The Union Legislature of India is the law-making body of the country. With reference to the Parliament, answer the following questions:

(i) Mention any three key differences in power between the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha that make the Lok Sabha more influential.

(ii) Rajya Sabha adjourned sine die, overall productivity at 79 percent.
- Deccan Herald, 21 December 2023

Who can adjourn the above session? Explain the composition of this house.

(iii) Mention any four legislative powers of the Parliament.

(i) The Lok Sabha has special powers which make it more powerful than the Rajya Sabha. These special powers are:

1. A Motion of No-Confidence against the government can be introduced and passed only in the Lok Sabha. If it is passed, the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers resign collectively. The Rajya Sabha cannot remove the Council of Ministers through such a motion.
2. A Money Bill can be introduced only in the Lok Sabha. The Rajya Sabha cannot reject or amend it and can only make recommendations within 14 days.
3. In case of a deadlock between the two Houses over an Ordinary Bill, the decision of the Lok Sabha normally prevails in a joint sitting because of its greater numerical strength.

(ii) The Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, who is the Vice-President of India, can adjourn the House or its sitting sine die.

Composition of the Rajya Sabha — The maximum strength of the Rajya Sabha is 250 members, of whom:

1. 12 members are nominated by the President from among persons having special knowledge or practical experience in literature, science, art and social service.
2. Up to 238 members represent the States and Union Territories. Seats are allocated to the States and Union Territories on the basis of their population.

(iii) Four legislative powers of the Union Parliament are:

1. Matters in the Union List — Parliament has exclusive power to make laws on subjects in the Union List, such as Defence, Banking, Communications and Foreign Affairs.
2. Matters in the Concurrent List — Parliament and the State Legislatures can both make laws on subjects in the Concurrent List. In case of a conflict, the Union law generally prevails.
3. Residuary Powers — Parliament can make laws on subjects that are not included in the Union, State or Concurrent Lists.
4. Matters in the State List under special circumstances — Parliament can legislate on subjects in the State List during a National Emergency, when the Rajya Sabha passes a resolution by a two-thirds majority in the national interest, or when two or more States request Parliament to make a law on a State subject.