Who can be appointed as the Pro-tem Speaker of the Lok Sabha?

Appeared in: DSSSB 13 August 2024

Explanation

The term 'Pro-tem' is Latin for 'for the time being', indicating a temporary appointment.
By parliamentary convention, the President of India appoints the senior-most member of the newly elected Lok Sabha as the Pro-tem Speaker.
Seniority is typically determined by the number of terms a member has served in the Lok Sabha.
The main functions are to administer the oath to new members and to enable the House to elect the permanent Speaker.

Option A: The Prime Minister is the head of the government (executive) and the leader of the majority party in the Lok Sabha, not its presiding officer.
Option B: The President of India is the head of state and is responsible for appointing the Pro-tem Speaker, but does not serve in the role themselves. The President is not a member of either House of Parliament.
Option C: The Pro-tem Speaker must be an elected member of the Lok Sabha. A retired Chief Justice belongs to the judicial branch and is not an elected representative in the legislature.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Appointment and role of the Pro-tem Speaker in the Indian Parliament as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
This question tests general knowledge about the Indian political system, which is a common component of the syllabus for various competitive exams, including those for government nursing positions.
Understanding the functions of different constitutional posts helps in comprehending the structure of governance and the separation of powers in India.
What if the question asked who appoints the Pro-tem Speaker? In that case, the correct answer would be 'The President of India'.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key term in the question: 'Pro-tem Speaker'.
Recall the meaning of 'Pro-tem', which is 'temporary' or 'for the time being'. This implies a short-term, transitional role.
Analyze the context: The appointment happens in the Lok Sabha, the lower house of Parliament.
Evaluate the options based on the principles of Indian Polity. The role of a speaker is internal to the legislature.
Eliminate options from other branches of government (Prime Minister - Executive, Retired Chief Justice - Judiciary) or the head of state (President).
The most logical choice is a member from within the Lok Sabha itself, and by convention, the senior-most member is chosen for this temporary honorific and functional role.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Appointment and role of the Pro-tem Speaker in the Indian Parliament.
Stem keywords: Pro-tem Speaker, Lok Sabha, appointed
Lead-in keywords: Who can be appointed

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Practise the full DSSSB 13 August 2024

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.