SSC
If both the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha are absent from a joint sitting of the two Houses, the sitting is presided over by the:
Answer (Detailed Solution Below)View answer ▾Hide ▴
Answer: Option C — Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha
Detailed Solution
The Constitution and the rules for joint sittings provide that if the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha are both absent, the joint sitting is presided over by the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.
Order of presiding officers at a joint sitting:
- First, the Speaker of the Lok Sabha.
- In his absence, the Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha.
- In the absence of both, the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.
- If he too is absent, such other person as may be determined by the members present at the joint sitting.
Why the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha does not preside:
- The Chairman of the Rajya Sabha is the Vice-President of India, who is not a member of either House.
- So he is not included in the list of those who preside over a joint sitting.
Constitutional basis:
- Article 118(4) provides that at a joint sitting, the Speaker of the House of the People, or in his absence such person as may be determined by the rules of procedure, shall preside.
- The rules of procedure for joint sittings are made by the Speaker after consulting the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.
About the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha:
- He is elected by the members of the Rajya Sabha from among themselves.
- He presides over the Rajya Sabha when the Chairman is absent or when the office of Chairman is vacant.
Joint sittings in practice:
- Joint sittings have been held only three times.
- In all of them, the Speaker of the Lok Sabha presided.
Why not the other options?
- ✗The Chairman of the Rajya Sabha does not preside over joint sittings.
- ✗The senior-most member of the Lok Sabha has no such role.
- ✗The Prime Minister is the head of the government, not a presiding officer.
Quick tip
Remember: Joint sitting order = Speaker → Deputy Speaker → Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha → person chosen by members.
💬 Discussions on this question
Ask a doubt ›Still stuck on this question? Ask our faculty and fellow students — answers appear here.
Ask a doubtMore Parliament Questions
View all ›More General Knowledge Questions
- Q1.The techniques of Rasa and Bhava used in Indian classical dance trace their origin to which ancient text?Indian Dance Forms
- Q2.Lavani, Powada, Koli, Waghya Murali and Dhangari Gaja are folk dances of which state?Indian Dance Forms
- Q3.The one-act play associated with the Sattriya tradition of Assam is called:Indian Dance Forms
- Q4.Which dance form of Goa is known as the 'Warrior Dance'?Indian Dance Forms
- Q5.Manipuri dance is based on the Rasleela themes of:Indian Dance Forms
Parliament — Preparation
This question tests your understanding of Parliament, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.
This topic covers the Parliament of India: the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, their composition, powers and officers, sessions, the law-making process, money bills, joint sittings, parliamentary committees, and devices such as question hour, zero hour and the various motions. Typical questions ask about the maximum strength of each house, the minimum age for members, who certifies a money bill (the Speaker), who presides over a joint sitting, and which committee is chaired by a member of the opposition (the Public Accounts Committee, by convention). Note the special powers of the Rajya Sabha under Articles 249 and 312. Practise the Parliament questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.