All Courses
Explore Courses UPSC Exam UPSC Test Series Free Notes EduRev Infinity Get the App Login Join for Free
Sign in Open App
UPSC Exam  >  UPSC Questions  >  The maximum seats in the Lok Sabha are 552. H... Start Learning for Free
SaveJoin the Discussion on the App
The maximum seats in the Lok Sabha are 552. However, there are a total of 545 members. If only 300 members are present at the time of voting, then a constitutional amendment bill under Article 368 must be supported by a minimum of: 
  • a)
    273 members 
  • b)
    200 members 
  • c)
    276 members 
  • d)
    368 members 
Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?
FREE This question is part of
Download PDF Attempt Test
Download PDF Attempt this Test
Verified Answer
The maximum seats in the Lok Sabha are 552. However, there are a total...
  • Ordinarily, all business of the legislature requires that a motion or resolution or bill should get the support of a simple majority of the members voting at that time. 
  • Suppose that at the time of voting on a bill, 247 members were present in the house and all of them participated in the voting on the bill. Then, the bill would be passed if at least 124 members voted in favor of the bill. 
  • It is not so in the case of an amendment bill. Amendment to the Constitution requires two different kinds of special majorities: 
    1. in the first place, those voting in favor of the amendment bill should constitute at least half of the total strength of that House.
    2. Secondly, the supporters of the amendment bill must also constitute two-thirds of those who actually take part in voting. 
  • In the Lok Sabha total seats are 552. However, some of the seats are vacant and there are 545 members. Therefore, any constitutional amendment must be supported by a minimum of 273 members. Even if only 300 members are present at the time of voting, the amendment bill must get the support of 273 out of them. 
  • Both Houses of the Parliament must pass the amendment bill separately in this same manner (there is no provision for a joint session). For every amendment bill, this special majority is required.
View all questions of this test
Most Upvoted Answer
The maximum seats in the Lok Sabha are 552. However, there are a total...
Solution:

Total number of members in Lok Sabha = 545
Maximum number of seats in Lok Sabha = 552

Thus, there are 7 vacancies in the Lok Sabha currently.

Minimum number of members required to pass a constitutional amendment bill under Article 368 = 2/3rd of the total members present and voting.

If only 300 members are present at the time of voting, then the minimum number of members required to pass the bill would be:

2/3 x 300 = 200

Thus, option (b) is the correct answer.

To summarize:

Given, total number of members in Lok Sabha = 545, maximum number of seats in Lok Sabha = 552, and only 300 members are present at the time of voting.

The minimum number of members required to pass a constitutional amendment bill under Article 368 is 2/3rd of the total members present and voting.

Therefore, the minimum number of members required to pass the bill would be 2/3 x 300 = 200.

Hence, option (b) is the correct answer.
Free Test
FREE
Start Free Test
Start Free Test
Community Answer
The maximum seats in the Lok Sabha are 552. However, there are a total...
Explanation:

- The Lok Sabha has a maximum of 552 seats, out of which 2 are nominated by the President of India and 543 are elected by the people of India.
- However, there are currently only 545 members in the Lok Sabha due to the bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories.
- Article 368 of the Constitution of India deals with the power of Parliament to amend the Constitution.
- Any amendment to the Constitution under Article 368 requires a special majority, which means that it must be supported by:

- At least two-thirds of the members present and voting in each House of Parliament, and
- A majority of the total membership of each House of Parliament.

- In the present scenario, only 300 members are present at the time of voting on the constitutional amendment bill.
- Therefore, the minimum number of members required to support the bill would be:

- Two-thirds of 300 members = 200 members
- Majority of the total membership of Lok Sabha (545 members) = 273 members

- Hence, the correct answer is option 'A', which is 273 members.
< Previous Question Next Question >
Explore Courses for UPSC exam

Similar UPSC Doubts

Direction: Read the following passage and answer the items that follow. Your answers to these items should be based on the passage only.There are four declared candidates for permanent membership: India, Japan, Brazil and Germany, called the G-4. Africa and Latin America and the Caribbean are unrepresented in the permanent category at present. Africa’s claim for two permanent seats has wide understanding and support, but the Africans have yet to decide which two countries these are to be. As for India, we can discount Pakistan’s opposition; China will not support India nor will it ever support Japan. Brazil has regional opponents and claimants. As for Germany, Italy is firmly opposed to its claim. Italy has an interesting argument. If Germany and Japan – both Axis powers during the Second World War, and hence ‘enemy’ states – were to join as permanent members, that would leave out only Italy, the third founding member of the Axis group. In any case there are already three western nations among the P-5. Even if India enjoyed near universal support, there is no way that India alone can be elected; it will have to be a package deal involving countries from other groups. There is quite a debate going on about whether the aspiring countries should accept permanent membership without the right of veto. There is no ambiguity regarding the position of the P-5. Every one of them is firmly opposed to conferring the veto power to any prospective new permanent member. Not just the P-5. The vast majority of members do not want any more veto-wielding members in the Council. There is a proposal to the effect that a resolution can be defeated only by a negative vote of at least two permanent members. This also is a non-starter; the P-5 are firmly opposed to any dilution of their privileged position.With which of the following statements the author of the passage will not agree:I. No P-5 members will agree to give permanent membership with veto power.II. A resolution can be defeated by a negative vote of at least two permanent members.III. Africa’s claim for two permanent seats has a wide understanding.IV. Many member nations do not mind addition of few more permanent members with veto power. Answer using the following codes

