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General Studies 2023 GS Paper II 10 marks 150 words Compulsory Discuss

GS Paper II — Q5

Discuss the role of Presiding Officers of state legislatures in maintaining order and impartiality in conducting legislative work…

Discuss the role of Presiding Officers of state legislatures in maintaining order and impartiality in conducting legislative work and in facilitating best democratic practices. (Answer in 150 words) 10 marks

हिंदी में प्रश्न पढ़ें

विधायी कार्यों के संचालन में व्यवस्था एवं निष्पक्षता बनाए रखने में और सबसे लोकतांत्रिक परंपराओं को सुगम बनाने में राज्य विधानिकाओं के पीठासीन अधिकारियों की भूमिका की विवेचना कीजिए। (150 शब्दों में उत्तर) 10 marks

Q5 of the 2023 UPSC Mains General Studies GS Paper II, as printed
The question as printed in the 2023 General Studies paper
Evaluate your answer to this question → See all 2023 General Studies questions

Model answer

Written by UPSC Answer Check against this question's marking rubric, to the 150-word length. UPSC does not publish answers for Mains — this is one way to score well, not an official key.

Presiding Officers—Speaker of the Legislative Assembly (Article 178) and Chairman of the Legislative Council (Article 182)—are custodians of state legislative order. Their impartiality is a constitutional convention; Article 188, the members’ oath, underscores the need for neutral proceedings, while Article 179 deals with removal/vacation of the Speaker/Deputy Speaker and Article 189 with voting and the casting vote. To maintain order, they may suspend members, adjourn the House, and expunge unparliamentary remarks; in the Assembly, the Speaker certifies Money Bills under Article 199(3)–(4), not the Council Chairman. Impartiality is preserved by not participating in debates, using the casting vote only on a tie, and holding all-party meetings. They facilitate best democratic practices by securing opposition voice, referring bills to committees, and protecting legislative privileges. Challenges—partisan perception, defection rulings, and disruption management, as in Karnataka 2019 and Maharashtra 2022—demand stricter adherence to rules, transparent precedents, and institutional memory to strengthen legislative accountability.

What "Discuss" is asking you to do

Lay the issue out from more than one side — how it arose, what is claimed for it, what is held against it, and where it now stands. UPSC attaches discuss to broad topics with several live dimensions, so coverage of the dimensions earns more than the strength of your opinion.

Structure that answers it

Set the issue up → the case as it is made → the case against → the dimension both sides leave out → where the balance now lies

Where marks are lost

Listing facts with no thread between them, or arguing one side throughout and calling it a discussion.

All UPSC directive words, compared →

How this answer will be evaluated

Approach

Framework: Principle > Institution or Article > Problem with example > Realistic reform. discuss: intro > 3-4 dimensions > example > balanced close Full marks: Clear analysis of order/impartiality with specific examples and a strong reform suggestion.

Key points expected

  • Define the constitutional status of Presiding Officers (Speaker/Chairman).
  • Explain the mechanism for maintaining order (e.g., Rule 376, suspension).
  • Discuss the duty of impartiality in conducting legislative business.
  • Provide a realistic reform or example of democratic facilitation.

Evaluation rubric

Each sub-part is marked on its own, against the marks and word limit printed on the paper.

  1. The answer Analyze the role of Presiding Officers in maintaining order, impartiality, and democratic practices in state legislatures. 10 marks · 150 words

    discuss— intro → 3-4 dimensions → example → balanced close

    Must cover

    • Define the constitutional status of Presiding Officers (Speaker/Chairman).
    • Explain the mechanism for maintaining order (e.g., Rule 376, suspension).
    • Discuss the duty of impartiality in conducting legislative business.
    • Provide a realistic reform or example of democratic facilitation.

    Loses marks

    • Reciting Articles without explaining the functional role.
    • Adopting an activist tone rather than an analytical one.
    • Ending without a reform or balanced conclusion.

    Earns more

    • Mention the role in protecting minority rights.
    • Reference the power to disallow unparliamentary language.
    • Discuss the role in facilitating the work of committees.
    • Mention the role in ensuring quorum and procedural compliance.

    Extra mark

    • Cite a specific Supreme Court judgment on Speaker's powers.
    • Reference a 2nd ARC or Law Commission recommendation on legislative conduct.

Practice this exact question

Write your answer and it is marked point by point against the model answer above — what you covered, what you missed, what you got wrong.

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