the limits/advantages of different motions. Learn by mapping each motion to its object, admissibility and likely impact.

📚 Reading List :
  • Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 23: Parliament > Adjournment > p. 236
  • Laxmikanth, M. Indian Polity. 7th ed., McGraw Hill. > Chapter 23: Parliament > fil l E~ecutive Powers and Functions > p. 257
🔗 Anchor: "Do adjournment motions in the Parliament of India enable Parliament to exercise ..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S2
👉 Question Hour as an instrument of legislative control
💡 The insight

Multiple references identify Question Hour as a formal period where ministers must answer MPs, and label it an effective tool for keeping vigil on the executive.

High-yield for UPSC because questions often ask how Parliament holds the executive accountable; links to topics on parliamentary procedures and accountability mechanisms. Master this to explain specific oversight tools and their relative effectiveness in essays and mains answers.

📚 Reading List :
  • Indian Constitution at Work, Political Science Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 5: LEGISLATURE > Instruments of Parliamentary Control > p. 115
  • Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 23: Parliament > fil l E~ecutive Powers and Functions > p. 257
🔗 Anchor: "Does Question Hour in the Parliament of India enable Parliament to exercise cont..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S2
👉 Collective responsibility of the Council of Ministers
💡 The insight

References tie ministerial collective (and individual) responsibility to Parliament/Lok Sabha control, which is enforced through Question Hour and related devices.

Core constitutional concept frequently tested in polity questions — explains why Lok Sabha control (including Question Hour) matters. Useful across prelims, mains and interviews when discussing executive-legislative relations and removal mechanisms.

📚 Reading List :
  • Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 23: Parliament > fil l E~ecutive Powers and Functions > p. 257
  • Democratic Politics-I. Political Science-Class IX . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 4: WORKING OF INSTITUTIONS > Two Houses of Parliament > p. 63
🔗 Anchor: "Does Question Hour in the Parliament of India enable Parliament to exercise cont..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S2
👉 Parliamentary oversight mechanisms (Question Hour, Zero Hour, motions)
💡 The insight

Sources list Question Hour alongside Zero Hour, adjournment motions and no-confidence motions as instruments enabling parliamentary control of the executive.

Helps aspirants categorise and contrast oversight tools — useful for fixed-answer prelims items and analytical mains answers on checks and balances. Enables mapping of procedural tools to practical accountability outcomes.

📚 Reading List :
  • Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 23: Parliament > fil l E~ecutive Powers and Functions > p. 257
  • Indian Constitution at Work, Political Science Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 5: LEGISLATURE > Powers of Rajya Sabha > p. 109
🔗 Anchor: "Does Question Hour in the Parliament of India enable Parliament to exercise cont..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S3
👉 Question Hour as an instrument of parliamentary control
💡 The insight

References identify Question Hour as a primary mechanism by which Parliament scrutinises and controls the Executive.

High-yield for UPSC polity: explains a routine oversight mechanism and appears in questions on legislative checks on the executive. Connects to topics on parliamentary procedures and executive accountability; useful for answering why/how Parliament keeps the government answerable.

📚 Reading List :
  • Laxmikanth, M. Indian Polity. 7th ed., McGraw Hill. > Chapter 23: Parliament > fil l E~ecutive Powers and Functions > p. 257
  • Indian Constitution at Work, Political Science Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 5: LEGISLATURE > Instruments of Parliamentary Control > p. 115
🔗 Anchor: "Do supplementary questions asked during Question Hour in the Parliament of India..."
🌑 The Hidden Trap

The 'Censure Motion' vs 'No-Confidence Motion' trap is the next logical step. Censure needs a specific reason stated; No-Confidence does not. Censure can be against an individual minister; No-Confidence is only against the whole Council. Censure doesn't force resignation (technically); No-Confidence does.

⚡ Elimination Cheat Code

Use 'Subset Logic'. Supplementary questions (Item 3) are an intrinsic part of Question Hour (Item 2). You cannot have effective Question Hour without the right to ask follow-ups. Thus, 2 and 3 are inseparable. This eliminates Option A. Since Adjournment Motion is a severe form of scolding the govt, 1 is obvious. Mark D.

🔗 Mains Connection

Mains GS-2: 'Decline of Parliament'. When Question Hour is washed out due to disruptions, or when Adjournment Motions are disallowed arbitrarily, the 'Executive Accountability' mechanism breaks down, leading to 'Cabinet Dictatorship'.

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SIMILAR QUESTIONS

IAS · 2001 · Q1 Relevance score: 1.87

In what way does the Indian Parliament exercise control over the administration?

CDS-I · 2014 · Q27 Relevance score: -0.13

The subject matter of an adjournment motion in the Parliament 1. must be directly related to the conduct of the Union Government 2. may involve failure of the Government of India to perform its duties in accordance with the Constitution Select the correct answer using the code given below.

IAS · 2024 · Q95 Relevance score: -1.17

With reference to the Parliament of India, 1. Prorogation of a House by the President of India does not require the advice of the Council of Ministers. 2. Prorogation of a House is generally done after the House is adjourned sine die but there is no bar to the President of India prorogating the House which is in session. 3. Dissolution of the Lok Sabha is done by the President of India who, save in exceptional circumstances, does so on the advice of the Council of Ministers. Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

IAS · 2012 · Q60 Relevance score: -1.72

Which of the following are the methods of Parliamentary control over public finance in India? 1. Placing Annual Financial Statement before the Parliament 2. Withdrawal of moneys from Consolidated Fund of India 3. Provisions of supplementary grants and vote-on-account 4. A periodic or at least a mid-year review of programme of the Government against macroeconomic forecasts and expenditure by a Parliamentary Budget Office 5. Introduction Finance Bill in the Parliament Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

IAS · 2013 · Q93 Relevance score: -1.77

Consider the following statements: 1. The Council of Ministers in the Centre shall be collectively responsible to the Parliament. 2. The Union Ministers shall hold the office during the pleasure of the President of India. 3. The Prime Minister shall communicate to the President about the proposals for legislation. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?