A no confidence motion, also variously called a vote of no confidence, motion of no confidence, motion of confidence, or vote of confidence. No confidence motion is a parliamentary motion that demonstrates to the head of a government that the elected Parliament no longer has confidence in the Council of Ministers. No confidence motion can only be introduced in the Lok Sabha, not the Rajya Sabha. It can be introduced by any member of the House and need not state the reasons for its adoption in the Lok Sabha. The procedure for moving a no-confidence motion is outlined in Rule 198 of the rules of Procedure and Conduct of Lok Sabha. This article, explains No-confidence motion –  Provisions, Significance, Impact etc. which is useful for UPSC IAS Exam preparation.

What is No-Confidence Motion?

• A government can only function if it has a majority in the Lok Sabha.
• The party can retain power if it demonstrates its strength through a floor test, which is used to determine whether the executive has the confidence of the legislature.
• According to Article 75 of the Constitution, the council of ministers is collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha. It means that the ministry will remain in office as long as the majority of Lok Sabha members trust it.
• In other words, bypassing a no-confidence motion, the Lok Sabha can remove the ministry from office.
• The procedure for moving a no-confidence motion is outlined in Rule 198 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Lok Sabha.
• A written notice of the motion has to be submitted by the member before 10 AM, which will be read aloud by the Speaker of the House.
• The motion must be accepted by a minimum of 50 members, and the Speaker will then announce the date for discussion of the motion.
• The date must be within 10 days of the day the motion is accepted. Otherwise, the motion fails, and the member who proposed it will be notified.
• If the government is unable to demonstrate its majority in the House, the current government must resign.
• Opposition parties also use it as a tool to put pressure on the government to hold a debate on issues of critical national importance.
• A "No Confidence Motion" becomes a vehicle in and of itself, establishing unity in the opposition.

Significance

• According to the Constitution, a government can only remain in power if it has the necessary numbers in Lok Sabha to form a majority.
• Article 75(3) of the Indian Constitution states that the Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha.
• To put the collective responsibility to the test, the Lok Sabha rules include a mechanism known as a "no-confidence motion."
• According to the rules, a Lok Sabha MP must obtain the support of 50 lawmakers in order to introduce a no-confidence motion against the government. Following that, there is a discussion about the motion.
• A no-confidence motion informs the head of state that the elected Parliament no longer trusts the government.
• A motion of no confidence is introduced in order to remove the council of ministers and oust the government from office.

Impact

• Since independence, 27 no-confidence motions have been introduced in the Lok Sabha.
• Let’s look at some of the examples below to understand the impact of the No-confidence motion.

Examples

• In August 1963, Parliament witnessed the first "No Confidence Motion" against then-Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru's government.
  • This motion was introduced by Acharya JB Kripalani, who received only 62 votes in favor and 347 votes against it.
• Indira Gandhi has faced the highest everNo Confidence Motion i.e.,15 times.
• Jyoti Basu, the CPI(M) leader has proposed the No Confidence Motion at least four times.
• Morarji Desai's government was the first to succumb to the No-Confidence Motion. In the Lok Sabha, the No-Confidence Motion was moved twice against his government.
  • It was saved the first time, but he lost the majority during the second time, in 1978. Morarji Desai resigned before the vote.
• The No-Confidence Motion was introduced against Chaudhary Charan Singh's government in 1979. After handing over his resignation to the President, Chaudhary Charan Singh recommended the dissolution of the Lok Sabha.
• After the BJP withdrew its support, VP Singh's government was dissolved in 1989.
• A No-Confidence Motion was filed against Narasimha Rao's government in 1993, but he was able to save it. The Congress withdrew its support for the United Front Government in 1997, forcing then-Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda to resign.
• I.K. Gujral's United Front Government was forced to resign in March 1998 after failing to demonstrate a majority.
• In 1999, the government led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee narrowly lost the No Confidence Motion by a single vote, forcing him to resign.
• In July 2008, the Congress Government faced a No-Confidence Motion over the nuclear deal with the United States.
  • However, then-Prime Minister Manmohan Singh maintained his majority in the Lok Sabha by a narrow margin and survived the No-Confidence Motion.

