Motions in Indian Parliament

Overview
Overview- A motion is a proposal by a
member of the house for its opinion/decision.
Categories
Types of Motions

Categories
The motions moved by the members to raise
discussions on various matters fall into three
principal categories:
Substantive Motions
Substitute Motions
Subsidiary Motions

 Substantive Motions -- A substantive motion is

a self-contained independent proposal
submitted for the approval of the House and
drafted in such a way as to be capable of
expressing a decision of the House. Examples
are as impeachment of the President etc.

 Substitute Motions -- Motions moved in

substitution of the original motion for taking
into consideration a policy or situation or
statement or any other matter are called
substitute motions. If adopted by the house, it
supersedes the original motion.

 Subsidiary Motions -- It is a motion that, by itself has no meaning

and is not capable of stating the decision of the House without
reference to the original motion or proceedings of the House.
Subsidiary motions are further divided into:
a. Ancillary Motions --They are motions which are recognized
by the practice of the House as the regular way of proceeding with
various kinds of business.
b. Superseding Motions --They are motions which, though
independent in form, are moved in the course of debate on another
question and seek to supersede that question.
c. Amendments They seek to modify or substitute only a part
of the original motion.

 Types of Motions:

1.) Privilege Motion

2.) Censure Motion
3.) No Confidence Motion
4.) Call - Attention Motion
5.) Adjournment Motion
6.) Cut Motions

 1.) Privilege Motion

The motion will be introduced by the
opposition if a minister has mislead the house
by providing wrong information. Its purpose is
to censure the concerned minister.

 2.) Censure Motion

It can be brought against the ruling government
or against any minister for the failure to act or
seeking disapproval of their policy. It can be
moved only in Lok Sabha only by the opposition.
A censure motion must specify the charges
against the government for which it is moved. If a
censure motion is passed in the Lok Sabha, the
Council of ministers is bound to seek the
confidence of the Lok Sabha as early as possible.

 3.) No Confidence Motion

This can be moved only in Lok Sabha and by the opposition
of the house. It can be brought only against the Council of
ministers and not against any individual minister. Unlike
censure motion, a no-confidence motion does not require
any specific ground. Once admitted in the House, it takes
precedence over all the pending business of the House.
Generally the PM answers the allegations after the
members have spoken. If the motion is adopted by the
House, the Council of Ministers is bound to resign. The
motion needs the support of 50 members to be admitted.

 4.) Call - Attention Motion

A member (after permission from Speaker)
calls the attention of the minister to any
matter of urgent public importance. There is
no Call - Attention motion in the Rajya Sabha.

 5.) Adjournment Motion

Motion for an adjournment of the business of
the House for the purpose of discussing a
definite matter of urgent public importance
may be made with the consent of the Speaker.

6.) Cut Motions

The members of the Lok Sabha have a veto power to oppose a demand in the financial bill discussed by the
government. This is an effective tool to test the strength of the government. If a cut motion is adopted by the
House and the government does not have the numbers, it is obliged to resign. They are moved in the Lok Sabha
only. They are part of the budgetary process which seeks to reduce the amounts for grants.
Cut Motions can be divided into three categories:

Policy Cut: That the amount of the demand be reduced to Re.1/-' representing disapproval of the policy
underlying the demand. A member giving notice of such a motion shall indicate in precise terms the particulars of
the policy which he proposes to discuss. The discussion should be confined to the specific point or points
mentioned in the notice and it shall be open to members to advocate an alternative policy.

Economy Cut: The objective of the motion is to reduce the amount of die expenditure and the form of the
motion is The amount of the demand be reduced by Rupee (a specified amount). Such specified amount may
be either a lump sum reduction in the demand or omission or reduction of an item in the demand.

Token Cut: The objective of the motion is to ventilate a specific grievance within the sphere of responsibility of
the Government of India and its form is The amount of the demand be reduced by Rupee 100.