Lok Sabha No Confidence Motion Rules| History| Quiz Useful Info For Exams

No-Confidence Motion- Article 75 of the Constitution states that the council of ministers shall be collectively accountable to the Lok Sabha. It means that the ministry stays in office so long as it enjoys the confidence of the majority of the members of the Lok Sabha. In other words, the Lok Sabha can remove the ministry from office by passing a no-confidence motion. The motion needs the support of 50 members to be admitted.

Lok Sabha No-confidence Motion, to be admitted in the Lok Sabha, needs the support of:
(a) 80 Members
(b) 140 Members
(c) 160 Members
(d) 50 Members

Correct Answer- 50 Members

Lok Sabha No-Confidence Motion History

• First Lok Sabha formed on April 17, 1952.
• First No-Confidence motion in Aug 1963.
• Motion against then PM Jawaharlal Nehru’s Govt.
• The motion proposed by Acharya JB Kripalani.
• Secured 62 votes in favour, 347 votes against.
• Indira Gandhi faced motion 15 times, highest till date.
• CPI(M) Leader Jyoti Basu proposed it 4 times.
• Atal Bihari Vajpayee proposed it twice, lost power after it was passed once.
• Morarji Desai’s govt was the first to lose No-confidence motion.
• Motion moved twice against his govt in Lok Sabha.
• He lost majority the second time in 1978.
• Morarji Desai resigned before the vote.
• 1979: Motion presented against.
• Chaudhary Charan Singh’s govt Charan Singh recommended dissolution of Lok Sabha, resigned as Prime Minister.
• 1989: VP Singh’s govt was dissolved after BJP withdrew support.
• 1993: Motion failed against the Narasimha Rao Govt.
• 1997: Congress withdraws support to United Front government, HD Deve Gowda resigned as Prime Minister.
• March 1998: I K Gujral’s united front govt fails to prove majority.
• 1999: Atal Bihari Vajpayee govt fails to win no-confidence motion by a single vote.
• 1996: Atal Bihari Vajpayee resigns 13 days ahead of a no-confidence motion.
• July 2008: Congress govt wins motion on the issue of a nuclear deal with the U.S.

Quiz On Lok Sabha No-Confidence Motion

No-Confidence Motion Lok Sabha Rules

• Rule 198(1)(a): Leave to make the motion shall be asked for by member when called by Speaker.
• Rule 198(1)(b): Member asking for leave to give to the Secretary-General written notice of the motion.
• The notice must be received by Secretary-General by 10 am.
• Rule 198(2): Speaker shall read the motion in House, ask members in favour to rise.
• Leave granted if 50 members support the motion.
• Motion to be taken up within 10 days from the date on which leave is asked for.
• Rule 198(3): Speaker to allow a day/days/part of a day for discussion of the motion Rule.
• 198(4): Speaker to put every question necessary to determine the decision of the House.
• Under Rule 198(5): Speaker to prescribe a time limit for speeches

Adjournment Motion

• The discussion under Rule 56 of the Lok Sabha.
• Draws the attention of Lok Sabha to an issue of urgent public importance.
• Allowed on issues for which a motion with the notice would be too late.
• Regular proceedings of the House postponed discussing the motion.
• Allowed only in Lok Sabha.
• Needs support of at least 50 members.
• The discussion usually begins at 4 in the evening.

Calling Attention Notice

• MP draws the attention of a minister to a matter of urgent public importance.
• The notice must be given before 10 am.
• Minister presents his statement on the issue.
• Clarificatory questions can be asked after the Minister’s statement Falls under Rule 197 of the Lok Sabha, Rule 180 of Rajya Sabha.

Short- Duration Discussion

• Any MP can raise a discussion on the matter of urgent public importance.
• Discussion held under Rule 193 of Lok Sabha, Rule 176 of Rajya Sabha.
• Member needs to give notice to the Secretary-General.
• Notice to be supported by at least two other members.
• Speaker/Chairman may allow two sittings in a week for discussion.
• Minister-in-charge responds at the end of the discussion.
• No voting in Short Duration Discussion.

Question Of Privilege

• Any MP may raise a question of breach of privilege by another member.
• The question can be raised with the consent of the Speaker/Chairman.
• The question of privilege can be brought under Rule 222 of Lok Sabha.
• In Rajya Sabha, Question of privilege can be raised under rule 187.

Difference Between Censure Motion & Lok Sabha No-Confidence Motion