BharatNotes Adjournment
nounUPSC confused pair — don't mix up with Prorogation, Dissolution
Usage in a UPSC answer
While an adjournment merely suspends a sitting of the House, the routine adjournment of Parliament amid disruptions erodes its deliberative character and weakens legislative scrutiny of the executive.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Word Family
adjourn (v), adjourned (adj), adjourning (v pres.p), adjournment (n)
Root
Old French à = to + jour = day (from Latin diurnum = daily) → ajourner = to put off to another day
Etymology
From Middle English ajournement, via Old French ajourner ("to put off to another day"), from à ("to") + jour ("day"), ultimately from Latin diurnum ("daily").
Memory Hook
Spot the French 'jour' (day) inside ad-JOURN-ment: an adjournment says "we meet on another day" — proceedings put off to a later jour.
How This Word Works in UPSC Writing
The suspension of a sitting by the presiding officer, and beyond that procedural sense the word names one of Parliament's sharpest instruments, so the distinction between the devices is what questions test. An adjournment motion is admitted only for a definite matter of urgent public importance, requires the support of fifty members, sets aside the day's listed business, and carries an implicit censure of the government, which is why it is admitted rarely and is available only in the Lok Sabha. A calling attention notice draws a minister to a matter and obtains a statement without any element of censure. A no-confidence motion tests the government's majority directly and needs no ground to be stated at all. A privilege motion concerns a breach of parliamentary privilege. Keeping these apart matters because they differ in what they achieve quite as much as in how they are moved.
Don’t Confuse It With
Adjournment suspends a sitting and is the presiding officer's act, whereas an adjournment motion is a distinct device setting aside listed business to debate an urgent matter and carrying censure, available only in the Lok Sabha. A calling attention notice secures a ministerial statement without censure. A no-confidence motion tests the government's majority and requires no ground. Prorogation ends a session and dissolution ends the House, both quite distinct from adjournment.
Hindi Meaning
स्थगन (sthagan); स्थगन प्रस्ताव (sthagan prastāv) for the adjournment motion and ध्यानाकर्षण for calling attention.
Common Questions
- What is the difference between adjournment and an adjournment motion?
- Adjournment simply suspends a sitting, while an adjournment motion is a device that sets aside the day's business to debate an urgent matter and carries an element of censure of the government.
- How does an adjournment motion differ from a calling attention notice?
- An adjournment motion implies censure and displaces listed business, whereas a calling attention notice merely obtains a ministerial statement on a matter without any censure.
Seen in UPSC Question Papers
- Prelims 2017 — Parliament
- Prelims 2014 — Parliament
- Prelims 2012 — Parliament
Real UPSC previous-year questions whose text uses “Adjournment” — proof this word earns its place on your list.
Tip: press Alt+S to hear pronunciation