Top Courses for UPSCView all

Top Courses for UPSC

The maximum seats in the Lok Sabha are 552. However, there are a total of 545 members. If only 300 members are present at the time of voting, then a constitutional amendment bill under Article 368 must be supported by a minimum of:a)273 membersb)200 membersc)276 membersd)368 membersCorrect answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?
Question Description
The maximum seats in the Lok Sabha are 552. However, there are a total of 545 members. If only 300 members are present at the time of voting, then a constitutional amendment bill under Article 368 must be supported by a minimum of:a)273 membersb)200 membersc)276 membersd)368 membersCorrect answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer? for UPSC 2024 is part of UPSC preparation. The Question and answers have been prepared according to the UPSC exam syllabus. Information about The maximum seats in the Lok Sabha are 552. However, there are a total of 545 members. If only 300 members are present at the time of voting, then a constitutional amendment bill under Article 368 must be supported by a minimum of:a)273 membersb)200 membersc)276 membersd)368 membersCorrect answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer? covers all topics & solutions for UPSC 2024 Exam. Find important definitions, questions, meanings, examples, exercises and tests below for The maximum seats in the Lok Sabha are 552. However, there are a total of 545 members. If only 300 members are present at the time of voting, then a constitutional amendment bill under Article 368 must be supported by a minimum of:a)273 membersb)200 membersc)276 membersd)368 membersCorrect answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?.
Solutions for The maximum seats in the Lok Sabha are 552. However, there are a total of 545 members. If only 300 members are present at the time of voting, then a constitutional amendment bill under Article 368 must be supported by a minimum of:a)273 membersb)200 membersc)276 membersd)368 membersCorrect answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer? in English & in Hindi are available as part of our courses for UPSC. Download more important topics, notes, lectures and mock test series for UPSC Exam by signing up for free.
Here you can find the meaning of The maximum seats in the Lok Sabha are 552. However, there are a total of 545 members. If only 300 members are present at the time of voting, then a constitutional amendment bill under Article 368 must be supported by a minimum of:a)273 membersb)200 membersc)276 membersd)368 membersCorrect answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer? defined & explained in the simplest way possible. Besides giving the explanation of The maximum seats in the Lok Sabha are 552. However, there are a total of 545 members. If only 300 members are present at the time of voting, then a constitutional amendment bill under Article 368 must be supported by a minimum of:a)273 membersb)200 membersc)276 membersd)368 membersCorrect answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?, a detailed solution for The maximum seats in the Lok Sabha are 552. However, there are a total of 545 members. If only 300 members are present at the time of voting, then a constitutional amendment bill under Article 368 must be supported by a minimum of:a)273 membersb)200 membersc)276 membersd)368 membersCorrect answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer? has been provided alongside types of The maximum seats in the Lok Sabha are 552. However, there are a total of 545 members. If only 300 members are present at the time of voting, then a constitutional amendment bill under Article 368 must be supported by a minimum of:a)273 membersb)200 membersc)276 membersd)368 membersCorrect answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer? theory, EduRev gives you an ample number of questions to practice The maximum seats in the Lok Sabha are 552. However, there are a total of 545 members. If only 300 members are present at the time of voting, then a constitutional amendment bill under Article 368 must be supported by a minimum of:a)273 membersb)200 membersc)276 membersd)368 membersCorrect answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer? tests, examples and also practice UPSC tests.
Explore Courses for UPSC exam

Top Courses for UPSC

Explore Courses
Signup for Free!
Signup to see your scores go up within 7 days! Learn & Practice with 1000+ FREE Notes, Videos & Tests.
10M+ students study on EduRev
Get App
© EduRev
Education Revolution
Follow Us
Signup to see your scores go up within 7 days!
Access 1000+ FREE Docs, Videos and Tests
Takes less than 10 seconds to signup