Difficulty: Medium
Correct Answer: Disapproval of policy cut motion
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
During the discussion on demands for grants in the Indian Parliament, Members of Parliament can move different kinds of cut motions to express disagreement or to suggest reductions in government expenditure. Each type of cut motion has a specific meaning and a standard way of altering the amount of the demand. This question asks you to identify the name of the motion that seeks to reduce the amount of a demand to just one rupee, which symbolically expresses total disapproval of the policy underlying that demand.
Given Data / Assumptions:
- The context is the discussion of demands for grants in the Lok Sabha as part of the budget process.
- The motion in question reduces the amount of the demand to Re. 1.
- The options mention disapproval of policy cut, token cut, economy cut and vote on account.
- We assume the standard parliamentary definitions of these terms.
Concept / Approach:
There are three main types of cut motions: policy cut, economy cut and token cut. A policy cut motion, also called a disapproval of policy cut, is moved when a member wants to express complete disapproval of the policy underlying a particular demand. It proposes that the amount of the demand be reduced to Re. 1. An economy cut motion proposes that the demand be reduced by a specified amount, indicating that savings are possible. A token cut motion seeks to reduce the demand by a token amount (traditionally Rs. 100) to draw attention to a specific grievance. A vote on account, on the other hand, is a different parliamentary device used to provide funds for a short period when the full budget has not yet been passed.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Match the description in the question with the definitions of the cut motions. The key phrase is that the demand is reduced to Re. 1.Step 2: Recall that in a disapproval of policy or policy cut motion, the member expresses complete disagreement with the policy and proposes that the demand be cut down to Re. 1.Step 3: Recognise that in an economy cut motion, the demand is reduced by a specified amount representing proposed savings, not to a nominal single rupee.Step 4: Recognise that in a token cut motion, the reduction is by a small token amount such as Rs. 100, not to Re. 1.Step 5: Note that a vote on account has nothing to do with reducing a specific demand; it authorises expenditure for a limited period when the full budget is pending.
Verification / Alternative check:
You can verify your conclusion by consulting standard Indian polity textbooks, which clearly state that in a policy cut motion the demand is reduced to Re. 1 to symbolise total disapproval. Economy and token cut motions involve reductions by some amount, but not to a single rupee. This consistent description across sources confirms that the correct answer is the disapproval of policy cut motion.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Token cut motion is wrong in this context because it calls for a small symbolic reduction (for example, by Rs. 100) to highlight a particular grievance, not a reduction to Re. 1. Economy cut motion is wrong because it is meant to reflect a desire to economise by reducing the demand by a specific, often larger, amount. Vote on account is wrong because it is an interim budget provision that allows government spending in advance of full budget passage, not a device for cutting a specific demand.
Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes confuse policy cut and token cut motions because both have a symbolic element. It is crucial to remember the numerical clues: policy cut reduces the demand to Re. 1, symbolising complete disapproval of policy, while token cut reduces it by a small fixed amount to focus on a specific complaint. Economy cut motions are more about actual savings in expenditure. Keeping these associations clear helps to answer similar questions accurately.
Final Answer:
The motion that reduces a demand to just Re. 1 is the Disapproval of policy cut motion.
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