Quorum means the minimum number of people to be present to hold meetings. A Quorum in parliament is the number of members who must be present for a meeting to begin. The topic “Quorum ” is one of the important concepts in the UPSC/IAS Exam 2023 Polity and Governance syllabus which is discussed in this article in detail.

What is Quorum?

• The Quorum refers to the number of members that must be present for a house meeting to take place. 
• The Constitution established a quorum of one-tenth of the total membership for both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. 
• Thus, at least 55 members must be present to hold a Lok Sabha session, while at least 25 members must be present to conduct a Rajya Sabha sitting.

How Does Quorum Work?

• For both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, a quorum of one-tenth of the total number of members is required to convene a meeting.
• If a quorum is not present, the Speaker must adjourn the House or postpone the meeting until a quorum is present.
• For both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, the Constitution has established a quorum of one-tenth of the total membership. Individual members have a six-year commitment.
• Whenever there are casual vacancies, they are replaced through bye-elections for the remainder of the term.

Conclusion

Thus, the quorum is the number of members who must be present in the house before any business may be conducted. The quorum requirement is one-tenth of the total number of members in the house.

FAQs 

Q1: What is the meaning of 'quorum' in the context of the Indian Parliament?

Q2: How is quorum determined in the Indian Parliament?

Q3: Can a bill be passed if the quorum is not present?

Q4: What happens if quorum is not met during a sitting?

Q5: Are there any special provisions for quorum in the Rajya Sabha?

MCQs

1. What is the quorum required in the Lok Sabha for a valid sitting?

A) One-fourth of the total members

B) One-tenth of the total members

C) One-half of the total members

D) One-third of the total members

2. Who is responsible for ensuring that the quorum is maintained during the sessions of Parliament?

A) The President

B) The Speaker of the Lok Sabha

C) The Prime Minister

D) The Chief Justice of India

3. Can a House be adjourned if there is no quorum?

A) Yes, at the discretion of the Speaker

B) No, the session must continue

C) Yes, by a majority vote

D) No, the quorum must be present at all times

4. How is the quorum for a joint sitting of the Indian Parliament decided?

A) By the President of India

B) By the Speaker of the Lok Sabha

C) By the majority of members present in the joint session

D) By the Constitution of India

5. What happens if a quorum is not present during the voting of a bill?

A) The bill is automatically passed

B) The voting is postponed

C) The bill is rejected

D) The Speaker decides

GS Mains Questions and Model Answers

Q1: Discuss the importance of quorum in the functioning of the Indian Parliament. How does it ensure democratic accountability?

Answer: Quorum is crucial for ensuring that legislative decisions are valid and represent the views of a sufficient number of elected representatives. It prevents decisions being made by a small minority, ensuring democratic principles are maintained. This is vital in a parliamentary democracy where the legitimacy of decisions rests on the participation of a substantial proportion of members, making them truly representative of the people.

Q2: Explain the role of the Speaker in maintaining quorum during Parliamentary sessions. What measures can be taken in the event of non-compliance?

Answer: The Speaker of the Lok Sabha plays a vital role in ensuring that quorum is met during the sessions. In case quorum is not met, the Speaker can adjourn the session or suspend the proceedings until quorum is re-established. The Speaker can also direct a headcount to confirm quorum and suspend business if necessary. This ensures the credibility and fairness of legislative proceedings.

Q3: What are the constitutional provisions regarding quorum in the Indian Parliament? How do these provisions contribute to effective governance?

Answer: The Constitution, under Articles 100 and 118, prescribes the quorum for the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha as one-tenth of the total membership. This requirement ensures that decisions made are representative of the majority of elected members, thereby contributing to transparency and accountability in governance. It also prevents arbitrary decision-making by small groups, which is essential in a democratic system.

Previous Year Questions on  Quorum

1. UPSC Prelims 2018

Question: Consider the following statements about the quorum in the Parliament:

Answer: In the Lok Sabha, quorum is one-tenth of the total strength of the house.

In the Rajya Sabha, quorum is one-fourth of the total strength of the house.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

Answer:  The correct answer is A: 1 only. The quorum for the Lok Sabha is indeed one-tenth of the total membership. However, the quorum for the Rajya Sabha is also one-tenth, not one-fourth, as stated in the second statement.

2. UPSC Mains 2020

Question: How does the quorum requirement in the Indian Parliament contribute to the democratic process? Discuss with reference to the quorum rules for the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.

Answer: The quorum requirement in the Indian Parliament ensures that decisions are made in the presence of a significant number of elected representatives, thereby maintaining the democratic process. The quorum rule for the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, requiring one-tenth of the total membership to be present, ensures that no decision is made without adequate representation. This safeguards against the influence of small groups and upholds the democratic legitimacy of the legislative process, ensuring accountability to the electorate.