2004 General Studies, all questions

UPSC Prelims 2004 · General Studies

Question 8: Polity and Governance

Consider the following statements:

  1. 1.The Speaker of Lok Sabha has the power to adjourn the House sine die but, on prorogation, it is only the President who can summon the House.
  2. 2.Unless sooner dissolved or there is an extension of the term, there is an automatic dissolution of the Lok Sabha by efflux of time, at the end of the period of five years, even if no formal order of dissolution is issued by the President.
  3. 3.The Speaker of Lok Sabha continues in office even after the dissolution of the House and until immediately before the first meeting of the House.

Which of these statements given above are correct?

a1 and 2
b2 and 3
c1 and 3
d1, 2 and 3

AnswerThe answer is (d).

All three statements are correct. The Speaker adjourns the Lok Sabha sine die, but only the President prorogues it and summons it again. Under Article 83(2) the House's five-year term ends on its own, by efflux of time, with no order of dissolution needed. Under Article 94 the Speaker does not vacate office on dissolution, and stays until just before the first meeting of the new House.

  • 1. The Speaker adjourns sine die; after prorogation only the President summons the House.
  • 2. Dissolution by efflux of time is automatic after five years.
  • 3. The Speaker continues until just before the new House meets (Article 94).

How you could have got this

  1. If you were sure statement 1 is correct, (b) goes: it leaves 1 out.

    What you needed to know: The Speaker adjourns sine die; after prorogation only the President summons the House.

    The red flag in statement 1 is “only”. In UPSC’s papers, statements with “only” were true 27% of the time (82 statements). A hint, not a rule.

  2. Then, if you were sure statement 2 is correct, (c) goes: it leaves 2 out.

    What you needed to know: Dissolution by efflux of time is automatic after five years.

  3. Then, if you were sure statement 3 is correct, (a) goes: it leaves 3 out.

    What you needed to know: The Speaker continues until just before the new House meets (Article 94).

Only (d) is left. This one needs every statement.

This follows an unofficial answer: UPSC has not published its key for this year, and if that answer is wrong, so is this path.

Which options go is worked out from UPSC’s key and the options, not by a model.

Why each option is right or wrong
  • (a) Leaves out statement 3, which is also correct.
  • (b) Leaves out statement 1, which is also correct.
  • (c) Leaves out statement 2, which is also correct.
  • (d) Correct: all three statements hold.

Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.

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Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2004, General Studies. UPSC's own paper isn't online; the words are from a published compilation. The paper on upsc.gov.in.