RAS question
How many countries were included in the Parliamentary Friendship Groups constituted by the Lok Sabha Speaker?
Correct answer: (D) 64.
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla constituted Parliamentary Friendship Groups with 64 countries.
Explanation
Om Birla's decision covered 64 countries, so option D is the exact count. He constituted Parliamentary Friendship Groups with 64 countries, with senior Opposition leaders appointed to head over a dozen of them and each group having 11 members, including Rajya Sabha members. This matters because the Lok Sabha Secretariat note describes the groups as a channel for lawmakers to speak directly with foreign counterparts, share legislative experience, build trust through regular engagement, exchange best practices, and strengthen bilateral relations. The key recall point is the specific number attached to that Speaker-led parliamentary diplomacy initiative: 64.
Why the other options are wrong
- (A) 55 is too low because the constituted Parliamentary Friendship Groups covered 64 countries.
- (B) 80 overstates the count; the Parliamentary Friendship Groups included 64 countries.
- (C) 48 does not match the initiative's scope of 64 countries.
Concept
This tests parliamentary diplomacy within Indian Constitution and Governance, especially how the Speaker and Parliament support structured international legislative engagement. It recurs in RAS because such current governance initiatives link constitutional offices with Parliament's working practice.