Consider the following statements regarding the participation and voting rights of Ministers in the Indian Parliament: 1. A Minister who is a member of the Lok Sabha can participate in the proceedings of the Rajya Sabha but is not entitled to vote in the Rajya Sabha. 2. A Minister who is not a member of either House of Parliament can participate in the proceedings of both Houses but cannot vote in either House. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Explanation

According to Article 88 of the Indian Constitution, every Minister and the Attorney-General for India has the right to speak and take part in the proceedings of either House, any joint sitting of the Houses, and any committee of Parliament of which he may be named a member, but shall not by virtue of this article be entitled to vote. A minister can only vote in the House of which he/she is a member. Hence, a Lok Sabha member minister can participate in Rajya Sabha but cannot vote there (Statement 1 is correct). Similarly, a minister who is not a member of either House can speak in both Houses but cannot vote in either because voting rights are strictly contingent upon the membership of that specific House (Statement 2 is correct).