UPSC Prelims 2012 · Question 56 of 98
UPSC Prelims 2012 question on President Laying Reports Parliament
According to the Constitution of India, it is the duty of the President to cause to be laid before Parliament which of the following?
1. Recommendation of the Union Finance Commission.
2. Report of the Public Accounts Committee.
3. Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General.
4. Report of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below.
Show answer
Answer: C. 1, 3 and 4 only
Verdict
Correct Answer: 1, 3 and 4 only
Analysis
The Constitution requires certain reports and recommendations to be laid before Parliament through the President.
However, reports of parliamentary committees like the Public Accounts Committee are submitted within Parliament, not through the President.
Statement by statement
1. Recommendations of the Union Finance Commission — Correct
Article 281 requires the President to cause the recommendations of the Finance Commission to be laid before Parliament.
An explanatory memorandum on the action taken is also laid along with it.
2. Report of the Public Accounts Committee — Incorrect
The Public Accounts Committee is a parliamentary committee.
Its report is submitted to the Speaker of the Lok Sabha or the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, not to the President for being laid before Parliament.
3. Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General — Correct
Article 151 provides that CAG reports relating to Union accounts are submitted to the President.
The President then causes them to be laid before both Houses of Parliament.
4. Report of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes — Correct
Article 338 provides that the National Commission for Scheduled Castes submits its reports to the President.
The President causes these reports to be laid before Parliament, along with a memorandum explaining action taken.
Extra UPSC info
* Article 281 deals with Finance Commission recommendations.
* Article 151 deals with CAG reports.
* Article 338 deals with the National Commission for Scheduled Castes.
* Article 323 requires the UPSC annual report to be laid before Parliament.
* Article 338B deals with the National Commission for Backward Classes.
* Article 350B deals with the Special Officer for Linguistic Minorities.
* Parliamentary committee reports are generally submitted to the presiding officer of the concerned House.
How to crack it
The President lays reports of constitutional bodies like the Finance Commission, CAG and NCSC before Parliament, but not the report of the Public Accounts Committee.