Difference between Non Confidence motion and Censure Motion

Conclusion

• The No Confidence Motion is an important part of the legislative process.
• Members who vote in favour of the No Confidence Motion indicate that they have lost faith in the government.
• It is uncommon for the opposition to defeat the ruling party with greater numbers, but it has happened in the past.

FAQs

Question: What is a No-confidence Motion?

Question: How is a No-confidence Motion introduced in the Indian Parliament?

Question: What happens if the No-confidence Motion is passed?

Question: Can a No-confidence Motion be introduced in the Rajya Sabha?

Question: How often can a No-confidence Motion be moved?

MCQs

1. A No-confidence Motion can be introduced in which house of the Indian Parliament?

a) Lok Sabha

b) Rajya Sabha

c) Both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha

d) State Legislative Assembly

2. How many members' support is required to admit a No-confidence Motion in the Lok Sabha?

a) 30

b) 50

c) 100

d) 75

3. What is the consequence if the No-confidence Motion is passed in the Lok Sabha?

a) The Prime Minister must resign

b) The government remains in power

c) The President dissolves Parliament

d) A new Prime Minister is appointed immediately

4. Which of the following is NOT true about a No-confidence Motion?

a) It can be introduced by any member of the Lok Sabha

b) It requires the Speaker's approval to be debated

c) It can be introduced in the Rajya Sabha

d) It expresses a lack of confidence in the ruling government

5. If the No-confidence Motion is defeated, what happens to the government?

a) The government must resign

b) The government continues in power

c) The Lok Sabha is dissolved

d) New elections are held

GS Mains Questions and Model Answers

Q1: Critically analyze the role of the No-confidence Motion in maintaining democratic accountability in India.

Explanation: This question requires a critical analysis of how the No-confidence Motion plays a key role in ensuring democratic accountability in India. The answer should discuss how this motion allows the opposition to challenge the ruling government's performance and hold it accountable to the legislature. It should also explore the importance of this tool in a parliamentary democracy, where the government must continuously retain the confidence of the majority in the Lok Sabha. The role of the Speaker in admitting the motion and the impact of the motion on the stability of the government should also be addressed.

Q2: Explain the constitutional and political implications of a No-confidence Motion in the Indian parliamentary system.

Explanation: This question asks for an explanation of both the constitutional and political implications of a No-confidence Motion. The answer should highlight the constitutional basis for such a motion, as it relates to Article 75 of the Indian Constitution, which states that the Council of Ministers must collectively be responsible to the Lok Sabha. The political implications include potential changes in leadership, government collapse, and the need for new elections. It should also explore how the motion reflects the dynamics between the ruling party and the opposition in a parliamentary democracy.

Q3: “The No-confidence Motion is a reflection of the principles of checks and balances in parliamentary democracies.” Discuss.

Explanation: This question requires a discussion on how the No-confidence Motion represents the principle of checks and balances within the parliamentary system. The answer should explore how the motion serves as a check on the executive branch by allowing the legislature to remove a government that has lost the confidence of the majority. The answer should also discuss the importance of this mechanism in maintaining the balance of power between the executive and the legislature and ensuring that the government remains accountable to the people’s representatives.

Previous Year Questions on No-confidence Motion

1. UPSC CSE 2018

Q1: Explain the significance of the No-confidence Motion in ensuring accountability in a parliamentary system of government.

Explanation: The No-confidence Motion serves as a check on the government, ensuring that it remains accountable to Parliament and, by extension, the electorate.

2. UPSC CSE 2019

Q2: Discuss the process of introducing and passing a No-confidence Motion in the Lok Sabha. 

Explanation: The process of introducing and passing a No-confidence Motion in the Lok Sabha reflects the parliamentary principle that the government must always have the majority support of the elected House.