OPSC OAS 2022 PrelimsPolityQuestion 11
Solved previous year question from the OPSC OAS/OCS 2022 Preliminary Examination (General Studies), with the official answer key and a detailed explanation.
Question
Which of the following statements are correct in respect of ‘Types of Majority in Parliament’?
(1) Absolute Majority – More than 50% of the House’s total Strength
(2) Simple Majority – The majority of more than 50% of those present and voting
(3) Effective Majority: Majority of the House’s effective strength
(4) Effective Strength: means total strength excluding number of vacancies
(5) Special Majority: Majority of 2/3 members of total strength of the House
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Answer & Explanation
Correct answer: (D) 1, 2, 3 and 4
Explaination
- Absolute Majority means more than 50% of the total membership of the House, regardless of attendance or vacancies. For example, in the Lok Sabha with 543 members, absolute majority means 272 or more.
- Simple Majority means majority of more than 50% of members present and voting, excluding abstentions. This is the most commonly used majority for passing ordinary bills and day-to-day business of Parliament.
- Effective Majority means majority of the effective strength of the House, i.e., more than 50% of the total membership excluding vacancies. It is required for example when the Rajya Sabha removes the Vice President under Art. 67.
- Effective Strength means the total strength of the House excluding the number of vacancies. This distinction is important in calculating effective majority.
- Special Majority is not simply a majority of 2/3 of total strength. There are different types of special majority used in different contexts. The most common under Art. 368 requires a majority of 2/3 of members present and voting plus a majority of total membership of each House — not merely 2/3 of total strength as stated.
